Blood platelet-to-cancer cell fusion and metastasis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25830079
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MORIOKA YOKO (田村洋子) 京都大学, 人間・環境学研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50598349)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 血小板 / がん / 細胞融合

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While the contribution of blood platelets to carcinogenesis has been known for more than a century, the molecular mechanisms through which they do so remain poorly understood. Our work has established that blood platelets have the abilities to fuse with specific cancer cell lines. By fusing with platelets, cancer cells were found to undergo transcriptional reprogramming and display enhanced adhesive abilities. These findings may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of metastatic cancer.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学