A study of over 100 nasopharyngeal cancer patients has uncovered the
genetic basis of the disease and identified possible drug targets.
AsianScientist
(Jun 27, 2014) –
A team of scientists from Singapore has identified a distinct mutational
signature and nine mutated genes associated with nasopharyngeal cancer, paving
the way to developing novel therapies for this deadly disease. The research has
been published in the journal Nature Genetics.
The
study, led by Professor H. Phillip Koeffler, Senior Principal Investigator at
the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Deputy Director of National
University Cancer Institute of Singapore, is the first comprehensive genomic
study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; a disease with such an usually high
prevalence in Southern China that it is sometimes known as “Cantonese cancer”.
The findings provide an enhanced road map for the study of the molecular basis
of this form of cancer.
Nasopharyngeal
carcinoma arises from the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx, the upper part
of the throat behind the nose. Unlike cancers that have been extensively
studied, such as breast and colon cancers, there is currently a limited
understanding of the molecular biology of nasopharyngeal cancer. To date, no
targeted therapy has been established and there is an urgent need for a
comprehensive genomic landscape of this disease to guide the development of
novel therapies.
In this
study, the researchers analysed the DNA and proteins of over 100 nasopharyngeal
cancer patients in Singapore. The research revealed that many genes are mutated
and dysfunctional in the nasopharyngeal tumour cells, some of which cause and
exacerbate the disease. Furthermore, the study uncovered a number of novel
druggable candidates, proteins that are suitable drug targets due to their
ability to bind with high affinity.
Dr. Lin
Dechen, research fellow at CSI Singapore and first author of the paper, said,
“This malignancy has been somewhat neglected because nasopharyngeal cancer is
very rare in the US and Europe. However, the disease is particularly common in
Southeast Asia, especially Singapore. Our current study offers immediate
translational significance for nasopharyngeal cancer research, specifically,
for identifying tailored targeted therapies for the patients, who continue to
suffer because to date, no such regimens have been established.”
Prof.
Koeffler said, “We wanted to boost the understanding of the etiology as well
biology of nasopharyngeal cancer with the hope for improvements in diagnostics,
prognostics and therapy, which will promote the well-being of Singaporeans. By
completely deciphering all human genes at the single nucleotide level, our
current findings provide an important foundation for the study of the molecular
basis underlying this malignancy.
“More
importantly, many potential therapeutic drugs have surfaced from our analysis,
with some of them already in use for treating other types of tumours. Therefore,
the results have the potential to rapidly facilitate the development of novel
treatment strategies for nasopharyngeal cancer patients.”
With
the discovery of these previously unrecognised genetic defects in
nasopharyngeal cancer, Prof. Koeffler and his team will explore the detailed
molecular mechanisms of these defects in the next phase of research. Associate
Professor Loh Kwok Seng from NUH and NCIS, as well as Associate Professor Goh
Boon Cher and Associate Professor Lee Soo Chin, from CSI Singapore and NCIS,
who are authors of the paper and doctors to many of the patients involved in
the study, will evaluate whether some of the genetic defects can be explored in
the clinic to effectively treat this disease.
The
article can be found at: Lin et al. (2014) The Genomic Landscape of
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
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