Faculty Profiles - OHARA Toshiaki

Papers - OHARA Toshiaki

Division display 1 - 20 of about 104 ／ All the affair displays >>

HIF-PH inhibitors induce pseudohypoxia in T cells and suppress the growth of microsatellite stable colorectal cancer by enhancing antitumor immune responses. Reviewed International journal

Yuehua Chen, Toshiaki Ohara, Yusuke Hamada, Yuze Wang, Miao Tian, Kazuhiro Noma, Hiroshi Tazawa, Masayoshi Fujisawa, Teizo Yoshimura, Akihiro Matsukawa

Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII 74 ( 7 ) 192 - 192 2025.5

Authorship：Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that CD8+ T cells can be activated via genetic upregulation of HIF-1α, thereby augmenting antitumor effector functions. HIF-1α upregulation can be attained by inhibiting HIF-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) under normoxic conditions, termed pseudohypoxia. This study investigated whether pseudohypoxia induced by HIF-PH inhibitors suppresses Microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) by affecting tumor immune response. METHODS: The HIF-PH inhibitors Roxadustat and Vadadustat were utilized in this study. In vitro, we assessed the effects of HIF-PH inhibitors on human and murine colon cancer cell lines (SW480, HT29, Colon26) and murine T cells. In vivo experiments were performed with mice bearing Colon26 tumors to evaluate the effect of these inhibitors on tumor immune responses. Tumor and spleen samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry to elucidate potential mechanisms. RESULTS: HIF-PH inhibitors demonstrated antitumor effects in vivo but not in vitro. These inhibitors enhanced the tumor immune response by increasing the infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). HIF-PH inhibitors induced IL-2 production in splenic and intratumoral CD4+ T cells, promoting T cell proliferation, differentiation, and immune responses. Roxadustat synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibody for MSS cancer by increasing the recruitment of TILs and augmenting effector-like CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: Pseudohypoxia induced by HIF-PH inhibitors activates antitumor immune responses, at least in part, through the induction of IL-2 secretion from CD4+ T cells in the spleen and tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing immune efficacy against MSS CRC.

DOI： 10.1007/s00262-025-04067-3

Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote pro-tumor functions of neutrophils in pancreatic cancer via IL-8: potential suppression by pirfenidone. Reviewed International journal

Tomohiko Yagi, Shunsuke Kagawa, Shohei Nogi, Atsuki Taniguchi, Masashi Yoshimoto, Kanto Suemori, Yasuo Nagai, Shuto Fujita, Shinji Kuroda, Satoru Kikuchi, Yoshihiko Kakiuchi, Fuminori Teraishi, Kosei Takagi, Toshiaki Ohara, Hiroshi Tazawa, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII 74 ( 3 ) 96 - 96 2025.2

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms by which neutrophils acquire pro-tumor properties remain poorly understood. In pancreatic cancer, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may interact with neutrophils, directing them to promote tumor progression. METHODS: To validate the association between CAFs and neutrophils, the localization of neutrophils was examined in clinically resected pancreatic cancer specimens. CAFs were produced by culturing in cancer-conditioned media, and the effects of these CAFs on neutrophils were examined. In vitro migration and invasion assays assess the effect of CAF-activated neutrophils on cancer cells. The factors secreted by the activated neutrophils were also explored. Finally, pirfenidone (PFD) was tested to determine whether it could suppress the pro-tumor functions of activated neutrophils. RESULTS: In pancreatic cancer specimens, neutrophils tended to co-localize with IL-6-positive CAFs. Neutrophils co-cultured with CAFs increased migratory capacity and prolonged life span. CAF-affected neutrophils enhance the migratory and invasive activities of pancreatic cancer cells. IL-8 is the most upregulated cytokine secreted by the neutrophils. PFD suppresses IL-8 secretion from CAF-stimulated neutrophils and mitigates the malignant traits of pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSION: CAFs activate neutrophils and enhance the malignant phenotype of pancreatic cancer. The interactions between cancer cells, CAFs, and neutrophils can be disrupted by PFD, highlighting a potential therapeutic approach.

