Annual Report 2020

Department of Innovative Seeds Evaluation

Tadashi Kondo

Introduction

 We focus on two projects: the establishment of a patient-derived cancer model of rare cancers, and the characterization of developed cancer models for the preclinical study. Patient-derived cancer model is an essentially important tool to evaluate the novel innovative seeds, and many anti-cancer drugs and biomarkers have been developed using patient-derived cancer models. However, patient-derived cancer models are available only in a limited portion of cancers. In view of this, we have launched the project to establish and characterize the patient-derived cancer models. One of the most important applications of patient-derived cancer models is to examine the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs as part of a pre-clinical study. The pre-clinical studies of rare cancers have been hampered by the lack of patient-derived cancer models. To address this issue, we have created a system to evaluate the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs using our original patient-derived cancer models.

Research activities

 Surgically dissected tumor tissues obtained in the National Cancer Center Hospital were used to develop patient-derived cancer models. Tumor tissues are quite diverse in terms of substances in the tissues and heterogeneity of cell populations depending on the original tissue samples, and individual histological methods are required to establish cancer models. The molecular characterization is also important when using the cancer models in research. Considering that molecular backgrounds are altered during the process of cancer model establishment, it is quite important to know how the developed cancer models retain the original molecular backgrounds. For this sake, we employ a multi-omics approach. The DNA, RNA, and proteins are comprehensively and intensively examined, comparing the original tissue samples and the established models. Our cancer models are included in collaborative studies with pharmaceutical companies. The research activity of our department is linked to that of the Division of Rare Cancer Research. Ideas and fundamental research tools are shared between two laboratories to develop novel innovative seeds.

Future Prospects

 Our research activities will benefit patients with rare cancers by contributing to the development of novel cancer drugs. We will establish more collaborative studies with companies as well as academic research groups.