What is the melanoma-specific function of novel mutant MITF?

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24700971
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: YOKOYAMA Satoru 富山大学, 和漢医薬学総合研究所, 助教 (90613498)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 悪性黒色腫 / がん遺伝子 / MITF

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Melanoma only diagnosed less than 10% of all form of skin cancer; however, it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer related death. In 2013, it was estimated that 76.690 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in Unites States, and 9.480 people will die due to this disease . When diagnosed in early stage and limited to the skin, the prognosis of melanoma is curable. When it becomes metastatic melanoma, the prognosis is very poor with a 5 years survival rate less than 20%.
By using the grant support, we determined the mechanism of drug-resistance in melanoma and of the suppression of melanoma growth by natural compounds.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学・分子生物学