Zeb-1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in breast cancer

• Project/Area Number: 17K15530
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Medical pharmacy
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Takeda Tomoya 近畿大学, 薬学部, 助教 (20734031)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 乳癌 / 転移 / 上皮間葉転換 / がん / 免疫 / 癌 / シグナル伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Metastasis of breast cancer is the major cause of treatment failure and cancer deaths. During epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the epithelial cells assume a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT is a key regulator of aggressive invasion and metastasis in tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of EMT in breast cancer. Our results showed that Zeb-1 knockdown inhibited the EMT characteristics, migration, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. Zeb-1 may have potential therapeutic targets in metastasis of breast cancer.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳癌は女性で最も死亡数が高いがんで、その原因として転移が挙げられる。つまり、乳癌の転移を抑制することが、乳癌患者の予後を改善する有効な治療法であるが、現在のところ乳癌の転移を抑制する治療法は国内外において開発されていない。本研究成果において、Zeb-1が乳癌の転移に関与することを明らかにし、Zeb-1を阻害することで乳癌の転移を抑制できることを見出した。これらの成果は乳癌の転移を抑制する治療法開発につながり、乳癌患者の予後改善に貢献できると考えている。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Bavachin induces the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cell lines by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. (2018)
  • Author(s): Takeda T, Tsubaki M, Tomonari Y, Kawashima K, Itoh T, Imano M, Satou T, Nishida Ｓ.
  • Journal Title: Biomed Pharmacother. Volume: 100 Pages: 486-494
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.02.019
  • Peer Reviewed