January 16, 2018
Keio University School of Medicine
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
A research group led by Associate Professor Toshiro Sato of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Keio University School of Medicine, has succeeded in efficiently propagating 39 human-derived pancreatic cancer cells ex vivo. Through detailed analysis, they have revealed that pancreatic cancer becomes malignant by acquiring the ability to proliferate independently of cell growth factors supplied by the surrounding environment.
In recent years, detailed analysis of the genetic information of pancreatic cancer has shown differences in the survival periods of patients. However, the cause of these differences remained unknown, and this knowledge had not been applied to the development of treatments.
The research group led by Associate Professor Toshiro Sato discovered that two substances, Wnt and R-spondin, which stimulate proliferation by acting from outside the cell, are deeply involved in the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, they clarified that pancreatic cancer can be classified into three types of stepwise malignancy based on its dependence on these two substances for proliferation, and that this classification is determined by the expression level of the GATA6 gene.
The research group also successfully created artificial pancreatic cancer using the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 system, and reproduced the process of its malignant progression.
This study is the first in the world to elucidate the mechanism of stepwise malignant progression in pancreatic cancer by utilizing technology for the efficient propagation of human-derived cancer cells. It is expected to pave the way for future curative treatments for pancreatic cancer.
The results of this research were published in the online edition of the American scientific journal "Cell Stem Cell" on January 11, 2018 (U.S. Eastern Time).
Please see below for the full press release.