Enhancement of sensitivity to anti-cancer immunity in NRF2-addiected cancers

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15228
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pathological medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Motohashi Hozumi 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 教授 (00282351)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 転写因子 / がん / がん遺伝子 / 酸化ストレス応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

NRF2 is a master transcriptional activator playing a critical role in the defense mechanism against oxidative insults. NRF2 activates genes encoding cytoprotective enzymes and antioxidant proteins in response to electrophiles and reactive oxygen species (ROS), conferring resistance against xenobiotic and oxidative stress. While NRF2 activation is beneficial to our health, NRF2 is responsible for the malignant progression of various human cancers. To develop a new anti-cancer therapy for NRF2-addicted malignant cancers, we examined molecular mechanisms how NRF2 activation influences on the cancer evasion from the anti-cancer immunity. We found that NRF2 in cancer cells reduces expression of MHC class I and other genes involved in the antigen presentation, suggesting that NRF2 promotes the cancer evasion from the anti-cancer immunity.

Free Research Field

生化学・分子生物学