World’s Largest Gastric Cancer Genomic Study Reveals Treatment Targets for Japanese Patients　Alcohol intake link gives hope for improving prevention strategies

March 14, 2023

National Cancer Center
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

In Japanese

Highlights

• An international study analyzed 1,457 gastric cancer genome samples, which constitute the largest pool of such samples in the world. The pool included 697 samples from Japan.
• The genomic analysis reveals an association of the onset of diffuse gastric cancer, a disease with a poor prognosis, with alcohol consumption. Further studies into the etiological mechanisms could lead to more effective prevention strategies.
• The findings are anticipated to elucidate therapeutic targets and biomarkers for gastric cancer in Japan and immunotherapy, presenting a comprehensive understanding of the disease, leading to the development of new treatments and improved prognosis for patients.

Summary

Under the Accelerating Research in Genomic Oncology initiative of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-ARGO), a team led by Dr Tatsuhiro Shibata, Chief of the Division of Cancer Genomics at the Research Institute of the National Cancer Center and Professor at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, conducted an analysis of 1,457 gastric cancer genome samples, which constitute the largest pool of such samples in the world. The study, including 697 samples from Japan, represents progress in the fight against this disease.

The study identified 75 driver genes, representing the largest discovery of its kind, with promising implications for targeted treatment options. The research also shed new light on the etiology of diffuse gastric cancer by establishing a link with genetic variations associated with alcohol intake. Furthermore, the team identified 16 genomic biomarkers for gastric cancer immunotherapy. The findings provide comprehensive insights into the genomics of gastric cancers in Japan, which could help develop more effective treatments and improve prognosis for patients.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics on March 13, 2023 (EST), thanks to the collaboration of the National Cancer Center, the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the Institute of Medical Science, both of the University of Tokyo, the University of Tokyo, Yokohama City University and Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore.

Publication

Journal

Nature Genetics

Title

Multi-ancestral genomic and transcriptomic analyses of gastric cancer

Authors

Yasushi Totoki, Mihoko Saito-Adachi, Yuichi Shiraishi, Daisuke Komura, Hiromi Nakamura, Akihiro Suzuki, Kenji Tatsuno, Hirofumi Rokutan, Natsuko Hama, Shogo Yamamoto, Hanako Ono, Yasuhito Arai, Fumie Hosoda, Hiroto Katoh, Kenichi Chiba, Naoko Iida, Genta Nagae, Hiroki Ueda, Chen Shihang, Shigeki Sekine, Hiroyuki Abe, Sachiyo Nomura, Tetsuya Matsuura, Eiji Sakai, Takashi Ohshima, Yasushi Rino, Khay Guan Yeoh, Jimmy So, Kaushal Sanghvi, Richie Soong, Akihiko Fukagawa, Shinichi Yachida, Mamoru Kato, Yasuyuki Seto, Tetsuo Ushiku, Atsushi Nakajima, Hitoshi Katai, Patrick Tan, Shumpei Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Aburatani, Tatsuhiro Shibata

Publication Date

March 13, 2023(EST)　March 14, 2023(JST)

DOI

10.1038/s41588-023-01333-x

URL

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-023-01333-x（link to external site）

Contacts

Study Inquiries

Tatsuhiro Shibata
Chief, Division of Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute
(double appointment: Professor, Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo)
E-mail: tashibat●ncc.go.jp

Media Inquiries

Office of Public Relations, Strategic Planning Bureau, National Cancer Center Japan
Tel: +81-3-3542-2511; E-mail: ncc-admin●ncc.go.jp

Division for International Affairs office, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
E-mail: koho●ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp