Molecular profiling of the residual tumor of ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18180
• 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: Hoshi University (2022); National Cancer Center Japan (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: EBATA TAKAHIRO 星薬科大学, 薬学部, 特任助教 (80769620)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣がん / DNAメチル化 / LRCOL1 / BRCA1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We performed comprehensive methylation microarray analysis in 30 high-grade serous ovarian cancer samples and identified candidate genes which could affect treatment response. For validation, we performed mutation and methylation analysis in an additional 45 samples and identifed LRCOL1 methylation as a prognostic marker (p= 0.0028). Accompanying with this research, we also focused on BRCA1 methylation and established new method for the evaluation of BRCA1 methylation level. As a result, BRCA1 methylation was an indepenedent prognostic factor in patients with high-grade serousovarian cancer.

Free Research Field

Cancer Epigenetics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高悪性度卵巣漿液性腺がんにおける治療効果予測因子の同定は、臨床において患者の予後、治療感受性を推定するうえで重要である。また、LRCOL1のメチル化が卵巣がんにおいてどのような役割を果たしているかを解明することで、新規治療標的の同定につながる可能性がある。また、BRCA1は遺伝子変異が既に確立された予後予測因子であり、既に実臨床で用いられている。遺伝子変異例だけでなくメチル化症例も加えることでより精度の高い予後推定を行える可能性がある。