Development of mRNA splicing modulators to overcome anticancer drug resistance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07202
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University
• Principal Investigator: Fukumura Kazuhiro 藤田医科大学, 医科学研究センター, 講師 (80622117)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: RNAスプライシング / SPF45 / 抗がん剤耐性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The human SPF45 gene has been reported to be overexpressed in cancer cells, conferring resistance to anticancer drugs. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon has not been elucidated. In this study, I showed that SPF45 is a novel regulator essential for mRNA splicing of very short introns in human genes and published their results in two international journals [Fukumura et al. Nat. Commun. 12, 4910 (2021)] et al. Cell Rep. 42, 113534 (2023)]. In cancer cells, overexpression of SPF45 is thought to cause abnormal mRNA splicing.

Free Research Field

腫瘍診断および治療学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究代表者の研究成果から、SPF45過剰発現による抗がん剤耐性獲得機構の一端を理解することができた。これまで、スプライシング制御因子の異常に着目した抗がん剤耐性の獲得機構という研究は前例がなく新しい取り組みと言えるであろう。本研究成果により、抗がん剤耐性獲得メカニズムの研究において新しい領域を開拓できたのではないかと考える。