Investigation of tumor progression mechanism for search of therapeutic targets in combined small cell lung cancer

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17651
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: IIDA Yuko 日本大学, 医学部, 専修医 (60835221)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: small cell lung cancer / ASCL1 / 次世代シーケンシング / heterogeneity / somatic mutations

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In genetic mutation analysis,the same major somatic mutations were shared in the different histological component of combined small cell cancer (cSCLC). The gene expression analysis showed Achaete-scute homolog like 1 (ASCL1) expression was significantly lower in the NSCLC component than in the SCLC component. This study showed that each histological component of cSCLC may be originated from common precursor cells because of common genetic background. And this study suggest differentiation of heterogeneous histological components in cSCLC may be associated with the difference in ASCL1 expression level, not in acquired somatic gene mutations.

Free Research Field

臨床腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

混合型小細胞肺癌 (combined small cell lung cancer: cSCLC)は治療効果が乏しく予後不良な疾患である．cSCLCに対する効果的な治療法の開発は急務であるが，cSCLCの分子生物学的特徴は現在まで十分に分かっていない．本研究では，cSCLC症例の組織検体を用いて，cSCLCに含まれる各組織型部位のタンパク発現，遺伝子発現，遺伝子変異の蓄積状況を解析し，cSCLCの分子生物学的特徴を明らかにすることを目的とした，本研究の成果は，予後不良なcSCLCの効果的な治療法を検討する上で，意義があると考えられる．