Efficacy of mRNA-binding protein Sam68 as new biomarker and therapeutic target in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Project/Area Number: 16K20433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pathobiological dentistry/Dental radiology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2017-2019); Hokkaido University (2016)
• Principal Investigator: Kuroshima Takeshi 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (00610669)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 口腔がん / RNA結合タンパク / Sam68 / 癌 / 細胞・組織 / 蛋白質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Main purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of mRNA-binding protein Sam68 as new biomarker and therapeutic target in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical staining study of Sam68 in OSCC tissues revealed that OSCC with metastasis to cervical lymph nodes had high expression of cytoplasmic Sam68. The differences of stress-induced cytoplasmic granules (Stress granules) were observed between cancer cells and normal cells.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、Sam68の細胞質内発現の増加が口腔扁平上皮癌の転移能に寄与していることが示唆された。また、正常細胞とがん細胞ではStress granulesの挙動が異なり、ストレス下でのmRNA制御機構に違いがあることが示唆された。これらの結果は、口腔扁平上皮癌のSam68細胞質内高発現やがん細胞でのStress granulesの特異的挙動が、新規バイオマーカーおよび治療標的として有用である可能性を示している。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Metastasis of lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma to buccinator lymph node: case report and review of the literature (2019)
  • Author(s): Takada Kaho、Kuroshima Takeshi、Shimamoto Hiroaki、Ohsako Toshimitsu、Kayamori Kou、Ikeda Tohru、Harada Hiroyuki
  • Journal Title: World Journal of Surgical Oncology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-5
  • DOI: 10.1186/s12957-019-1559-y
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Contralateral cervical lymph node metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. (2019)
  • Author(s): Takeshi KUROSHIMA, Yasuyuki MICHI, Hiroaki SHIMAMOTO, Hirofumi TOMIOKA, Hideaki HIRAI, Takuma KUGIMOTO, Yumi MOCHIZUKI, Kae TANAKA and Hiroyuki HARADA.
  • Organizer: 7th WORLD CONGRESS of the International Academy of Oral Oncology.