DOI： 10.1007/s00262-025-03946-z

Loss of Nr4a1 ameliorates endothelial cell injury and vascular leakage in lung transplantation from circulatory-death donor. Reviewed International journal

Shinichi Kawana, Mikio Okazaki, Tomohisa Sakaue, Kohei Hashimoto, Kentaro Nakata, Haruki Choshi, Shin Tanaka, Kentaroh Miyoshi, Shinji Ohtani, Toshiaki Ohara, Seiichiro Sugimoto, Akihiro Matsukawa, Shinichi Toyooka

The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 44 ( 2 ) 249 - 260 2025.2

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) stands as a major trigger for primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in lung transplantation (LTx). Especially in LTx from donation after cardiac death (DCD), effective control of IRI following warm ischemia (WIRI) is crucial to prevent PGD. This study aimed to identify the key factors affecting WIRI in LTx from DCD. METHODS: Previously reported RNA-sequencing dataset of lung WIRI was reanalyzed to identify nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) as the immediate early gene for WIRI. Dynamics of NR4A1 expression were verified using a mouse hilar clamp model. To investigate the role of NR4A1 in WIRI, a mouse model of LTx from DCD was established using Nr4a1 knockout (Nr4a1-/-) mice. RESULTS: NR4A1 was located around vascular cells, and its protein levels in the lungs increased rapidly and transiently during WIRI. LTｘ from Nr4a1-/- donors significantly improved pulmonary graft function compared to wild-type donors (P < 0.001). Histological analysis showed decreased microvascular endothelial cell death (P = 0.007), neutrophil infiltration (P < 0.001), and albumin leakage (P < 0.001). Evans blue permeability assay demonstrated maintained pulmonary microvascular barrier integrity in grafts from Nr4a1-/- donors, correlating with diminished pulmonary edema (P < 0.001). However, NR4A1 did not significantly affect the inflammatory response during WIRI, and IRI was not suppressed when a wild-type donor lung was transplanted into the Nr4a1-/- recipient. CONCLUSIONS: Donor NR4A1 plays a specialized role in the positive regulation of endothelial cell injury and microvascular hyperpermeability. These findings demonstrate the potential of targeting NR4A1 interventions to alleviate PGD and improve outcomes in LTx from DCD.

DOI： 10.1016/j.healun.2024.09.028

Novel treatment strategy targeting interleukin-6 induced by cancer associated fibroblasts for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Reviewed International journal

Ema Mitsui, Satoru Kikuchi, Tomohiro Okura, Hiroshi Tazawa, Yuta Une, Noriyuki Nishiwaki, Shinji Kuroda, Kazuhiro Noma, Shunsuke Kagawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Junko Ohtsuka, Rieko Ohki, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Scientific reports 15 ( 1 ) 3267 - 3267 2025.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a crucial component in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of peritoneal metastasis (PM), where they contribute to tumor progression and metastasis via secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Here, we investigated the role of IL-6 in PM of gastric cancer (GC) and assessed whether anti-IL-6 receptor antibody (anti-IL-6R Ab) could inhibit PM of GC. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of IL-6 and α-smooth muscle (α-SMA) expressions in clinical samples of GC and PM, and investigated the interactions between CAFs and GC cells in vitro. Anti-tumor effects of anti-IL-6R Ab on PM of GC were investigated in an orthotopic murine PM model. IL-6 expression was significantly correlated with α-SMA expression in clinical samples of GC, and higher IL-6 expression in the primary tumor was associated with poor prognosis of GC. Higher IL-6 and α-SMA expressions were also observed in PM of GC. In vitro, differentiation of fibroblasts into CAFs and chemoresistance were observed in GC cells cocultured with fibroblasts. Anti-IL-6R Ab inhibited the progression of PM in GC cells cocultured with fibroblasts in the orthotopic mouse model but could not inhibit the progression of PM consisting of GC cells alone. IL-6 expression in the TME was associated with poor prognosis of GC, and CAFs were associated with establishment and progression of PM via IL-6. Anti-IL-6R Ab could inhibit PM of GC by the blockade of IL-6 secreted by CAFs, which suggests its therapeutic potential for PM of GC.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-025-88033-0

Exosomal delivery of miR-200b-3p suppresses the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting ERG- and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. Reviewed International journal

Yuze Wang, Aye Moh-Moh-Aung, Tianyi Wang, Masayoshi Fujisawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Ken-Ichi Yamamoto, Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Teizo Yoshimura, Akihiro Matsukawa

