November 11, 2022
Osaka University
National Cancer Center
Keio University School of Medicine
RIKEN
Highlights of the Research Achievements
Developed a polygenic risk score (PRS) that strongly reflects a "genetic predisposition to cancer" for various types of cancer.
A comprehensive investigation of the characteristics of a genetic predisposition to cancer using PRS revealed that individuals with this predisposition develop cancer at a younger age and have fewer accumulated somatic abnormalities (somatic mutations and copy number variations) in their tumors.
Characteristics associated with a genetic predisposition to cancer were commonly observed across various types of cancer.
While it is known that various "environmental factors" such as aging, smoking, and radiation exposure are involved in the onset of cancer, individual "genetic factors," i.e., a "genetic predisposition to cancer," are also known to be important.
A research group led by Shinichi Namba (a student in the Doctoral Programs, Department of Statistical Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University), Professor Yukinori Okada (Department of Statistical Genetics / Team Leader, Laboratory for Systems Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences / Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo), Project Researcher Yuki Saito (Division of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute / Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology), Keio University School of Medicine), and Division Head Keisuke Kataoka (Division of Molecular Oncology / Professor, Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hematology), Keio University School of Medicine) has quantified "genetic predisposition to cancer" using an index called the polygenic risk score (PRS) and comprehensively investigated its effects on various cancer characteristics. They found that people with a genetic predisposition to cancer are not only more susceptible to cancer but also tend to develop it at a younger age and with fewer accumulated somatic abnormalities, a characteristic feature of cancer. These findings are expected to advance the understanding of "genetic predisposition to cancer" and contribute to the promotion of cancer prevention and personalized medicine.
This research was published online in the American scientific journal "Cancer Research" on Thursday, October 27 (JST).
Please see below for the full press release.