Novel therapeutic approach against glioblastoma targeting differentiation-related gene, NDRG1

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16804
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Hiroshi 佐賀大学, 医学部, 助教 (50795375)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 膠芽腫 / NDRG1 / DIF-1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor. It had been reported that N-myc downstream regulated gene1 (NDRG1) suppresses oncogenesis in various cancers. We had reported that NDRG1 protein expression correlates with favorable prognosis in patients with GBM, and NDRG1 overexpression suppresses GBM cell growth. In this study, we further asked how NDRG1 suppresses GBM cell growth. Further, we showed Differentiation inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) increases NDRG1 expression in GBM cells and its mechanism. Finally, we presented enhancing NDRG1 expression could be a promising approach to the development of potent and novel anti-GBM therapeutics.

Free Research Field

脳腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

NDRG1は腫瘍抑制的な働きが注目されているが、NDRG1を標的とした治療はない。本研究では、NDRG1による細胞の増殖抑制機序や、NDRG1発現を誘導するDIF-1の作用機序を解明することで、NDRG1を標的とした患者予後を改善する新たなGBM治療を提示する事ができる点に学術的、社会的に意義がある。
さらに、本研究の成果はGBM治療に新たな治療を提示するばかりでなく、NDRG1が腫瘍抑制的に機能する他がん腫を含めたがん治療に大きく貢献できる可能性がある。