| 研究実績の概要 |
In recent years, many types of micro-engineered platform have been fabricated to investigate the influences of surrounding microenvironments on cell migration. However, how microstructures affect the movement of cells remains unclear. This is especially important in the context of cancer metastasis, where cells migrate through the different microstructures in our body. Understanding this rule will not only deepen our understanding of cancer metastasis but also enable precise, structure-guided manipulation of cell motility on synthetic biomaterial devices for applications such as cancer diagnosis based on cell motility (as opposed to traditional antibody-based methods) and cell separation. Also, particularly for cancer metastasis, recreating the key characteristics of the tumor microenvironment such as hypoxia and interstitial flow is crucial for accurate assessment.
Our latest research achievements include: (1) testing the combined effects of microstructure and hypoxia or fluid flow on cancer migration, (2) investigating the relationship between such alteration to cancer migration and epithelial-mesenchimal transition (EMT), the key characteristic change in cell motility that cause fatal secondary tumors, and (3) fabrication of acute-angled microstructures and investigating its effects on cancer metastasis. Some key findings are: (1) hypoxia and high shear fluid flow decrease the effects of microstructures (antagonistic), (2) EMT marker is enhanced by hypoxia and mechanical cues from the microstructure and (3) acute wall angle decrease persistence of cancer cells.
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