Study on the epigenomic mechanism of DGKalpha to overcome drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19516
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 55:Surgery of the organs maintaining homeostasis and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Taketomi Akinobu 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (70363364)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北村 秀光 東洋大学, 理工学部, 教授 (40360531)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: DGKα / 抗がん剤耐性 / エピゲノム制御 / がん治療 / 肝がん / 胃がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

DGKα was known to function as a growth factor for various cancer cells. We found that DGKα expression levels increased in various gastrointestinal cancer cell lines, including hepatocellular carcinoma, upon stimulation with cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Based on the results, we considered the possibility that DGKα is involved in anticancer drug resistance in cancer cells. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism. We found that demethylation treatment in cancer cell lines increases DGKα expression. The results indicated that DGKα expression may be regulated in part by epigenomic changes.

Free Research Field

消化器外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

消化器がん治療における問題点の一つである抗がん剤耐性を克服するための耐性化メカニズムの一端を解明する研究成果であり、新規治療法および治療薬開発を目指した基礎的なエビデンスを構築した。