Molecular epidemiologic studies of colorectal cancer for understanding the etiology and development of preventive measures based on Japanese population including Japanese descent

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H03588
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Iwasaki Motoki 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 社会と健康研究センター, 部長 (60392338)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 分子疫学 / 大腸がん / 日系移民 / 交互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined a gene-environment interaction to clarify whether genetic factors may modify an association between environmental factors and risk of colorectal cancer and performed a mediation analysis to decompose total effect of obesity on colorectal cancer risk into direct effect and indirect effects by inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers based on epidemiological studies for colorectal neoplasia among Japanese population including Japanese descent. Evidence from these studies might contribute to further understand colorectal carcinogenesis and develop preventive measures.

Free Research Field

がんの疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

遺伝環境交互作用は、同じ環境要因を曝露しても遺伝的素因の違いにより発がんリスクが異なるかどうかを明らかにするもで、個別化予防につながる重要なエビデンスとなる。効果の分解により、血漿バイオマーカーを介した発がん経路が明らかとなれば、メカニズムの解明に貢献するだけでなく、予防介入試験のターゲットやその効果判定の中間指標にも繋がり得るエビデンスとなる。