The role of cancer stem cell-like sphere forming cells in multi-organ metastasis of lung cancer

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19420
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: OGINO Hirokazu 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学系), 助教 (20745294)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 肝転移 / 癌幹細胞 / 肺癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the roles of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in forming multiple organ metastasis in mice. First, we isolated the CSC-like populations from two human lung cancer cell lines by culturing in low-attachment and low-nutrient condition, and confirmed these populations showed higher gene expressions of stem cell markers. Next, we found the number of liver metastasis was increased in mice inoculated with CSC-like populations in multiple organ metastasis model. By analyzing the gene expressions of CSC-like populations and parental cells, several candidate genes were picked-up that might regulate liver metastasis. In this study, we focused on gene X, and confirmed that the specific inhibition of gene X of CSC-like populations by RNAi resulted in the suppression of liver metastasis in mice. These results indicate that gene X might regulate the production of liver specific metastasis, therefore it might be a good therapeutic target to control the liver metastasis.

Free Research Field

呼吸器病学