2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Development of a novel therapy targeting cancer stem-ike cells in Esophageal Cell Carcinoma
| Project/Area Number |
25860512
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Gastroenterology
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| Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
|
| Keywords | 食道扁平上皮癌 / 癌幹細胞 / 上皮間葉転換 / ＣＤ４４ / ＥＭＴ |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) have been identified in many cancers and are thought to attribute to aggressive tumor behavior. CSCs can self-renew and have extremely high tumor initiating capacity. Furthermore, CSCs are highly invasive and resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation. Such characteristics of CSCs lead to recurrence, metastasis and inadequate response to the conventional therapies. A novel therapy targeting CSCs is needed to improve prognosis of Esophageal squamouscell carcinoma (ESCC).
We have reported that Notch and TGF pathways are important in regulation of CSCs in ESCC. We have examined effects of Notch and TGF inhibitors on CSCs in the present study. These inhibitors suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and significantly reduce CSCs in ESCC both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Notch and TGF pathways could be novel therapeutic targets against CSCs in ESCC.
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| Free Research Field |
消化器内科
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