Dr. Fukamachi from Japan stays in AMC: Part2
A3 Foresight Program: Collaborative Research on the Role of Epigenetic Pathway in Gastric Carcinogenesis
Report of a visit to AMC in Korea (August 22 to 29, 2010)
HIROSHI FUKAMACHI (Department of Molecular Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)
Host researcher
Prof. Se Jin Jang (Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Summary
I visited again Prof. Se Jin Jang’ s laboratory (Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) in Korea, and examined mice into which FACS-sorted cells were subcutaneously injected in my previous visit. I also carried out additional experiments to identify gastric tumor-initiating cells in freshly dissected gastric tumor specimens. We got evidence suggesting that tumor-initiating cells express a specific marker on them. During my stay in AMC, I discussed with collaborators in AMC. We hope that we can soon identify tumor-initiating cells by this method. I deeply thank Prof. Jang, Dr. Seol and other members of AMC for giving me a chance to do experiment in a wonderful institute.
1. Background
As stated in my previous report (Dr. Fukamachi from Japan stays in AMC in May, 2010), we dissociated newly-dissected gastric tumor tissues into single cells, sorted them by FACS, and subcutaneoulsly injected them into NOD-Scid mice. A purpose of my visit was to examine whether tumors were formed in these mice. Another purpose was to carry out additional experiments to increase the number of results to obtain statistically significant difference, in collaboration with researchers in AMC including Professor Jang and Dr. Seol.
2. The experiment in AMC.
We found that a tumor was formed in a NOD-scid mouse into which we injected a marker-expressing cells about 12 weeks before. Histological examination showed that the tumor formed in the mouse exhibited features found in the original tumor (Fig. 1). These results indicate that tumor-initiating cells were included in the marker-expressing cell population. We hope that we can soon identify gastric tumor-initiating cells by this method. We also carried out additional experiments to identify tumor-initiating cells, because more results are needed to get statistically significant difference. We plan to do more experiments in coming November-December.
Fig. 1: A tumor formed by FACS-sorted cells retain features of the original tumor, when cells were obtained from a newly-dissected gastric tumor.
3. Discussion with researchres in AMC
I discussed with collaborators in the Department of Pathology, AMC on the identification of tumor-initiating cells.
Fig. 2: A photograph with collaborators (Dr. Kim Ji Hun, Dr. Park Young Soo, Dr. Kim Mi Jeung, Dr. Jang Se Jin) in the Department of Pathology, AMC.
4. Acknowledgments
I deeply thank Prof. Jang and Dr. Seol for their help and kindness during my stay in AMC. We thank doctors in the Division of Stomach Surgery (Director, Professor Jeong Hwan Yook) for their collaboration during this work. A skilled help by Ms. Hey-Jin Jeung, Asan Life Science Laboratory in analyzing cell surface antigens by FACS is strongly acknowledged.
