A research group led by Professor Masaharu Senoo of Okayama University has proved for the first time in the world that cancer stem cells differentiate into blood vessel cells and form a vascular system in tumors.It is expected to lead to the development of effective anticancer drugs.
In 2012, the research group created the world's first cancer stem cells (cells that produce cancer cells) from mouse iPS cells.Since then, we have prepared a wide variety of cancer stem cells and proceeded with research on their relationship with cells existing in the tissues of cancer patients.
Tumors are known to promote angiogenesis, but the host's blood vessels not only grow toward the tumor, but the reality of their vascular network is complicated.Recently, there are vascular structures produced by tumor-derived cells, and it is speculated that cancer stem cells are involved in the differentiation of tumor cells into vascular endothelial cells and the composition of pseudovascular cells. The sex was unknown.
This time, the research group analyzed tumor blood vessels using the cancer stem cell line miPSLLCcm cells that have already been established from mouse iPS cells.As a result, miPS-LLCcm cells produce vascular endothelial cell growth factor VEGF-A and basic fibroblast growth factor FGF-2, which are the causes of new blood vessel formation, while involving host-derived vascular endothelial cells. , He himself succeeded in observing the formation of vascular endothelial cells and pseudoblood vessels.
The results show that cancer stem cells not only promote the growth of endothelial cells in the blood vessels around the tumor, but also produce the cells that make up the vascular network within the tumor.This is a new discovery worldwide and is an evolution of the traditional concept of tumor angiogenesis.In the future, if the development of new anticancer agents targeting tumor blood vessels progresses, it is expected that it will lead to the development of effective anticancer agents.
