Synthetic polymer-based constructive approach to elucidate immune microenvironments in brain tumor

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20797
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0901:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Murota Yoshitaka 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 助教 (40909602)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: グリオーマ / 合成ポリマー / 微小環境 / 構成的解明 / 腫瘍随伴免疫細胞 / 末梢血

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The efficacy of immunotherapy for gliomas in clinical trials has not yet been demonstrated. This situation suggests that the immune microenvironment remain to be fully elucidated, and therefore an innovative approach from new perspectives in addition to conventional methods may pave the way for the development of successful immunotherapy. In this study, a constructive approach using synthetic polymers was conducted to elucidate the tumor immune microenvironment. In vivo analysis revealed that the percentage of bone marrow-derived microglial progenitor cells is significantly elevated in the peripheral blood of tumor-bearing mice. To identify chemical probes that affect the activity, survival, and proliferation of tumor cells and tumor-associated immune cells, we established a screening system of synthetic polymers that recapitulate their microenvironments.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は研究代表者自身が立ち上げる合成ポリマーのスクリーニング系を用いて、腫瘍免疫微小環境の新たな特性について構成的解明を目指す異分野融合研究である。本研究で立ち上げた、細胞の活性や生存、増殖に影響する合成ポリマーのスクリーニング系は、癌のみならず細胞異常に起因する他疾患群の病態解明、治療標的探索に有効な研究手法であると考える。従来の還元的手法ではとらえることのできなかった腫瘍免疫微小環境の新たな特性を標的とする治療法の開発によりグリオーマ根治が達成できるかもしれない点で社会的意義がある。