Spatiotemporal Dynamics in Gastric Cancer Invasion

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16028
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Togasaki Kazuhiro 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (50936408)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 胃がん / 浸潤 / シングルセル / ライブイメージング / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functionality and dynamics of tumor cells responsible for invasion using an orthotopic transplantation model of patient-derived diffuse gastric cancer organoids. We performed single-cell mRNA sequencing of orthotopically transplanted tumors and identified clusters with genes previously reported to be highly expressed at invasive fronts. Survival analysis using TCGA cohort data showed that genes in these clusters are associated with poor prognosis. In vivo fluorescence visualization of cells using these marker genes showed dynamics of accumulation of fluorescent cells at invasion fronts one week after transplantation.

Free Research Field

消化器病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでヒト腫瘍の浸潤メカニズムについて，１細胞レベルでの時空間的情報を付加した機能解析を行なった報告はない．本研究で得られる成果は，浸潤というがんの悪性化における初期にして最も重要なステップについての理解を深め，進行がんの根元治療の開発につながると考えられる．