Opsin3-mediated inhibition of colon cancer drug resistance by blue LED irradiation.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16465
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIMOTO Toshiaki 徳島大学, 病院, 特任助教 (20758198)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 青色LED光 / 大腸癌 / 光受容体 / オプシン / Opn3 / 腫瘍微小環境 / CAF / TAM

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, the effects of blue LED light irradiation on the tumour microenvironment of colorectal cancer were evaluated in vitro and in vivo: tumour-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) were generated using conditioned medium of HCT116 cells and the effects of blue LED light irradiation were investigated. The results showed that irradiation reduced IL-6 expression in CAFs and CD163, CD206 expression and VEGF secretion in TAMs, and inhibited the migration-promoting effect of CAFs and TAMs on HCT116 cells. In addition, tumour size was reduced in the LED-irradiated group in in vivo experiments, suggesting that blue LED light irradiation regulates tumours and the tumour microenvironment.

Free Research Field

大腸癌、光治療、LED、抗癌剤、薬剤耐性、腫瘍微小環境

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

大腸・直腸癌の罹患者は増加の一途をたどっているが、下部直腸癌の外科的治療では肛門温存・肛門機能温存が不可能な場合が多々あり、また化学放射線療法も種々の副作用や薬剤耐性が問題となる。我々はこれまでに、青色LED光は大腸癌に対して光受容体Opn3を介して細胞増殖抑制効果を示すことを報告してきた。さらに本研究では腫瘍細胞のみならずCAF・TAMからなる腫瘍微小環境への青色LED光の効果を明らかにした。本研究の成果は大腸・直腸癌に対する新たな低侵襲治療法の臨床応用への大きな一歩となると考えられる。