Expression and function analysis of novel cancer antigen molecule KIF20A in gliomas

• Project/Area Number: 16K10770
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurosurgery
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: MIWA TOMORU 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師 (20365282)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: KIF20A / 神経膠腫 / 治療標的分子 / Oncoantigen / Cytokinesis / 抗腫瘍効果 / 新規癌抗原分子 / 神経膠腫細胞株 / 脳腫瘍幹細胞 / 分子治療標的

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We demonstrated that the tumor-associated antigen,KIF20A, was highly expressed in gliomas, but was rarely expressed in adult normal tissues. Down-regulation
of KIF20A induced glioma cell growth suppression due to the failure of cytokinesis, and therefore, KIF20A has an essential role in glioma cell proliferation. Although immunological investigations are needed before KIF20A is investigated clinically, our findings indicate that KIF20A may be a promising molecular target for glioma immunotherapy.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の知見は今後神経膠腫における免疫療法においてKIF20Aが分子標的の一つとなる可能性を示唆することができ、国内外において未だ難渋している神経膠腫の治療に対して十分希望を与えうる内容であると考えられる。また本分子は癌の増殖を中心に腫瘍のBiologyに強く関与しており、我々の研究結果は神経膠腫のみならず、他の癌腫治療への波及効果も大きいと考えられる。