Role of E3 complex in hepatocellular carcinoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15937
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Miyagi Prefectural Hospital Organization Miyagi Cancer Center
• Principal Investigator: Fukushi Daisuke 地方独立行政法人宮城県立病院機構宮城県立がんセンター(研究所), がん幹細胞研究部, 共同研究員 (70816446)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, cancer stem cells have been identified in cancerous tissues. Since cancer stem cells exist in the dormant phase (G0 phase), they are highly resistant to anticancer drugs and irradiation and are the major cause of treatment resistance. Therefore, induction of quiescent cancer stem cells into the normal cell cycle would lead to effective cancer therapy. In this study, we found that hepatocellular carcinoma cells are induced into quiescence by BEX2 and exhibit cancer stem cell properties.

Free Research Field

がん生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肝細胞癌は肝内転移など根治の困難な疾患である。固形がんの撲滅には治療抵抗性であるがん幹細胞の性質を知り、新規治療法に結びつける必要がある。本研究から、肝細胞癌はBEX2によって静止期に誘導され、がん幹細胞形質を発揮することがわかった。今後も知見を積み重ね、臨床応用への道を探る。