An important research finding that could provide a clue for treatment of liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma—two cancers that metastasize rapidly and have poor prognoses—was announced by researchers at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU).

Professor Dae-gon Kim's team at the Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology, Medical School identified for the first time worldwide the function and signaling pathway of the target molecule EphA2 that regulates progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.

The results were published under the title 'Activation of mTORC1 and Raf/Pyk2 by growth factor-mediated EphA2 is required for cholangiocarcinoma growth and metastasis' in the latest issue of Hepatology, the leading SCI journal in the international hepatology field (impact factor 11.7), and have attracted attention from the global academic community.

According to Professor Kim's team, cholangiocarcinoma, whose incidence is increasing both domestically and internationally, is a cancer type with a very poor prognosis; in most cases metastasis has already occurred by the time of diagnosis. Because metastasis is often extensive, it is more difficult to treat than other cancers. In addition, effective therapeutics for liver cancer are still lacking and existing treatments have many side effects. Therefore, Professor Kim's team conducted research to discover target molecules that regulate metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma and to apply them to effective therapies.

In this study, the team confirmed that high expression of EphA2 in cancer cells and tumor tissues is associated with more rapid tumor progression. Cell line experiments revealed that EphA2 expression activates the signaling of 'mTORC1' and 'Raf/Pyk2', molecules known to affect cell growth and function and to influence tumor formation and metastasis. Animal experiments also demonstrated that reducing EphA2 expression suppresses tumor formation and metastasis.

Based on this research, Professor Kim's team has initiated the development of anticancer drugs targeting EphA2 and blocking its pathway, and is currently developing therapeutics using small-molecule compounds.

Professor Dae-gon Kim said, 'This study is significant in that it elucidated the mechanisms of invasiveness and metastasis of liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, and identified target molecules and signaling pathways that can be applied to prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment,' and added, 'We expect that this research will contribute to the development of drugs that inhibit metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma patients and to patient treatment using signaling pathway inhibitors.'