New ovarian cancer therapy based on synthetic lethality with mitotic kinase inhibition.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18162
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Tamauchi Satoshi 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 病院助教 (50845097)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣癌 / 抗癌剤 / ルテオリン / VRK1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

VRK1 is a serine threonine kinase involved in cell division and is highly expressed in many cancer types. Luteolin is a flavonoid that suppresses the expression of VRK1. We examined the antitumor effect of luteolin on ovarian cancer and its mechanism.
Administration of luteolin inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cell lines. In a mouse model in which tumors from ovarian cancer patients were transplanted, luteolin administration also inhibited tumor growth.
Comprehensive analysis of the genetic changes and other data indicated that the mechanism of the anti-tumor effect of luteolin is the activation of the TP53 pathway, a tumor suppressor gene.

Free Research Field

婦人科悪性腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ルテオリンは緑黄色野菜に含まれるフラボノイドの一つで、癌を抑制する作用が知られているが、卵巣癌での効果を検証した報告はなかった。本研究では卵巣癌患者の腫瘍を用いた動物モデルにおいて、ルテオリンの経口摂取によって癌の増殖を抑制できることを示した。また、なぜルテオリンが癌を抑制するかのメカニズムも検証し示した。
既存の抗がん剤などに比べて、ルテオリンというより自然な成分を用いて、新しいがん治療戦略の可能性を示した。