OU-MRU Okayama University Medical Research Updates

OU-MRU Vol.46 released on November 30, 2017

New method for suppressing lung cancer oncogene

Researchers at Okayama University describe in Oncotarget an approach for suppressing the expression of the SOX2 protein, an oncogene associated with both lung and esophageal cancer. The procedure, based on the targeted delivery of a specially designed artificial protein, may signify an important step towards new cancer therapies.

Most cancer-related deaths world-wide are caused by lung cancer. For one type of lung cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a protein called SOX2 is known to be a candidate oncogene - a gene that, under certain conditions, can transform a cell into a tumorous cell. A team of researchers led by Professor Takashi Sera from Okayama University has now found a method for suppressing SOX2 expression in cancer cells. The scientists’ approach involves a so-called artificial transcription factor (ATF) - a protein that regulates the production of a gene - and may lead to an effective therapy for not only lung SCC but also esophageal SCC...show more