Identification of genes which shows synthetic lethality in malignant mesothelioma cells and application of them in clinics

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25290053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor diagnostics
• Research Institution: Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: SEKIDO YOSHITAKA 愛知県がんセンター(研究所), 分子腫瘍学部, 副所長兼部長 (00311712)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MURAKAMI Yuko (TONAMI Yuko) 愛知県がんセンター(研究所), 分子腫瘍学部, 主任研究員 (70405174)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: がん / 腫瘍抑制遺伝子 / ゲノム / 悪性中皮腫 / 合成致死

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Malignant mesothelioma is a highly refractory disease against conventional therapies. Since major genes responsible for malignant mesothelioma development are primarily tumor suppressor genes, it is very difficult to develop molecular target drugs based on these specific gene mutations. We focused on the BAP1 tumor suppressor gene, which is one the most frequently mutated in malignant mesothelioma, and performed genetic screening to identify genes which show synthetic lethality with this genes (synthetic lethality means that simultaneous alterations of two genes induce cell death of cancer cells but not normal cells). We found that several interesting genes show synthetic lethality with BAP1 mutation and can be applied for promising targets for new molecular target therapy against malignant mesothelioma.

Free Research Field

分子腫瘍学