NTU-KU Joint Funding Final Report

【Section 1】
NTU principle investigator
Name (last name, first name)
Position
Faculty/Department

Shen, Tang-Long(1) Professor and Chair; (2) Director(1) Plant Pathology and Microbiology(2) Center for Biotechnology

KU principle investigator
Name (last name, first name)
Position
Faculty/Department

Harada, Hiroshi(1) Professor; (2) Director(1) Graduate School of Biostudies(2) Radiation Biology CenterType(s) of funding applied☐ Funding Type 1 (General Funding) only
☐ Funding Type 2 (ECR Funding) only
 Both Funding Type 1 (General Funding) and Type 2 (ECR Funding)Page 2 of 8NTU-KU Joint Funding Final Report

【Section 2】
Project title
Int'l collaboration to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying distantmetastasis of tumors
Period of project
From dd/mm/yy
to dd/mm/yy

18/02/2024 – 02/03/2024

Summary of the project (approx. 100 words)
Cancer metastasis, responsible for most cancer deaths, involves complex molecularmechanisms that include hypoxia-enhanced exosome secretion and pre-metastatic nicheformation in distant organs. In order to identify a responsible factor for pre-metastatic nicheformation, which is incorporated in exosomes, one of Prof. Shen’s students (Zeng-Yi Li)
in NTU visited Prof. Prof. Harada’s laboratory in Kyoto University, cultured cancer cells
in a special hypoxic workstation, and harvested culture medium. It was then sent to NTU
and subjected to the analysis to identify the responsible factor for pre-metastatic nicheformation. This research is expected to deepen the understanding of mechanism behindtumor metastasis. Subsequently, the isolated exosomes derived from differential hypoxic
conditions displayed an increased trend in exosome size, number, RNA as well as protein
amounts although the experiments are needed to be repeated for a statistical analysis.
Furthermore, we also observed the differential mRNA cargos, such as RAD51, RAD52,
MLH1, and MALAT1. Currently, we are proceed the proteomics and RNA seq of thevaried hypoxia-induced exosomes for deciphering the key molecules in response todifferent hypoxic conditions. Further experimental designs, including the premetastatic
niche formation and genomic instability, resulted from the varied hypoxia-derived
exosomes will be conducted in a collaborative way between NTU and KU.

Photographs with captions*Please submit digital files (such as JPEG or GIF files) of the photographs used in yourreport as attachments. The size of each image should be at least 4MB, so that it can be used
for printed materials. Please ensure that none of the photographs submitted will cause anyissues relating to portrait rights.

Page 3 of 8NTU-KU Joint Funding Final ReportURL at which project outcomes can be viewed (Optional)*E.g. workshop notifications/programs/reports, evidence of academic papers published orotherwise made available, etc.
URL:Page 4 of 8NTU-KU Joint Funding Final Report

【Section 3】
Visiting ECR*
Name (last name, first name)

Li, Zhen-Yi

Position

Master student

Faculty/Department

Plant Pathology and Microbiology

Period of Stay

18/02/2024 – 02/03/2024(From dd/mm/yy to dd/mm/yy)

Host researcher*
Name (last name, first name)
Position
Faculty/Department

Harada, Hiroshi(1) Professor; (2) Director(1) Graduate School of Biostudies(2) Radiation Biology Center*Please complete if the host researcher is different from the KU principal investigator.

Achievements and outcomes of ECR stay (approx. 100–250 words)
In order to analyze the contents contained in exosomes secreted from cells stimulated byhypoxia, special equipment (hypoxic workstation) is required to culture cells under hypoxicconditions. A member of the NTU laboratory leading exosome research visited the Kyoto
University laboratory leading hypoxia research, and conducted international joint research,making it possible for the first time to conduct multidisciplinary research that engage bothresearch fields. By having young NTU researchers take on this role, we could develop abilingual researcher who expertizes both fields. This initiative was also confirmed to beeffective in fostering an international mindset among young researchers in Kyoto
University.

Photographs with captions*Please submit digital files (such as JPEG or GIF files) of the photographs used in yourreport as attachments. The size of each image should be at least 4MB, so that it can be usedfor printed materials. Please ensure that none of the photographs submitted will cause any
issues relating to portrait rights.

Page 5 of 8NTU-KU Joint Funding Final Report

URL at which project outcomes can be viewed (Optional)*E.g. workshop notifications/programs/reports, evidence of academic papers published orotherwise made available, etc.
URL:
*If there are multiple ECRs, please copy and paste this section and complete them foreach ECR.

Page 6 of 8