Functional analysis of nicotinamide metabolism in cancer-specific nutrient metabolic pathways

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07565
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Ueno Masaya 金沢大学, がん進展制御研究所, 助教 (20334766)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: がん / 代謝 / 薬剤耐性 / ニコチンアミド代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer cells convert nutrients into energy and show high proliferative capacity, but they also have the ability to resist stress for survival. Various metabolic regulatory mechanisms are involved in the stress response to anti-cancer treatments, and the development of drugs to cancer requires the elucidation of regulation mechanisms of cancer-specific metabolisms. In this study, we aimed to elucidate cancer-specific metabolisms by understanding the functions of nicotinamide metabolic pathways in cancer survival and anti-cancer drug resistance. Through this study, we identified metabolites from the nicotinamide metabolic pathway that induce or, conversely, suppress therapeutic resistance. It was suggested that cancers acquire therapeutic resistance by regulating the balance of these metabolites.

Free Research Field

がん細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がんの根治を目指した治療法の開発には、がん細胞の特性を知り、その制御を司る重要な分子を特定することが必要である。研究代表者らは、がん細胞の代謝調節に着目し研究を進め、ニコチンアミド代謝経路およびその代謝物が抗がん剤耐性に重要であることを明らかにした。これらの知見は、代謝経路の阻害剤と抗がん剤を組み合わせた新たな治療法の確立に貢献することが期待される。