How cancer cells affect myofibroblasts in gastric cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Fuyuhiro Y, Yashiro M, Noda S, Kashiwagi S, Matsuoka J, Doi Y, Kato Y, Hasegawa T, Sawada T, Hirakawa K
Primary Institution: Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine
Hypothesis
This study investigates the mechanisms for regulation of myofibroblasts in the gastric cancer microenvironment.
Conclusion
Transforming growth factor-β from scirrhous gastric carcinoma cells upregulates the number of myofibroblasts in cancer-associated fibroblasts.
Supporting Evidence
- The frequency of myofibroblasts in cancer-associated fibroblasts was greater than in normal fibroblasts.
- TGF-β significantly increased α-SMA expression levels in cancer-associated fibroblasts.
- Conditioned medium from certain gastric cancer cells upregulated α-SMA expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts.
Takeaway
Cancer cells can change nearby cells called myofibroblasts, which help tumors grow. This study shows that a special protein from cancer cells makes more myofibroblasts.
Methodology
The study used immunofluorescence microscopy and real-time RT-PCR to analyze myofibroblast presence and α-SMA expression levels in various fibroblast and cancer cell lines.
Participant Demographics
Fibroblasts were derived from patients with poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P=0.003, P=0.001, P=0.011, P=0.018, P=0.002, P<0.001, P=0.023
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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