Study on Telomere Elongation in Malignant Tumors and its Implications for Radiotherapy: Effects and Considerations

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08074
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan (2023); Kanazawa University (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Inaki Anri 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 先端医療開発センター, 分野長 (40645131)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀧 淳一 金沢大学, 医学系, 協力研究員 (10251927)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 核医学治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate telomere alternative lengthening (ALT) observed in some malignant tumors, we generated xenograft mouse models using SK-N-F1 cells and unreported SK-N-SH cells for in vivo imaging. Various evaluations of telomere elongation were conducted. To assess the impact of radiation, we administered I-131MIBG, a radiopharmaceutical emitting β-particles causing cellular damage and taken up by neuroblastoma cells, followed by Flow-FISH, FISH with semi-quantitative telomere length assessment using PIPA, and imaging with I-125 labeled compound via PIPA. However, no significant correlation was observed between telomere length and administered radiation dose (radiation dose to the tumor).

Free Research Field

放射線医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

テロメア代替延長（ALT）は、一部の悪性腫瘍で認められるテロメア長維持機構であり、細胞の不死性に強くかかわっている。そのため、テロメア長の生体内イメージングは、腫瘍の悪性度、治療効果判定に極めて有用であることが予測され、放射線診断において極めて有用なプローブとなり、これを用いた抗腫瘍薬の開発につながるものと考えられたが、本研究においては開発に至らなかった。