Gene 148874 - 148874 2024.8

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options. Recent discoveries have highlighted the pivotal role of miRNAs in HCC progression. We previously reported that the expression of miR-200b-3p was decreased in HCC cells and exosomal miR-200b-3p from hepatocytes inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of the endothelial transcription factor ERG (erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS)-related gene), leading to the hypothesis that the delivery of this miRNA may inhibit angiogenesis and suppress HCC growth in vivo. Here, we tested this hypothesis by using human HCC inoculation models. First, we transfected the human HepG2 HCC cells and established a stable cell line that overexpressed a high level of miR-200b-3p. When miR-200b-3p-overexpressing cells were injected into severe combined immunedeficiency (SCID)-beige mice, tumor growth was significantly reduced compared to tumors of control cells, with a reduction in the expression of ERG and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and subsequent angiogenesis. Intra-tumoral injection of exosomes containing high levels of miR-200b-3p also reduced the growth of parental HepG2 tumors with reduced ERG and VEGF expression and angiogenesis. These results validate the inhibitory role of miR-200b-3p in tumor angiogenesis, thereby suppressing HCC tumor growth, and provide a novel insight into its potential therapeutic application.

DOI： 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148874

Near-infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Patient-Derived Xenografts Using a Humanized Anti-Fibroblast Activation Protein Antibody Reviewed International journal

Kobayashi, T., Noma, K., Nishimura, S., Kato, T., Nishiwaki, N., Ohara, T., Kunitomo, T., Kawasaki, K., Akai, M., Komoto, S., Kashima, H., Kikuchi, S., Tazawa, H., Shirakawa, Y., Choyke, P.L., Kobayashi, H., Fujiwara, T.

Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 23 ( 7 ) 2024.7

Functional remodeling of intraperitoneal macrophages by oncolytic adenovirus restores anti-tumor immunity for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Reviewed International journal

Motoyasu Tabuchi, Satoru Kikuchi, Hiroshi Tazawa, Tomohiro Okura, Toshihiro Ogawa, Ema Mitsui, Yuta Une, Shinji Kuroda, Hiroki Sato, Kazuhiro Noma, Shunsuke Kagawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Junko Ohtsuka, Rieko Ohki, Yasuo Urata, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Molecular therapy. Oncology 32 ( 2 ) 200806 - 200806 2024.6

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Intraperitoneal tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are involved in evading anti-tumor immunity and promoting the peritoneal metastasis (PM) of gastric cancer (GC). Oncolytic viruses are known to induce the activation of host anti-tumor immunity in addition to tumor lysis. This study investigated whether a wild-type p53-loading telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus (OBP-702) could elicit the remodeling of intraperitoneal macrophages and enhance the efficacy of immune therapy. Increased numbers of CD163 TAMs and few CD8+ lymphocytes were immunohistochemically observed in clinical samples with PM, which suggested that TAMs were associated with the suppression of anti-tumor immunity. OBP-702 induced immunogenic cell death and upregulated PD-L1 expression in human and murine GC cell lines. Intraperitoneal administration of OBP-702 increased recruitment of CD8+ lymphocytes into the PM via the functional remodeling of intraperitoneal macrophages from TAM toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, resulting in significantly suppressed tumor growth for the in vivo model. Furthermore, the combination of intraperitoneal OBP-702 with anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody enhanced anti-tumor immunity and prolonged the survival of mice bearing PM. Intraperitoneal immunotherapy using OBP-702 restores anti-tumor immunity via the remodeling of intraperitoneal macrophages in addition to direct tumor lysis and cooperates with immune checkpoint inhibitors to suppress PM in GC.

DOI： 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200806

SPRED2 Is a Novel Regulator of Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Normal Hepatocytes. Reviewed International journal

Tianyi Wang, Tong Gao, Masayoshi Fujisawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Teizo Yoshimura, Akihiro Matsukawa

International journal of molecular sciences 25 ( 11 ) 2024.6

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Sprouty-related enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein homology 1 domain containing 2 (SPRED2) is an inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and has been shown to promote autophagy in several cancers. Here, we aimed to determine whether SPRED2 plays a role in autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Liver Cancer Database showed a negative association between the level of SPRED2 and p62, a ubiquitin-binding scaffold protein that accumulates when autophagy is inhibited. Immunohistochemically, accumulation of p62 was detected in human HCC tissues with low SPRED2 expression. Overexpression of SPRED2 in HCC cells increased the number of autophagosomes and autophagic vacuoles containing damaged mitochondria, decreased p62 levels, and increased levels of light-chain-3 (LC3)-II, an autophagy marker. In contrast, SPRED2 deficiency increased p62 levels and decreased LC3-II levels. SPRED2 expression levels were negatively correlated with translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOM20) expression levels, suggesting its role in mitophagy. Mechanistically, SPRED2 overexpression reduced ERK activation followed by the mechanistic or mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-mediated signaling pathway, and SPRED2 deficiency showed the opposite pattern. Finally, hepatic autophagy was impaired in the liver of SPRED2-deficient mice with hepatic lipid droplet accumulation in response to starvation. These results indicate that SPRED2 is a critical regulator of autophagy not only in HCC cells, but also in hepatocytes, and thus the manipulation of this process may provide new insights into liver pathology.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms25116269

