Search for the unique carcinogenic mechanisms of lung cancer with interstitial pneumonia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17669
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Honda Takayuki 東京医科歯科大学, 東京医科歯科大学病院, 助教 (30827259)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 肺がん / 遺伝子変異 / 間質性肺炎 / 発がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Driver oncogene-independent oncogenic mechanism of lung cancer associated with interstitial pneumonia (IP) was analyzed using whole genome sequencing. Lineage specific gene, NKX2-1, was identified as frequently mutated gene including structural variant in this tumor. These gene aberrations associated with lower expression level of this gene. Target sequencing using surgically resected lung lobe showed accumulation of cancer associated gene mutations in non-cancerous area. These results would be a basis for potentially novel lung carcinogenesis independent from driver oncogene aberrations.

Free Research Field

がんゲノム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

通常型肺癌と比較して予後不良である間質性肺炎(IP)合併肺癌であるが、既存のドライバー遺伝子の異常では説明できない特徴的な発がん関連遺伝子を有することが明らかになった。これまで研究対象として捉えられることが少なかった肺癌において、その発がん機構の解明に繋がる基礎データが得られ、かつそれは既存の分子標的薬が存在せず、新たな標的遺伝子候補とも考えられた。