Malignant conversion of cancer cells by disruption and remodeling of cancer cell-clusters in newly developed primary culture system

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24300333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Research Institute, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disaeses
• Principal Investigator: INOUE Masahiro 地方独立行政法人大阪府立病院機構大阪府立成人病センター(研究所), 研究所, 総括研究員(生化学部門長) (10342990)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OKUYAMA Hiroaki 地方独立行政法人大阪府立病院機構大阪府立成人病センター(研究所), 研究所, 総括研究員 (50432373) ; ENDO Hiroko 地方独立行政法人大阪府立病院機構大阪府立成人病センター(研究所), 研究所, 研究員 (20359300)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 癌 / 培養 / 破壊 / 再生 / 幹細胞性 / WNTシグナル / ERBBシグナル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Similar to wound healing, disruption of cancer cell-clusters and afterward regeneration might ignite malignant conversion of cancer cells. We recently developed a novel primary culture system (CTOS method), which enables us 3D culture of cancer cells retaining patient tumor characteristics. In this study, we focused on the process of disruption/remodeling. After disruption, CTOS quickly recovered its shape (remodeling). Stimulation by disruption rendered more proliferation and stemness to the cancer cells. Gene signature, which upregulated after disruption, predicted prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. WNT signaling as well as ERBB signaling was critical in the process. Taken together, destructive microenvironment in a tumor such as inflammation might contribute to the malignant conversion of cancer cells.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生化学