Analysis of human pancreatic cancer cell-human pancreatic stellate cell interaction by in vitro cell co-culture system

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15434
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49020:Human pathology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture (2023); National Cancer Center Japan (2022)
• Principal Investigator: KOMETANI Tatsuya 東京農業大学, 応用生物科学部, 研究員 (40915196)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 膵がん / がん微小環境 / 細胞間相互作用 / in vitro細胞共培養系 / 膵がんオルガノイド / 膵臓星細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to clarify a mechanism of interaction between human pancreatic duct cancer cells and human stellate cells. Firstly, we attempted to establish a co-culture system that allows to analyze the interaction in detail in vitro. Then, we successfully developed of a novel co-culture system that mimics some histological features of pancreatic cancer tissue. In addition, we demonstrated that our co-culture system reflects the interaction, showing that human quiescent stellate cells or human activated stellate cells promote the growth or drug resistance of human pancreatic duct cells. On the other hand, it was suggested that the interaction mechanisms differ among pancreatic cancer clones. Therefore, we are currently focusing on early pancreatic cancer before the variations arises.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

In vivoでは様々な細胞が相互作用し、その社会を形成している。しかし、そのメカニズムは不明な点が多い。本研究で開発した細胞共培養系は、それらの膵がん以外の分野の細胞間相互作用研究に応用できる可能性を秘める。また、本細胞共培養系はヒト膵がん細胞の検体間の形質の違いを反映したことから、個別化医療への応用も期待できると考えている。一方で、本研究で見出した形態別にヒト星細胞がヒト膵がん細胞に与える影響は新規であり、それをin vitroで証明したことも踏まえ、本研究は大きな学術的意義を有する。本研究の技術や成果、更なる発展が膵がんの新規治療法の開発に寄与することを期待する。