Identification of novel oncogenes, as targets for amplification in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791441
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: KOMATSU Shuhei 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (40578978)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 増幅遺伝子 / 癌遺伝子 / 食道癌 / 胃癌 / 遊離核酸 / 予後因子 / 分子生物学 / アレイCGH

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recent progress in the human genome project prompted us to re-evaluate additional target genes in cancers. In this study, we tested whether DTL and TMEM206, located at previously reported 1q32-q41 amplicon, acts as a cancer-promoting gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC. Overexpression of DTL and/or TMEM206 protein was frequently detected in primary ESCCs, and significantly correlated with the status of recurrence. Patients with DTL and/or TMEM206-overexpressing tumors had a worse overall survival than those with non-expressing tumors, and DTL and/or TMEM206 was independent prognosticator in the multivariate analysis. Knockdown of DTL or TMEM206 inhibited and ectopic overexpression of DTL and/or TMEM206 promoted the growth of ESCC cells. These findings suggest that DTL and TMEM206 plays an important role in tumor cell growth, and highlight its usefulness as a prognosticator and potential therapeutic target in ESCC.

Free Research Field

食道外科学