Functional analysis of lncRNAs in cancer development identified by genome-wide retroviral insertional mutagenesis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07346
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48040:Medical biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Takeshi 金沢大学, がん進展制御研究所, 教授 (30262075)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: がん遺伝子 / エピジェネティクス / 挿入変異 / 非コードRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Retroviral insertional mutagenesis in mice is one of the powerful strategies for high-throughput identification of novel cancer genes. Using this system, we have identified many genes encoding epigenetic regulators such as histone modifying enzymes, RNA methyl-modifying enzymes and long noncoding RNAs. We discovered that these epigenetic regulators are involved not only in the tumor initiation but also in the tumor progression such as cell invasion, metastasis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, drug resistance and maintenance of stem cell properties. Based on the functional characterization of these factors, we aim to develop novel molecular targeted therapeutic strategies, which should be applied to clinical studies.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がんの転移や薬剤耐性に代表される「がんの悪性進展」を制御することは, がんの克服にとって重要な課題である。本研究は、悪性進展を誘導するがん細胞の特性（幹細胞的特性、シグナル伝達異常、エピジェネティック制御など）を分子レベルで解明することを目的とする。こうした機能解析を基盤として、悪性進展を阻止するための鍵となる分子標的を同定して、臨床応用を視野に入れた新しい分子標的治療戦略を構築することを目指す。