Regulatory mechanisms of zinc transporters and zinc signaling in breast cancer malignant progression

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06676
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Mukogawa Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Takatani-Nakase Tomoka (高谷朋夏) 武庫川女子大学, 薬学部, 教授 (40434807)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乳がん / 亜鉛 / 亜鉛トランスポーター / がん幹細胞様細胞 / PRDM14

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Breast cancer stem cell-like cells (BCSCs) lurk in very few populations within breast cancer tissues and can give rise to metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance after a long period of time, contributing to poor clinical outcomes. We demonstrated that zinc is required to maintain BCSCs. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of BCSCs are regulated by zinc dependent PR domain zinc finger protein 14 (PRDM14) function through zinc transporters ZIP6 and ZIP7.

Free Research Field

医療薬科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで謎に包まれていた乳がん幹細胞様細胞の維持機構において、亜鉛および亜鉛トランスポーターの関与を初めて明らかにし、本研究成果は、乳がん悪性化機構の本態解明に重要な方向性を示すものである。さらに、亜鉛ネットワークを利用した乳がん診断マーカーの開発や新たな乳がん治療方法の確立への道を切り開く突破口として、実用化に向けての貢献が期待される。