Repurposing antiretroviral drugs for endometrial carcinoma with LINE1 expression

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18230
• 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: Iwate Medical University (2023-2024); Saitama Medical University (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Sho 岩手医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (90749863)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 婦人科腫瘍 / 子宮体がん / LINE-1 / NNRTIｓ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed the expression of LINE-1 ORF1p in endometrial cancer cells using Western blotting, with previously reported ovarian cancer cell lines serving as positive controls. Subsequently, we investigated the potential therapeutic implications of LINE-1 expression in endometrial cancer, focusing on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) due to LINE-1’s classification as a retrotransposon, which shares genetic dynamics with HIV. To evaluate the tumor growth inhibitory potential of NNRTIs, we conducted in vitro experiments using endometrial cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor cells, confirming a suppressive effect on cell proliferation. These findings suggest the possible application of NNRTIs in endometrial cancer treatment, though further research is required to validate their efficacy.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

子宮体がんはもっとも罹患率の高い婦人科がんである。特に40歳代から増加し、50歳から60歳代の周閉経期で最も多くなる。近年は食生活の欧米化などに伴い罹患率はさらに増加している。子宮体がんにはタイプIといわれるエストロゲンが関与し高分化類内膜癌が主な組織型である比較的予後が良いタイプとタイプIIといわれる高異型度の予後不良なタイプが存在する。特にタイプIIは治療抵抗性であり、新しい治療法の開発が急務と考えられる。