Development of screening methods for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in southern China

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25305020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: Mie University
• Principal Investigator: Murata Mariko 三重大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10171141)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OIKAWA SHINJI 三重大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (10277006) ; HIRAKU YUSUKE 三重大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (30324510) ; MA NEI 鈴鹿医療科学大学, 看護学部, 教授 (30263015) ; MIDORIKAWA KAORU 三重大学, 大学院医学系研究科, リサーチアソシエイト (20393366)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 癌 / DNAメチル化 / microRNA / バイオマーカー / 中国南部 / 早期診断法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy with poor prognosis that is endemic to Southern China. We investigated epigenetic alteration in NPC to find biomarker candidates for early detection. We obtained specimens from NPC patients and control subjects written informed consent. DNA and RNA were extracted and analyzed the differences in levels of DNA methylation and microRNA expression. We found promoter hypermethylation (UBE2L6, FSTL1, etc.) and dysregulation of microRNA (down-regulation of miR-497, up-regulation of ebv-miR-BART22, etc.). Furthermore, the concordant down-regulation of miR-497 in tissues and plasma suggested that miR-497 could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for NPC. Treatment with demethylation reagents and transfection of miR-497 mimic restored the gene expression levels, and inhibited cancer phenotypes (cell proliferation and migration and anti-apoptosis) in NPC.

Free Research Field

環境衛生学