CDKN3 as a new target of anti-cancer treatment overcoming the resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08393
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUBARA JUNICHI 京都大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (40782371)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岩田 浩明 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定准教授 (40613328)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 食道癌 / 大腸癌 / CDKN3 / 抗がん薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have focused on the CDKN3 function in terms of chemo-sensitivity of cancer cells. Since the CDKN3 amplification is detected not only in colorectal cancer but esophageal squamous cell cancers (ESCC), we performed the in vitro chemotherapy experiments in ESCC cells. CDKN3 is known to play an important role in cell cycle, and paclitaxel works in mitotic phase of cell cycle as well. We have found that CDKN3 knock-down in ESCC cells significantly enhanced the chemo-sensitivity to paclitaxel (unpublished data). We also found that CDKN3 knocked-down cancer cells exposed to paclitaxel had more than three centrosomes, and consequently head into apoptosis because of the abnormal cell division.

Free Research Field

抗がん薬

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

CDKN3の生物学的意義については、大腸癌や食道癌に限らず多くの固形癌において共有されている可能性があり、CDKN3阻害により殺細胞性抗癌剤に対する治療抵抗性の克服が実現されれば、多くの癌患者の治療成績向上が達成される。