Identification of novel biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor diagnostics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Noguchi Satoshi 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (60732807)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 非小細胞肺癌 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We explored novel biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer using gene expression analysis technique, CAGE (Cap Analysis of Gene Expression). CRIP1, an actin cytoskeleton-interacting LIM-domain protein, was found to be involved in proliferation and colony formation of lung cancer cells. The analysis of a large cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients revealed that NSCLC patients with higher tumor CRIP1 expression levels tend to have an unfavorable prognosis.
In addition, the analysis of the TCGA database identified RhoV, which is a member of the Rho family of GTPases, to be involved in cancer metastasis. High expression of RhoV was associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. In vitro, knockdown of RhoV led to decreased cell proliferation and migration.

Free Research Field

肺癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、理化学研究所により開発されたCAGE法による遺伝子発現解析やTCGAデータベースを用いた解析により、肺癌の進展や転移に関わる新規バイオマーカーであるCRIP1とRhoVを見出すことができた。いずれも正常気道/肺上皮と比較し一部の非小細胞肺癌に特異的に発現すること、高発現が予後不良因子となりえること、細胞増殖や遊走に寄与することが判明し、肺がんの新規治療標的になりうると考えられた。