Novel approach to lung cancer treatment by modulating the key proliferation regulator in tissue development, Id genes

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17691
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53030:Respiratory medicine-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Hirofumi Kiyokawa 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, 研究員 (40790621)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 組織幹細胞 / 発生学 / 肺がん / 呼吸器内科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. However, the detailed mechanism underlying the proliferation of tumor cells, especially squamous lung cancer cells, still remains to be answered. In this research, we successfully revealed that Id2 regulates the proliferation of basal cells, which are known to be the origin of squamous lung cancer. In addition, we also demonstrated that how Id2 gene is regulated in tracheas of embryos and adults, showing that Id2 overexpression results in the basal cell hyperplasia, which is known as a precancerous condition.

Free Research Field

呼吸器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究結果は、難治性肺がんの一つである扁平上皮癌はId2遺伝子の過剰発現により出現することを示唆している。そのため気道上皮におけるId2遺伝子の発現を適切に制御することで、気管上皮細胞のがん化を防げることを示唆している。また肺がん細胞ではId2遺伝子が高発現していることを考えれば、Id2をターゲットした治療法が肺がん治療の新規治療として有用と考えられる。