Investigation of biomakers for membrane-associated estrogen receptor signaling pathway in breast cancer cells using selective nano-ligand

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08637
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: NIWA Toshifumi 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (90218248)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 林 慎一 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (60144862)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-10-21 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 乳癌 / 細胞・組織 / シグナル伝達 / エストロゲン / 特異的リガンド / ホルモン療法耐性 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The function of membrane-associated estrogen receptor (mER) in breast cancer cells and relation to hormone therapy resistance were investigated using a novel selective ligand, Qdot-6-E2. It was demonstrated that Qdot-6-E2 stimulated both MAPK and PI3K-akt-mTOR phosphorylation pathways resulting cell growth. Among the estrogen depletion resistant cells with different mechanisms, only the cells maintaining nuclear ER function were sensitive to Qdot-6-E2. This suggests that mER is probably a localized form of nuclear ERα. The target genes of mER were markedly different from those of nuclear ER and we found some candidates for the specific biomarker of mER signaling pathways.

Free Research Field

臨床化学