Senescent Fibroblasts Potentiate Peritoneal Metastasis of Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer Cells via IL-8-mediated Crosstalk. Reviewed International journal

Yuncheng Li, Hiroshi Tazawa, Yasuo Nagai, Shuto Fujita, Tomohiro Okura, Ryohei Shoji, Motohiko Yamada, Satoru Kikuchi, Shinji Kuroda, Toshiaki Ohara, Kazuhiro Noma, Masahiko Nishizaki, Shunsuke Kagawa, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Anticancer research 44 ( 6 ) 2497 - 2509 2024.6

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND/AIM: Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) often forms peritoneal metastases, leading to poor prognosis. However, the underlying mechanism of DGC-mediated peritoneal metastasis is poorly understood. DGC is characterized by desmoplastic stroma, in which heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), including myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and senescent CAFs (sCAFs), play a crucial role during tumor progression. This study investigated the CAF subtypes induced by GC cells and the role of sCAFs in peritoneal metastasis of DGC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conditioned medium of human DGC cells (KATOIII, NUGC-4) and human intestinal-type GC (IGC) cells (MKN-7, N87) was used to induce CAFs. CAF subtypes were evaluated by analyzing the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), and p16 in human normal fibroblasts (GF, FEF-3). A cytokine array was used to explore the underlying mechanism of GC-induced CAF subtype development. The role of sCAFs in peritoneal metastasis of DGC cells was analyzed using a peritoneally metastatic DGC tumor model. The relationships between GC subtypes and CAF-related markers were evaluated using publicly available datasets. RESULTS: IGC cells significantly induced α-SMA+ myCAFs by secreting transforming growth factor-β, whereas DGC cells induced SA-β-gal+/p16+ sCAFs by secreting interleukin (IL)-8. sCAFs further secreted IL-8 to promote DGC cell migration. In vivo experiments demonstrated that co-inoculation of sCAFs significantly enhanced peritoneal metastasis of NUGC-4 cells, which was attenuated by administration of the IL-8 receptor antagonist navarixin. p16 and IL-8 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis of DGC patients. CONCLUSION: sCAFs promote peritoneal metastasis of DGC via IL-8-mediated crosstalk.

DOI： 10.21873/anticanres.17056

The specific shapes of capillaries are associated with worse prognosis in patients with invasive breast cancer. Reviewed International journal

Hnin-Wint-Wint Swe, Masayoshi Fujisawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Yu Komatsubara, Teizo Yoshimura, Tadahiko Shien, Akihiro Matsukawa

Pathology international 2024.5

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Angiogenesis is considered essential for tumor progression; however, whether histological counting of blood vessel numbers, expressed as microvessel density (MVD), can be a prognostic factor in breast cancer remains controversial. It has been suggested that the specific morphology of blood vessels such as glomeruloid microvascular proliferation (GMP) is associated with clinical parameters. Here, we aimed to clarify the significance of MVD with revised immunohistochemistry and to identify new blood vessel shapes that predict prognosis in breast cancer. Four hundred and eleven primary breast cancer specimens were collected, and the sections were immunohistochemically stained with CD31 (single staining) and CD31 and Collagen IV (double staining). The prognosis of patients was examined based on the MVD value, and the presence of GMP and other blood vessels with other specific shapes. As a result, high MVD value and the presence of GMP were not associated with worse prognosis. By contrast, patients with deep-curved capillaries surrounding tumor cell nests (C-shaped) or excessively branched capillaries near tumor cell nests showed a significantly poor prognosis. The presence of these capillaries was also correlated with clinicopathological parameters such as Ki-67 index. Thus, the morphology of capillaries rather than MVD can be a better indicator of tumor aggressiveness.

