The Development of Novel Therapy Targeting Differentiation in Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09589
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Eisuke 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 中央病院, 医長 (40365292)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肉腫 / 分化 / 脱分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Two studies were conducted to develop therapeutic agents focusing on sarcoma differentiation: First, the Wint signaling regulator TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK) were examined for their usefulness as therapeutic targets in sarcoma. The second is the clinical application of a novel drug focusing on the malignant transformation mechanism of sarcoma, i.e., dedifferentiation. Focusing on the mechanism of chondrosarcoma dedifferentiation, we were able to prove a new form of chondrosarcoma dedifferentiation by genetic analysis.

Free Research Field

骨軟部腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

希少がんである肉腫では治療開発が進まず、医師主導での研究で見つかった有望なシーズを臨床応用に繋げることが求められている。今回の研究は滑膜肉腫や軟骨肉腫など、予後不良かつ治療選択のすくない肉腫において新たな視点で治療開発に応用できる可能性を有した結果を得ることができた。学術的にも社会的にも極めて意義深いと考える。脱分化に関しては引き続きの研究を継続中である。