Roles of tumor invasion marker laminin gamma2 chain in tumor progression and cancer stem cell functions

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26430119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: MIYAZAKI KAORU 地方独立行政法人神奈川県立病院機構神奈川県立がんセンター(臨床研究所), その他部局等, その他 (70112068)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MIYAGI Yohei 神奈川県立病院機構, 神奈川県立がんセンター臨床研究所, 総括部長 (00254194) ; HIGASHI Shouichi 横浜市立大学, 大学院生命ナノシステム科学研究科, 教授 (10275076)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: がん微小環境 / 浸潤・転移 / がん幹細胞 / ラミニン / CD44 / 細胞接着 / 細胞外マトリックス / 免疫染色

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study investigated functions of the tumor invasion marker laminin gamma2 chain (Lmg2) in tumor progression. 1. The most N-terminal, domain V (dV) of Lmg2 promoted vascular permeability and tumor cell invasion into endothelial cell layer. 2. The dV protein stimulated migration of metastatic breast cancer cells by binding the cancer stem cell marker CD44. However, it was not clear whether dV supports the stem cell function. 3. Novel antibodies recognizing dV were prepared. Analyses with these antibodies revealed that small proteolytic fragments containing dV were highly produced in various cultured human cancer cell lines, cancer tissues and sera of cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry showed that one of dV antibodies detects invasive lung cancer cells at high sensitivity. These results suggest that dV fragments are produced in cancer tissues and contribute to tumor invasion. The dV antibodies seem useful for pathological analysis and diagnosis of human cancers.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学