The impact of obesity and circulating small RNA in the development of endometrial cancer
Background
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer type in the western world, and its incidence is increasing. Obesity is an important risk factor, with more than 40% of all new endometrial cancer cases in northern European countries being attributed to high body mass index. Small RNAs are involved in numerous cellular processes, including the development of cancer. In this study, we will investigate how the expression of circulating small RNA changes towards the endometrial cancer diagnosis by utilizing pre diagnostic samples from the Janus Serum Bank. We will sequence samples from 320 patients with endometrial cancer, donated up to 11 years prior to diagnosis, and compare these to a matched control group. We will investigate how the expression of circulating small RNA changes before diagnosis and how lifestyle factors such as obesity changes the expression of circulating small RNA. Using national health registries, health surveys and biobanks, the goal is to increase our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in the development of endometrial cancer.
Status
Katarina Baumgarten Skogstrøm was hired as lab technician in March 2020. Sequencing of the serum samples started in the fall of 2020, and is expected to be finished within the spring of 2021.
Sina Rostami started as a post doc in this project 1st of March 2021. He will work with the sequencing data of circulating small RNA.
The first article in the project has been published:
Sina Rostami, Trine B. Rounge, Luca Pestarino, Robert Lyle, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Øystein Ariansen Haaland, Rolv T. Lie, Fredrik Wiklund, Tone Bjørge, Hilde Langseth, 2024. "Differential levels of circulating RNAs prior to endometrial cancer diagnosis".
