Exploration of biomarkers and therapeutic targets for pancreatic ductal papillary mucinous tumor-associated pancreatic cancer from the GNAS pathway

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Kawabata Hidemasa 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50548691)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: IPMN / 膵臓癌 / GNAS / KRAS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMN) is a precancerous lesion of pancreatic cancer characterized by a cyst-like structure due to papillary growth and abundant mucus production, but its morphological characteristics and mechanisms involved in its progression to invasive cancer are unknown. In this analysis, GNAS, an important oncogene for IPMN, acts as a brake on the KRAS pathway through the suppression of Notch, and is considered to have a functional aspect of tumor suppression even though it is an oncogene. It was considered important in the development of drug therapies for pancreatic tumors that target the GNAS pathway.

Free Research Field

膵臓癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

膵癌の前がん病変であるIPMNにおける癌遺伝子KRASとGNASの解析を行うことで、今までにない新たなGNAS経路を標的とする膵癌薬物治療の開発につながる可能性がある。今後も解析を進めていきたい。