Department of Pathology and Oncology
Juntendo University School of Medicine
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Department of Pathology and Oncology
Juntendo University School of Medicine！
We study stromal fibroblasts present in tumor-associated stroma.
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
2025
Matsuda, S., Nakayama, M., Do, Y., Ishiuchi, T., Yagi, M., Wanrooij, S., Nakada, K., Wei, F.-Y., Ichiyanagi, K.,
Sasaki, H., Kang, D., Yasukawa, T. (2025) TEFM facilitates transition from RNA synthesis to DNA synthesis at
H-strand replication origin of mtDNA. Communications Biology, 8(1): 202.
Okazaki, H., Mezawa, Y., Shi, Y., Sakimoto, M., Wang, Z., Ishizuka, A., Yamashita, K., Satoh, A., Koyama, Y.,
Fukumura, Y., Kajino, K., Takano, A., Yokose, T., Yamashita, T., Miyagi, Y., Daigo, Y., Katakura, A., Yasukawa, T.,
Orimo, A. (2025) Expression of lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 in cancer-associated fibroblasts mediates
tumor growth and transdifferentiation toward squamous cell carcinoma in human breast cancer.
Cancer Medicine,14(3): e70627.
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2024
Nakamura, Y., Yasukawa, T., Fukumura, Y., Takeda Y., Imamura, H., Shi, Y., Li, M., Abe, M., Uyama, S.,
Kajino, K., Ishijima, M., Saiura, A., Orimo, A. (2024) Association of stromal type IV collagen and prognosis
in neoadjuvant chemotherapy-treated pancreatic cancer. Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. 54(12), 1261-1271
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2023
Fushimi T, Kobayashi T, Ito H.: CEP164-GLI2 association ensures the hedgehog signaling
in pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 666: 179-185, 2023 New!!
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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.