New therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer by REIC gene therapy

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670627
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory surgery
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Toyooka Shinichi 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (30397880)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: REIC遺伝子 / 非小細胞肺癌 / 遺伝子治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

REIC is down-regulated in many human cancer cells and is considered to function as a tumor suppressor. REIC-expressing adenovirus vector (Ad-REIC) induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cancer-specific apoptosis in human cancers. We examined the therapeutic impact of Ad-REIC on non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. We examined the direct anti-tumor effect of Ad-REIC gene therapy on non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines in vitro, and the distant bystander effect using immunocompetent mouse allograft models with bilateral flank tumors. Ad-REIC treatment showed antitumor effect in many lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines in vitro. In an in vivo model, Ad-REIC treatment inhibited the growth not only of directly treated tumors but also distant untreated tumors. Ad-REIC treatment not only had a direct antitumor effect but also an indirect bystander effect through stimulation of the immune system.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科学・分子腫瘍学