A joint research group of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University and the Faculty of Data Science, Shiga University has developed a new mathematical analysis method that integrates gene expression levels and DNA methylation modification data, and has become an anticancer drug for esophageal cancer cells. We have identified a novel gene that influences the efficacy of.
Recent cancer studies have revealed that abnormal gene expression and DNA methylation modifications affect cancer formation and progression.For example, in gastric cancer cells, it is known that a gene called NKX6-1 causes abnormal methylation after infection with Helicobacter pylori, leading to recurrence of cancer.Thus, it was known that abnormal gene expression and methylation modification affect the malignancy of cancer, but the amount of data for the expression level and methylation modification amount of all genes (about 22000 genes) is Due to the enormous volume, integrated analysis has been difficult so far.
This time, the research group has developed a new mathematical analysis method that enables integrated analysis of gene expression levels and DNA methylation data.Focusing on "esophageal cancer", which kills 1 people every year, when human esophageal cancer cell data was examined by a mathematical analysis method, the gene expression level increased and the amount of methylation modification decreased specifically for esophageal cancer. We succeeded in identifying the novel gene TRAF4.Furthermore, it was clarified that this gene is a gene that regulates the efficacy of esophageal cancer as an anticancer drug.
By conducting similar analysis for other cancers in the future, it is expected that genes that influence the efficacy of anticancer drugs in various carcinomas can be identified.
