Regulation of heterogeneity of tumors from the viewpoint of cancer initiating cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460470
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Morii Eiichi 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (10283772)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 腫瘍幹細胞 / 多様性 / 制御因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer initiating cells are resistant to anti-tumor therapies. In this study, we showed that ALDH-hi cells, which are considered as cancer initiating cells, are regulated by Nodal, and that ALDH-hi cells expressed S100A4 strongly. S100A4 is related to proliferation and invasion ability of uterine endometrial carcinoma, and S100A4-hi cases possessed "MELF" pattern. In addition, arginine synthetic enzyme was also upregulated in ALDH-hi cells. This enzyme epigenetically controlled mTOR-complex member, DEPTOR. These results suggested that cancer initiating cells are controlled by various factors, which are related to yield of heterogenous populations of tumors.

Free Research Field

病理学