Analysis of new radiation carcinogenic mechanisms for the purpose of development of radiation protective and anticancer agents

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16479
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: SAITO YOHEI 東北医科薬科大学, 薬学部, 講師 (10613698)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 放射線 / 突然変異 / APOBEC3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Rising cancer risk from radiation has been widely studied not only in epidemiology but also in cell level analysis including changes in DNA damage repair mechanisms and mutation rates. We considered that radiation contributes not only to direct DNA damage but also to indirect DNA damage to mutation via APOBEC3. In this study, APOBEC3B, which is a cancer risk factor and an accelerator for malignant transformation, has been shown to strongly influence mutations caused by radiation on cancer cells.

Free Research Field

放射線生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果によって、放射線により生き残った細胞が突然変異しやすくなること、放射線照射後に抗がん剤や放射線に対して抵抗性の獲得した細胞が出現することに対する細胞レベルでの作用機序の一部が明らかになった。今後、更なる解析を続けることで放射線のがん化リスクの評価や解析だけではなく、放射線治療におけるがん細胞の放射線や抗がん剤抵抗性を含む悪性化の抑制を可能とする治療や創薬につながると考えられる。