A recent study conducted by the National Cancer Center Japan uncovered that Japanese cancer patients have higher rates of mutations in the TP53 gene, a critical tumor-suppressing gene, compared to their American counterparts. This research involved analyzing cancer genomic profiles of 50,000 patients diagnosed with 10 different types of cancers, such as colon cancer, bile duct cancer, and head and neck cancer in Japan. These findings shed light on a significant disparity in genetic mutations between Japanese and American cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of considering genetic variations in developing effective cancer treatments.
Previously, pharmaceutical companies predominantly relied on data collected from the United States and Europe for the development of cancer medications, leading to limited treatment options tailored specifically for Japanese patients. Specifically, the study identified a lack of targeted treatments addressing the TP53 gene mutation in biliary tract cancer, a more common occurrence in Japan compared to America or Europe. This highlights the necessity for drug companies to take into account the genetic differences among various populations, such as Japanese and other Asian cancer patients, in their medication development process.
Dr. Keisuke Kataoka, the chief of the Division of Molecular Oncology at the National Cancer Center Research Institute, highlighted the significance of these findings in potentially paving the way for the development of new cancer drugs suited to the genetic characteristics of Japanese patients. The study's comprehensive analysis, utilizing genomic profiles from the National Cancer Center Japan’s database, marked a notable milestone in unveiling a broader understanding of tumor-causing mutations across different cancer types in Japan, making it one of the largest genomic analysis studies ever conducted in Asia.