DOI： 10.1111/pin.13442

Double-faced CX3CL1 enhances lymphangiogenesis-dependent metastasis in an aggressive subclone of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Reviewed International journal

Htoo Shwe Eain, Hotaka Kawai, Masaaki Nakayama, May Wathone Oo, Toshiaki Ohara, Yoko Fukuhara, Kiyofumi Takabatake, Quisheng Shan, Yamin Soe, Kisho Ono, Keisuke Nakano, Nobuyoshi Mizukawa, Seiji Iida, Hitoshi Nagatsuka

JCI insight 9 ( 10 ) 2024.5

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Because cancer cells have a genetically unstable nature, they give rise to genetically different variant subclones inside a single tumor. Understanding cancer heterogeneity and subclone characteristics is crucial for developing more efficacious therapies. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by high heterogeneity and plasticity. On the other hand, CX3C motif ligand 1 (CX3CL1) is a double-faced chemokine with anti- and pro-tumor functions. Our study reported that CX3CL1 functioned differently in tumors with different cancer phenotypes, both in vivo and in vitro. Mouse OSCC 1 (MOC1) and MOC2 cells responded similarly to CX3CL1 in vitro. However, in vivo, CX3CL1 increased keratinization in indolent MOC1 cancer, while CX3CL1 promoted cervical lymphatic metastasis in aggressive MOC2 cancer. These outcomes were due to double-faced CX3CL1 effects on different immune microenvironments indolent and aggressive cancer created. Furthermore, we established that CX3CL1 promoted cancer metastasis via the lymphatic pathway by stimulating lymphangiogenesis and transendothelial migration of lymph-circulating tumor cells. CX3CL1 enrichment in lymphatic metastasis tissues was observed in aggressive murine and human cell lines. OSCC patient samples with CX3CL1 enrichment exhibited a strong correlation with lower overall survival rates and higher recurrence and distant metastasis rates. In conclusion, CX3CL1 is a pivotal factor that stimulates the metastasis of aggressive cancer subclones within the heterogeneous tumors to metastasize, and our study demonstrates the prognostic value of CX3CL1 enrichment in long-term monitoring in OSCC.

DOI： 10.1172/jci.insight.174618

Fibroblast activation protein-targeted near-infrared photoimmunotherapy depletes immunosuppressive cancer-associated fibroblasts and remodels local tumor immunity. Reviewed International journal

Masaaki Akai, Kazuhiro Noma, Takuya Kato, Seitaro Nishimura, Hijiri Matsumoto, Kento Kawasaki, Tomoyoshi Kunitomo, Teruki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Nishiwaki, Hajime Kashima, Satoru Kikuchi, Toshiaki Ohara, Hiroshi Tazawa, Peter L Choyke, Hisataka Kobayashi, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

British journal of cancer 2024.3

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a critical role in tumor immunosuppression. However, targeted depletion of CAFs is difficult due to their diverse cells of origin and the resulting lack of specific surface markers. Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a novel cancer treatment that leads to rapid cell membrane damage. METHODS: In this study, we used anti-mouse fibroblast activation protein (FAP) antibody to target FAP+ CAFs (FAP-targeted NIR-PIT) and investigated whether this therapy could suppress tumor progression and improve tumor immunity. RESULTS: FAP-targeted NIR-PIT induced specific cell death in CAFs without damaging adjacent normal cells. Furthermore, FAP-targeted NIR-PIT treated mice showed significant tumor regression in the CAF-rich tumor model accompanied by an increase in CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Moreover, treated tumors showed increased levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in CD8+ TILs compared with non-treated tumors, suggesting enhanced antitumor immunity. CONCLUSIONS: Cancers with FAP-positive CAFs in their TME grow rapidly and FAP-targeted NIR-PIT not only suppresses their growth but improves tumor immunosuppression. Thus, FAP-targeted NIR-PIT is a potential therapeutic strategy for selectively targeting the TME of CAF+ tumors.

DOI： 10.1038/s41416-024-02639-1

Two autopsied gastric cancer cases of rare drug-induced pneumonia associated with nivolumab plus S-1 and oxaliplatin: a case report. Reviewed International journal

Taku Noumi, Shoka Kimura, Takuro Fushimi, Shuichi Sakamoto, Kayo Nakamura, Soichiro Fushimi, Toshiaki Ohara, Shuko Mashimo, Hiroyuki Tao, Takanori Watanabe, Daizo Kishino

