[의학신문·일간보사=이승덕 기자]A research team at the National Cancer Center has found a clue to the development of a new treatment that suppresses the invasion of surrounding normal tissues in malignant brain tumors.
National Cancer Center and International Cancer Graduate University (President Hong-Kwan Seo) Professor Jong-bae Park and Joon-Hee Hong, assistant professor of industry-academia cooperation, and Dean Seung-Hoon Lee, Dean of Eulji University School of Medicine (Dean Seung-Hoon Lee), have a research team with receptor molecules that make malignant brain tumors infiltrate the entire brain, making surgery and radiation I discovered a drug that controls it. The research team presented the results of this study in BRAIN (IF 11.3), a world-renowned journal.
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| (From left) Professor Jong-bae Park, Joon-Hee Hong, Assistant Professor for University-Industry Cooperation, and Dean Seung-Hoon Lee |
In malignant brain tumors, the research team discovered NgR1, a regulatory protein of tumor cells that move along the cranial nerve circuit, and the mechanism by which Pimozide regulates the expression of this protein to inhibit tumor invasion was investigated in patient-derived brain tumor cell line experiments and animals. I confirmed it through an experiment.
In addition, it was found that pimozide, which is used clinically as an existing antipsychotic drug, increases NgR1 expression by antagonizing USP1/ID1, an upregulator of NgR1.
In oligodendroglial cells, glycoproteins such as reticulon 4, OMgp, and MAG are labeled on the cell membrane to inhibit the movement of cells or the expansion of axons in brain tissue.NgR1 (Nogo receptor 1) is a disaccharide. As a receptor for proteins, it is known to be related to the regeneration process of axons and plasticity of nerve tissues after nerve damage by transmitting signals into nerve cells to inhibit the growth of axons.
USP1 (Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that removes ubiquitin from ubiquitinated proteins so that a specific protein does not enter the degradation pathway and helps a larger number of cells function for a long time.
The research team revealed that it is expected that pimozide can control highly invasive brain tumors that cannot be operated.
“Through this study, we have confirmed that NgR1 is an important receptor in inhibiting the widespread invasion of malignant brain tumors through the cranial nerve circuit,” said Hong Jun-hee, assistant professor of industry-academia cooperation.
Professor Park Jong-bae said, “If an inhibitor with proven stability, such as Pimozide discovered in this study, is applied in combination with the existing standard treatment, it will be able to contribute to improving the survival rate of patients with malignant brain tumors by continuously suppressing the invasion of the brain tumors to the cranial nerve circuits.” Explained.
Dean Seung-Hoon Lee, a co-corresponding author, said, “We expect that clinical applications will be possible not only in brain tumors but also in other carcinomas through additional clinical verification and research in the future.”