The Role of Key Paligenosis Gene IFRD1 in Gastric Carcinogenesis
Abstract
Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer in the world with dismal prognosis, thus necessitating an urgent need for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Service Members and their families are at higher risk than the general American population for gastric cancer. Through studies from multiple researchers for a long time, we now know that bacteria named Helicobacter pylori can cause stomach-lining cells to change their nature so that they become more prone to becoming cancerous. This pre-cancer process is called metaplasia. However, we do not know how cancer cells are actually formed from these metaplastic cells. If we understood metaplasia, we might be able to prevent cancer from forming and revert the cells to normal. Recently, the PI, his colleagues, and others have been finding evidence that cells that perform a specialized function and seldom divide (aka differentiated cells) may be the ones that mostly give rise to metaplasia and cancer. In the stomach, for example, cells referred to as chief cells are specialized in secreting digestive enzymes. They are long-lived and seldom divide. However, when injured, chief cells can proliferate to repair the organ. We believe this call to arms comes at the cost of cancer risk because proliferation can increase mutation accumulation. The PI is a gastroenterologist who focuses on gastric cancer in the research lab. He is committed not only to using basic science to understand cell behavior in gastric cancer but also to finding new anti-cancer treatment strategy. Through the findings in this project, he hopes to develop improved detection, prevention, and treatment modalities for gastric cancer. Also, this award will provide support for his research during this critical time as he develops into an independent scientist and clinician. Specifically, his research proposes to look at a key factor, IFRD1, that is important not only for the regeneration but also for carcinogenesis in the stomach. The PI believes that IFRD1 is involved in stomach cancer development through suppressing a critical protein named p53, which is known to protect us from developing cancer. He proposes that IFRD1 does this by binding to and halting the protein-producing function of the ribosome, the part of the cellular machinery that produces all the proteins we need to survive. Through the findings from our study, supported by this grant, the PI and his colleagues hope to find a novel mechanism that will solve the enigma of cancer that hampers us from expecting better prognosis, and develop new therapeutic strategy as well. In summary, the PI seeks to study whether a key metaplasia-regulating factor, IFRD1, is involved in cancer formation in the stomach. A thorough investigation into the origins and novel mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis will lead to better prevention strategies, earlier diagnostic tests, and more effective treatments that will improve mission readiness for active-duty Service Members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210327
Entities
People
- Charles Cho
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine
- United States Army