Development of novel clinical compounds for treating lung squamous cell carcinoma via academic drug discovery

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09185
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55040:Respiratory surgery-related
• Research Institution: Kawasaki Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Naomoto Yoshio 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (00237190)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 深澤 拓也 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20379845) ; 吉田 将和 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 特任研究員 (30868914) ; 湯川 拓郎 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (80388975)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肺癌 / ミッドカイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a novel leading compound termed iMDK, a specific inhibitor of midkine, which is a cancer-specific cytokine (PLoS One. 8: e71093. 2013). In this study, we optimized this leading compound with the technical support of Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research in Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. Candidate compounds were selected from the University of Tokyo's compound library and analyzed for their anti-tumor effects using a cell viability assay that quantified the amount of ATP indicating the presence of metabolically active cells. These results led to the identification of novel compounds that inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells, including lung squamous cell carcinoma, more effectively than the normal lung cells.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

世界で年間約140万人の肺癌死亡があり40万人が扁平上皮癌であることが報告されている。本研究により、手術不能な肺扁平上皮癌に対する新規分子標的療法を開発することができれば、その学術的意義は大きい。またミッドカインの発現のある癌種、PI3Kが活性化している癌種は多く(Muramatsu T J Biochem. 2002, Oglino S et al. Oncogene. 2014)、本研究成果は他種の癌治療にも応用できることが期待される。