Transcription factor c-MYC promotes chemoresistance through induction of glycolytic enzymes in human colon cancer cells

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16315
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: KUGIMIYA Naruji 山口大学, 医学部, 特別医学研究員 (70791515)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸癌 / c-MYC / 解糖系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Acquisition of resistance of chemotherapy is a big problem in colon cancer. The aim of this investigation is to demonstrate that transcription factor c-MYC promotes chemoresistance through induction of glycolytic enzymes in human colon cancer cells.
After inhibiting transcription factor c-MYC, the expression levels of Hexokinase 1 and 2 decreased. The levels of hexokinase 1/2 in chemoresistant human colon cancer cells were higher than the levels of hexokinase 1/2 in non-chemoresistant human colon cancer cells. In chemoresistant cancer cells, the expression levels of hexokinase 1/2 strongly suppressed by inhibiting c-MYC. Transcription factor c-MYC may be associated with maintenance and hyper acceleration of glycolysis in chemoresistant human colon cancer cells.

Free Research Field

消化器外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

転写因子c-MYCは大腸癌幹細胞のマーカー遺伝子の一つと報告され、その機能は多岐にわたり報告されている。抗癌剤抵抗性の獲得にも関与が示唆されているが、その詳細は明らかになっていない。今回c-MYCが解糖系酵素発現の維持および亢進に関与していること、および抗癌剤耐性を獲得した細胞において解糖系酵素の発現が亢進し、c-MYC依存的により強く維持および亢進に関与していることが示唆された。