Journal of gastrointestinal oncology 15 ( 1 ) 491 - 499 2024.2

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced pneumonia, especially immune-related adverse events, can sometimes be fatal, and it is crucial to seize the signs for early treatment. A clinical trial (ATTRACTION-4) reported no cases of grade 4 or 5 pneumonia or interstitial lung disease associated with nivolumab plus S-1 and oxaliplatin. However, we encountered two cases of fatal pneumonia induced by this regimen. CASE DESCRIPTION: The two patients were in their 70s, male and diagnosed gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. The patient of case 1 underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy nine years before. The patient of case 2 was diagnosed unresectable 6 months before and chemo naïve. Both patients received nivolumab plus S-1 and oxaliplatin for the dissemination. The onset of both cases occurred after the fifth dose of the regimen, and the responses to corticosteroids were transient and limited. Computed tomography showed bilateral consolidation and ground-glass opacities, seemingly similar to an organizing pneumonia pattern. Acute and organizing stages of diffuse alveolar damage were detected histopathologically. Despite showing notable antitumor effects, both patients had indications of interstitial pneumonitis before admission, such as elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels and slight lung opacity or respiratory symptoms approximately 10 days before admission. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing nivolumab plus S-1 and oxaliplatin should be closely followed up with imaging, evaluation of symptom including oxygen saturation, and serological marker analysis such as lactate dehydrogenase, CRP, and KL-6. Early detection of pneumonia leads to adequate cessation of chemotherapy and early treatment, and this can prevent severe adverse events.

DOI： 10.21037/jgo-23-511

PD-L1-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts induce tumor immunosuppression and contribute to poor clinical outcome in esophageal cancer. Reviewed International journal

Kento Kawasaki, Kazuhiro Noma, Takuya Kato, Toshiaki Ohara, Shunsuke Tanabe, Yasushige Takeda, Hijiri Matsumoto, Seitaro Nishimura, Tomoyoshi Kunitomo, Masaaki Akai, Teruki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Nishiwaki, Hajime Kashima, Naoaki Maeda, Satoru Kikuchi, Hiroshi Tazawa, Yasuhiro Shirakawa, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII 72 ( 11 ) 3787 - 3802 2023.11

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

The programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis plays a crucial role in tumor immunosuppression, while the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have various tumor-promoting functions. To determine the advantage of immunotherapy, the relationship between the cancer cells and the CAFs was evaluated in terms of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Overall, 140 cases of esophageal cancer underwent an immunohistochemical analysis of the PD-L1 expression and its association with the expression of the α smooth muscle actin, fibroblast activation protein, CD8, and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) positive cells. The relationship between the cancer cells and the CAFs was evaluated in vitro, and the effect of the anti-PD-L1 antibody was evaluated using a syngeneic mouse model. A survival analysis showed that the PD-L1+ CAF group had worse survival than the PD-L1- group. In vitro and in vivo, direct interaction between the cancer cells and the CAFs showed a mutually upregulated PD-L1 expression. In vivo, the anti-PD-L1 antibody increased the number of dead CAFs and cancer cells, resulting in increased CD8+ T cells and decreased FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. We demonstrated that the PD-L1-expressing CAFs lead to poor outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer. The cancer cells and the CAFs mutually enhanced the PD-L1 expression and induced tumor immunosuppression. Therefore, the PD-L1-expressing CAFs may be good targets for cancer therapy, inhibiting tumor progression and improving host tumor immunity.

DOI： 10.1007/s00262-023-03531-2

Intraperitoneal Administration of p53-armed Oncolytic Adenovirus Inhibits Peritoneal Metastasis of Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer Cells. Reviewed International journal

Naoto Hori, Hiroshi Tazawa, Yuncheng Li, Tomohiro Okura, Satoru Kikuchi, Shinji Kuroda, Toshiaki Ohara, Kazuhiro Noma, Masahiko Nishizaki, Yasuo Urata, Shunsuke Kagawa, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Anticancer research 43 ( 11 ) 4809 - 4821 2023.11

