Roles of tissue degenerative tansscriptional reprogramming in the evolution of head and neck cancer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09576
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Cancer Center
• Principal Investigator: Muneyuki Masuda 独立行政法人国立病院機構(九州がんセンター臨床研究センター), その他部局等, 副院長 (90284504)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: YAP1 / エピジェネティクス / スーパーエンハンサー / 上皮間葉系転換

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism by which YAP1 induces the onset and evolution of head and neck cancer was investigated and several novel findings were elucidated as follows.１．YAP1 activity (protein expression and super enhancer formation) significantly worsen the prognosis of patients.2.YAP1-associated super enhancer and IL6 form a feed forward loop. 3.PITX2 was identified as a novel partner transcription factor of YAP1.4.YAP1/ PITX2 super enhancer promotes lymph node metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Free Research Field

頭頸部癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

癌抑制遺伝子変異を主体とする頭頸部癌は現行の癌ゲノム医療の恩恵を受けていない代表的な癌腫である。本研究結果は頭頸部癌がYAP1の活性に強く依存していることを示しており、現在世界的に開発が進められているYAP1阻害剤の適応癌腫として有望であることを示している。