Exploring novel therapeutic target molecules for metaplastic breast carcinoma using comprehensive genome-wide gene expression analyses

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16715
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Yamashita Michiko 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (10809247)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乳癌 / トリプルネガティブ乳癌 / 化生癌 / バイオインフォマティクス / CAPS1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Individualized treatment based on subtype classification based on gene expression profiles has improved treatment outcomes of almost breast cancer. However, metaplastic carcinoma, one of the special types of breast cancer, has not benefited at all from the lack of effective treatment.
We focused on the gene expression profile of metaplastic carcinoma and identified CAPS1 as a candidate gene for a novel therapeutic target using genome-wide big data analysis.CAPS1 is significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues compared to normal mammary tissues. In triple negative breast cancer, we found that the high CAPS1 expression group had a significantly poorer prognosis than the low CAPS1 expression group.Analyses of breast cancer cell lines revealed that CAPS1 is deeply involved in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Free Research Field

乳癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

軟骨化生を伴う乳癌は稀な乳癌であるが、国内外を含めて有効な治療が確立されていない。他のサブタイプの乳癌の治療が発展していく中、化生癌の治療法開発は取り残された課題であり、CAPS1の同定は新規治療法開発に向けた端緒となる可能性があり、その意義は大きい。
がんゲノム医療が国内で急速に普及してきており、今後、ビックデータを臨床現場に応用する手法が必要とされている。このことから、本研究により化生癌を含むトリプルネガティブ乳癌のトランスクリプトーム解析を用いた新規治療法の開発は、今後のゲノム医療時代の治療開発の一つの道筋を示すことにもつなげることができると考える。