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND/AIM: Diffuse-type gastric cancer (GC) frequently exhibits peritoneal metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. However, efforts to develop antitumor strategies for preventing the peritoneal metastasis of GC have been unsuccessful. As diffuse-type GC cells often carry a genetic alteration in the tumor suppressor p53 gene, p53 restoration may be a potent strategy for preventing peritoneal metastasis of GC. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of p53-expressing adenoviral vectors against peritoneal metastasis of diffuse-type GC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three diffuse-type human GC cell types with different p53 statuses (p53-wild type NUGC-4, p53-mutant type GCIY, and p53-null type KATOIII) were used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of p53 activation induced by the p53-expressing, replication-deficient adenovirus Ad-p53 and oncolytic adenovirus OBP-702. Viability, apoptosis, and autophagy of virus-treated GC cells were analyzed under normal and sphere-forming culture conditions using the XTT assay and western blot analysis. The in vivo antitumor effects of OBP-702 and Ad-p53 were assessed using xenograft tumor models involving peritoneal metastasis of NUGC-4 and GCIY cells. RESULTS: Under normal and sphere-forming culture conditions, OBP-702 induced a significantly greater antitumor effect in GC cells compared with Ad-p53 by strongly inducing p53-mediated apoptosis and autophagy and receptor tyrosine kinase suppression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of OBP-702 significantly suppressed the peritoneal metastasis of NUGC-4 and GCIY cells compared with Ad-p53, leading to prolonged survival of mice. CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of OBP-702 inhibits the peritoneal metastasis of GC cells by inducing p53-mediated cytopathic activity.

DOI： 10.21873/anticanres.16678

Novel Iron Chelators, Super-Polyphenols, Show Antimicrobial Effects against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. Reviewed International journal

Yuki Shinoda-Ito, Kazuhiro Omori, Takashi Ito, Masaaki Nakayama, Atsushi Ikeda, Masahiro Ito, Toshiaki Ohara, Shogo Takashiba

Antibiotics 12 ( 11 ) 1562 2023.10

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Dental caries are an oral infectious disease that can affect human health both orally and systemically. It remains an urgent issue to establish a novel antibacterial method to prevent oral infection for a healthy life expectancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel iron chelators, super-polyphenols (SPs), on the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans, in vitro. SPs were developed to reduce the side effects of iron chelation therapy and were either water-soluble or insoluble depending on their isoforms. We found that SP6 and SP10 inhibited bacterial growth equivalent to povidone-iodine, and viability tests indicated that their effects were bacteriostatic. These results suggest that SP6 and SP10 have the potential to control oral bacterial infections such as Streptococcus mutans.

DOI： 10.3390/antibiotics12111562

In vivo lung perfusion for prompt recovery from primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation. Reviewed International journal

Kei Matsubara, Kentaroh Miyoshi, Shinichi Kawana, Yujiro Kubo, Dai Shimizu, Yasuaki Tomioka, Toshio Shiotani, Haruchika Yamamoto, Shin Tanaka, Takeshi Kurosaki, Toshiaki Ohara, Mikio Okazaki, Seiichiro Sugimoto, Akihiro Matsukawa, Shinichi Toyooka

The Journal of heart and lung transplantation 43 ( 2 ) 284 - 292 2023.10

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: No proven treatment after the development of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is currently available. Here we established a novel strategy of in vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) for the treatment of PGD. IVLP involves the application of an in vivo isolated perfusion circuit to an implanted lung. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of IVLP versus conventional post-lung transplant (LTx) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment using an experimental swine LTx PGD model. METHODS: After 1.5-h warm ischemia of the donor lungs, a left LTx was performed. Following the confirmation of PGD development, pigs were divided into three groups (n = 5 each): control (no intervention), ECMO, and IVLP. After 2 h of treatment, a 4-h functional assessment was conducted and samples obtained. RESULTS: Significantly better oxygenation were achieved in the IVLP group (p ≤ 0.001). Recovery was confirmed immediately and maintained during the following 4-h observation. The IVLP group also demonstrated better lung compliance than the control group (p = 0.045). A histological evaluation showed that the lung injury score and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay showed significantly fewer injuries and a better result in the wet-to-dry weight ratio in the IVLP group. CONCLUSIONS: A two-hour IVLP is technically feasible and allows for prompt recovery from PGD after LTx. The posttransplant short-duration IVLP strategy can complement or overcome the limitations of the current practice for donor assessment and PGD management.

DOI： 10.1016/j.healun.2023.10.011

Selective autophagy associated with iron overload aggravates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via ferroptosis. Reviewed International journal

Koki Honma, Sora Kirihara, Hinako Nakayama, Taketo Fukuoka, Toshiaki Ohara, Kazuya Kitamori, Ikumi Sato, Satoshi Hirohata, Moe Fujii, Shusei Yamamoto, Shang Ran, Shogo Watanabe

Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) 248 ( 13 ) 1112 - 1123 2023.8

