Cancer tissue consists of a network of various cells, and some non-cancer cells (stromal cells) existing in the cancer tissue, centering on the cancer cells, are also affected by the cancer and help the cancer cells to promote the disease. It is becoming clear that it will contribute.

　In particular, it has been clarified in recent years that distant bone marrow-derived cells are purposely mobilized to tumors and are involved in immunosuppression and tumor infiltration (malignant transformation).Regarding this mechanism of action, in this study, we discovered that stromal cells sensitized to cancer secrete more chemokines called CCL2 than usual.We also found that many bone marrow-derived cells expressing CCR2, which is a receptor that reacts with this substance, infiltrate the tumor tissue.

　These are cells with strong immunosuppressive ability called bone marrow-derived immunosuppressive cells.In other words, in order for cancer to avoid immunity and survive, stromal cells, which are cancer cooperators, release CCL2, and bone marrow-derived immunosuppressive cells, which are new cancer cooperators, are attracted to the tumor tissue. Will be there.

　In fact, suppression of CCL2 in animal experiments suppressed the recruitment of bone marrow-derived immunosuppressive cells in tumor tissues, and was able to inhibit cooperation between cancer stromal cells.

　This result suggests that non-cancer cells existing around cancer can also be important therapeutic targets, and may be a hint to increase the success rate of future cancer treatment.

　The lead author of this research paper, May, an international student from Myanmar, elucidated a part of "teamwork of cancer" while experiencing a coup d'etat in his home country during his research.She says she will continue to unravel the pathology of cancer through "human teamwork."

Paper information:[JCI insight] Resident stroma-secreted chemokine CCL2 governs myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment