1. Identification and therapeutic application of stem cells in biliary and pancreatic cancer
Biliary and pancreatic cancers have a high recurrence rate after surgery and are the most incurable cancers that are difficult to treat. One of the factors lies in stem cells involved in treatment resistance. We are working on approaches to elucidate the pathology of stem cells using three-dimensional spheroids.
2. Development of new treatment for neuroendocrine tumor
Neuroendocrine tumors arise from systemic organs, and Ki67, a marker of proliferation that is an indicator of malignancy, varies from tumor to tumor. We are elucidating the mechanisms involved in proliferation based on the relationship between the tumor and the surrounding environment, and are conducting research on therapeutic agents.
3. Model construction and treatment for pancreatic fistula
The perioperative mortality rate after pancreatic surgery is 3% on average nationwide. The greatest complication is the pancreatic fistula, in which the pancreatic juice dissolves the surrounding tissue, and the cause has not been known so far. We have shown that pancreatic pseudocyst infection is involved as a factor in bleeding after pancreatic fistula, and that linear fatty acids damage pancreatic acinar cells themselves and exacerbate pancreatic fistula. We are now developing preventive methods.
4．Phase II clinical study to verify the efficacy of preoperative treatment for pancreatic cancer