A research group consisting of Associate Professor Takuya Fukasawa of Kawasaki Medical University, Tetsushi Sakuma of Hiroshima University, and Toshikazu Ushijima, Director of the National Cancer Center Research Institute, has used gene transcription regulation technology that applies genome editing to cancer. Succeeded in inhibiting proliferation.

 Genes that play a role in the development and progression of cancer are called driver genes.Currently, small molecule compounds and antibody drugs for this driver gene are being developed for many cancers, but some of these genes are difficult to discover.

 In recent years, a "CRISPR / Cas9" system has been developed that makes it easy to delete or insert a base sequence at an arbitrary position on the genome.Applying this technology, the research group has created a "multi-guide CRISPRi (crisper interface)" that binds to the region of genes related to lung cancer and esophageal cancer and suppresses their expression.It is a new technology that can solve the problems of conventional targeted drug development and can be the basis for developing treatments for cancers for which no targeted drug has been developed, and its development cost is low.

 Many genes necessary for life support are expressed and read in the human body.Its expression regulation is usually performed by binding multiple transcription factors to a DNA region called a promoter.The technology developed this time applies the "CRISPR / Cas9" technology to express transcriptional repressors in cancer cells and binds them to the target location on the promoter of the target driver gene.As a result, the gene information cannot be read and the gene does not work.In animal experiments, inhibition of tumor growth was confirmed.

 This system can also be applied to other cancer-related genes, making it impossible to read multiple target genes at the same time (multi-guide).Furthermore, it is expected to be an innovative technology that can be applied to disease-related genes other than cancer.

Paper information:[Onco target] Development of an integrated CRISPRi targeting ΔNp63 for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma

Hiroshima University

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5 undergraduate faculties and 12 research areas under the five principles of "spirit of seeking peace," "creation of new knowledge," "education to cultivate a rich sense of humanity," "coexistence with local and international communities," and "constant self-transformation." Comprehensive research university with Department 4 Research Institute.Promoting university reforms that focus on both educational and research capabilities, while continuously producing global human resources[…]

Kawasaki Medical School

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The purpose of our university is to train doctors who are capable and able to meet the demands of society.The "good doctors" cultivated by this university are doctors with abundant humanity trusted by patients, doctors with a wide range of knowledge and skills, competent and kind hearts, and holistic medical care rooted in practice. Not only can you, but also a professional doctor […]

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