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Welcome to the home page of

   Department of Pathology and Oncology 

      Juntendo University School of Medicine!​

We study stromal fibroblasts present in tumor-associated stroma. 

Akira Orimo.jpg

Akira Orimo, Professor, Juntendo University 

CAFs (carcinoma-associated fibroblasts) are composed of myofibroblasts, a hallmark of activated fibroblasts, and quiescent fibroblasts. Significant heterogeneity in stromal fibroblast populations of tumor stroma indicates their distinct biological roles. Tumor-promoting CAFs boost invasion and metastasis as well as drug resistance in apposed carcinoma cells. Once established, such tumor-promoting ability is stably maintained without the ongoing interaction with carcinoma cells, indicating that tumor-promoting CAFs are a promising therapeutic target. We focus on investigating the CAFs’ origin, CAFs differentiation process from their progenitors and CAF-tumor cell interactions at molecular levels.

INFORMATION

​2023

​ Sep 2023    Mezawa Y, Wang T, Daigo Y, Takano A, Miyagi Y, Yokose T, Yamashita T, Yang L, Maruyama R,

                    Seimiya H, Orimo A.: Glutamine deficiency drives TGF-β signaling activation that gives rise to

                    myofibroblastic carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. Cancer Science, 2023.  New!!

                    DOI: 10.1111/cas.15955 

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Aug 2023  Koyama Y, Okazaki H, Yang S, Mezawa Y, Wang Z, Sakimoto M, Ishizuka A, Ito Y, Koyama T,

                 Daigo Y, Takano A, Miyagi Y, Yokose T, Yamashita T, Sugahara K, Hino O, Yang L, Maruyama R,

                 Katakura A, Yasukawa T, Orimo A.*: Increased RUNX3 expression mediates tumor-promoting

                 ability of human breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer Med., 2023.   New!!

                 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6421

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Sep 2023   Vail M.E, Farnsworth R.H, Hii L, Allen S, Arora S, Anderson R.L, Dickins R.A, Orimo A, Wu S.Z,

                   Swarbrick A, Scott A.M, Janes P.W.: Inhibition of EphA3 expression in tumour stromal cells suppresses

                   tumour growth and progression. Cancers, 2023   New!!

 

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Apr 2023   Koyanagi A, Kajino K, Nojiri S, Abe M, Kobayashi T, Sugitani Y, Yue L, Ohtsuji N, Arakawa A,

                  Sato T, Takahashi K, Suzuki K, Orimo A, Yao T, Hino O.: Serum levels of N- and C-ERC/Mesothelin and

                  clinicopathological factors in mesothelioma patients and those without mesothelioma.

                  Juntendo Medical J. 69(2): 124-136, 2023     New!!

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2023          Escudero-Esparza A, Bartoschek M, Gialeli C, Okraj M, Owen S, Jirström K, Orimo A, Jiang W.G., Pietras

                  K and Blom A.M.: Correction: Complement inhibitor CSMD1 acts as tumor suppressor in human breast

                  cancer. Oncotarget, 2023, 14:481-482. Doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.28426.      New!!

​2021

Oct 2021  Dr. Tominaga received the grant from the Naito Foundation, Japan. New!!

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Sep 2021 We presented our research at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association.

New!! 

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Aug 2021  Dr. Tominaga received Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. New!!

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Aug 2021  A new Japanese review (Yodosha) released from Dr. Tominaga and Dr. Orimo.  New!!

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July 2021  Dr. Nakamura (Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine) joined as a Ph.D. corse student. New!!

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June 2021  Shi Yang joined as a research student. New!!

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April 2021  Wang Zixu, Wang Tingwei and Misaki had the enrollment.

                  Ri Mu joined as a research student.

                  Dr. Okazaki joined as a Ph.D. course student.

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April 2021  Dr. Yasukawa received Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. 

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Jan 2021 Dr. Takehiro Yasukawa was appointed to an Associate Professor.

​2020

Dec 2020 Dr. Kana Tominaga was appointed to an Assistant Professor. 

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Nov 2020 Dr. Kazunari Yamashita was appointed to an Assistant Professor.

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Nov 2020 Mezawa Y. and Orimo A., invited review article was accepted by FEBS J.

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March 1, 2020 Dr. Akira Orimo was appointed to a professorship at the Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University.

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Jan 22, 2020 Dr. Orimo lectured to 7 students from National Defense Medical Center programmed by AMSA (Asian Medical Students'Association (https://amsajapan.wixsite.com/amsajapan)) on cancer biology.  

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