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Iron is an essential trace element in the body; however, excess iron can cause tissue damage and dysfunction. Iron overload is often observed in patients with NASH, and the amount of iron accumulated in the liver positively correlates with the histological severity of NASH. Ferroptosis, a novel form of iron-dependent cell death, is caused by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress and is related to NASH. In addition, ferroptosis is closely related to autophagy, an intracellular self-degradation process. Although autophagy has many beneficial effects, it may also be harmful to the organism, for example, inducing ferroptosis. It is unclear whether iron overload aggravates NASH via autophagy. The aim of this research is to determine the mechanism by which iron overload induces ferroptosis via autophagy and aggravates NASH. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP5/Dmcr) were divided into two groups and fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet for eight weeks. Iron dextran was administered to the Fe group in addition to the HFC diet. Blood analysis, histological staining, calcineurin activity assay, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence staining, and electron microscopy were performed. The results showed that iron overload promoted autophagy via nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and induced ferritinophagy, which is the autophagic degradation of ferritin. In addition, the HFC diet induced lipophagy, the autophagic degradation of lipid droplets. The Fe group also exhibited promoted ferroptosis and aggravated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. In conclusion, iron overload accelerates ferritinophagy and lipophagy, aggravating NASH pathology via ferroptosis. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of inhibiting autophagy and ferroptosis for treating NASH.

DOI： 10.1177/15353702231191197

Conventional Cancer Therapies Can Accelerate Malignant Potential of Cancer Cells by Activating Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal Cancer Models. Reviewed International journal

Satoshi Komoto, Kazuhiro Noma, Takuya Kato, Teruki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Nishiwaki, Toru Narusaka, Hiroaki Sato, Yuki Katsura, Hajime Kashima, Satoru Kikuchi, Toshiaki Ohara, Hiroshi Tazawa, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara

Cancers 15 ( 11 ) 2971 2023.5

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors, and the outcome remains poor. One contributing factor is the presence of tumors that are less responsive or have increased malignancy when treated with conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of these. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the tumor microenvironment. Focusing on conventional cancer therapies, we investigated how CAFs acquire therapeutic resistance and how they affect tumor malignancy. In this study, low-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced normal fibroblasts showed enhanced activation of CAFs markers, fibroblast activation protein, and α-smooth muscle actin, indicating the acquisition of malignancy in fibroblasts. Furthermore, CAFs activated by radiotherapy induce phenotypic changes in cancer cells, increasing their proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. In in vivo peritoneal dissemination models, the total number of tumor nodules in the abdominal cavity was significantly increased in the co-inoculation group of cancer cells and resistant fibroblasts compared to that in the co-inoculation group of cancer cells and normal fibroblasts. In conclusion, we demonstrated that conventional cancer therapy causes anti-therapeutic effects via the activation of fibroblasts, resulting in CAFs. It is important to select or combine modalities of esophageal cancer treatment, recognizing that inappropriate radiotherapy and chemotherapy can lead to resistance in CAF-rich tumors.

DOI： 10.3390/cancers15112971

SPRED2: A Novel Regulator of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Stemness in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Reviewed International journal

Tong Gao, Xu Yang, Masayoshi Fujisawa, Toshiaki Ohara, Tianyi Wang, Nahoko Tomonobu, Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Teizo Yoshimura, Akihiro Matsukawa

International journal of molecular sciences 24 ( 5 ) 4996 2023.3

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

The downregulation of SPRED2, a negative regulator of the ERK1/2 pathway, was previously detected in human cancers; however, the biological consequence remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of SPRED2 loss on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell function. Human HCC cell lines, expressing various levels of SPRED2 and SPRED2 knockdown, increased ERK1/2 activation. SPRED2-knockout (KO)-HepG2 cells displayed an elongated spindle shape with increased cell migration/invasion and cadherin switching, with features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). SPRED2-KO cells demonstrated a higher ability to form spheres and colonies, expressed higher levels of stemness markers and were more resistant to cisplatin. Interestingly, SPRED2-KO cells also expressed higher levels of the stem cell surface markers CD44 and CD90. When CD44+CD90+ and CD44-CD90- populations from WT cells were analyzed, a lower level of SPRED2 and higher levels of stem cell markers were detected in CD44+CD90+ cells. Further, endogenous SPRED2 expression decreased when WT cells were cultured in 3D, but was restored in 2D culture. Finally, the levels of SPRED2 in clinical HCC tissues were significantly lower than those in adjacent non-HCC tissues and were negatively associated with progression-free survival. Thus, the downregulation of SPRED2 in HCC promotes EMT and stemness through the activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, and leads to more malignant phenotypes.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms24054996

　 PREV - NEXT 　

1
2
3
4
5
6