Study on the drug development for tumor immunotherapy based on immune-restoring activity of a plant ingredient betulin.

• Project/Area Number: 15K08041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Drug development chemistry
• Research Institution: Toyama Prefectural Institute. for Pharmaceutical Research.
• Principal Investigator: Ogasaawara Masaru 富山県薬事研究所, 主任研究員 (30443427)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Nagai Yoshinori 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(医学), 准教授 (30431761)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 癌 / ベツリン / 腫瘍 / PD-L1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Various factors dampen antitumor activity of immune cells in tumor microenvironment. Here we examined the antitumor mechanism of a derivate A of a plant product, betulin, which has recovering activity against immune cells suppressed by tumor. A derivative A remarkably inhibited the growth of EG7 cells subcutaneously implanted in mice. Moreover, increased expression of PD-L1 on EG7 cells is suggested to be responsible for augmentation of the antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 antibody.

Research Products

• [Remarks] 薬事総合研究開発センター 研究業績
  • URL: http://www.pref.toyama.jp/branches/1285/research/achievement/index.html
• [Remarks] 富山県薬事研究所
  • URL: http://www.toyama-yakuji.com/