Epigenetic Regulation as a New Therapeutic Target for Middle Ear Cholesteatoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18786
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Masahiro Takahashi 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (50581691)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 真珠腫 / 鼓室形成術 / エピジェネティック / 部分的上皮－間葉転換

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In addition to the previously reported excessive proliferation of epithelial cells and fibroblasts caused by cytokine networks induced by inflammation and bacterial infection, basal cell papillary proliferation due to epigenetic changes and partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by p63 expression has been newly suggested. Recent drug discovery research has led to the clinical development of direct inhibitors of epigenetic regulation, and several therapeutic agents are already commercially available, with the goal of applying them to the curative treatment of middle ear pearl tumors in the future. However, the dynamics of all the cells that make up middle ear pearl tumors and the changes in gene expression have not yet been elucidated, and further development is expected.

Free Research Field

耳科手術

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

真珠腫に対する根治的治療は外科的切除のみであり、依然として再発率が高い。保存的治療および再発予防は重要な研究分野である。本研究ではエピジェネティックな変化に着目し、真珠腫に対する保存的治療の可能性を初めて報告した。