Mechanism of autophagy on radioresistence of head and neck cancer

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16902
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Arai Akihito 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10716070)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: p62 / p16陽性中咽頭癌 / 放射線抵抗性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The relationship between autophagy mechanism and prognosis of head and neck cancer was examined using 30 cases with oropharyngeal cancer. P16 status, and clinical data were also examined. The expression of p62, NrF2κ, surrogate marker of autophagy, was determined by immunohistochemistry.
The results indicated no significant correlation between the expression of p62, NrF2κ and any clinical data including p16 status.
One possible reason of the negative study may be heterogeneity of the subjects in terms of treatment modality.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科・頭頸部外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

オートファジーと頭頸部癌の治療抵抗性については全く未解明であった。この機構を解明することでオートファジーを標的とした治療法の開発が期待される。