Development of the new treatment in oral cancer related to mitochondrial apoptosis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24792209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: HASEGAWA TAKUMI 神戸大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (50546497)
• Research Collaborator: TAKEDA Daisuke ; UEHA Takeshi ; KAWAMOTO Teruya ; KOMORI Takahide
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 炭酸ガス / 低酸素 / 扁平上皮癌 / 口腔癌 / 転移

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined the effects of transcutaneous CO2 on cancer apoptosis and lymphogenous metastasis using human SCC xenografts. Our results showed that transcutaneous CO2 affects expressions of PGC-1α and TFAM and protein levels of cleavage products of caspase-3, caspase-9 and PARP, which relatives mitochondrial apoptosis. They also showed that transcutaneous CO2 significantly inhibits SCC tumor growth and affects expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which play essential roles in tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. In conclusion, transcutaneous CO2 suppressed tumor growth, increased mitochondrial apoptosis and decreased the number of lymph node metastasis in human SCC by decreasing intra-tumoral hypoxia and suppressing metastatic potential with no observable effect in vivo. Our findings indicate that transcutaneous CO2 could be a novel therapeutic tool for treating human SCC.

Free Research Field

口腔外科