Understanding the Carcinogenic Mechanism of High-Grade Serous Carcinoma Based on the Fallopian Tube Origin Hypothesis Using Whole-Exome Sequencing

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18232
• 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: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Kohei 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 特任助教 (10775802)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣癌 / 婦人科腫瘍学 / 境界悪性腫瘍 / 発癌機構 / 遺伝子解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We launched a clinical study involving whole-exome sequencing (WES) of approximately 10,000 cases to enhance the accuracy of next-generation integrated cancer diagnostic systems and establish a Japanese cancer genome database, including numerous ovarian cancer cases from outside our institution. This study also focused on borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), which are considered precursor lesions to ovarian cancer. BOTs, comprising various histological types such as serous, endometrioid, and mucinous, exhibit distinct genetic profiles differing from those of ovarian carcinomas. However, our whole transcriptome analysis revealed that BOTs, regardless of histological type, cluster closely with endometrioid carcinoma (EC). This is the first report of whole transcriptome analysis of BOTs, yielding significant findings crucial for understanding their biological significance.

Free Research Field

臨床腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、卵巣境界悪性腫瘍のWhole transcriptome analysisを行ったところ、境界悪性腫瘍はその組織型に関わらず、類内膜癌とほぼ同一のクラスターに属することが判明した。境界悪性腫瘍のwhole transcriptome analysisの報告はこれまでなく、その生物学的意義を検証するために極めて重要な結果を得ることができた。