Investigation of the mechanism of development and preventive method for endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21665
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 56:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumura Noriomi 近畿大学, 医学部, 教授 (20452336)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村上 幸祐 近畿大学, 医学部, 講師 (60734671) ; 高矢 寿光 近畿大学, 医学部, 講師 (60734689) ; 宮澤 正顯 近畿大学, 医学部, 教授 (60167757)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣癌 / 子宮内膜症 / 遺伝子変異

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (ovarian clear cell carcinoma) with a focus on the mechanism of carcinogenesis. We analysed previously published data and found that the time between the diagnosis of endometriosis and the diagnosis of ovarian cancer was short. This suggests that carcinogenesis from a benign endometriotic cyst is unlikely. In ovarian clear cell carcinoma cases, uterine endometrium and endometriosis were often associated with PIK3CA mutations unrelated to the ovarian tumour, suggesting the presence of abnormal DNA repair mechanisms in the carcinogenesis.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

卵巣癌は予後不良の疾患である。そのなかで明細胞癌は日本で頻度の高い組織型であり、化学療法に抵抗性を示す。卵巣明細胞癌は子宮内膜症と合併することが多く、内膜症関連卵巣癌として知られているが、その発癌メカニズムは明らかになっていない。本研究の成果は、卵巣明細胞癌の発癌メカニズムを明らかにし、その予防や早期発見のための方法を開発するための基礎データとなる。