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Koshikawa Lab
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A lab that explores how cancer becomes malignant through the cleavage of molecules.
AboutAbout the lab
Controlling cancer metastasis at the molecular level.
The Koshikawa Lab investigates how cancer cells acquire malignant traits, using multifaceted approaches that are not bound by traditional disciplines.
The lab focuses on membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MT1-MMP), an enzyme on the cell surface that cleaves other membrane proteins.
It is systematically examining how the diverse malignant traits of cancer arise through processing, in which MT1-MMP partially cleaves proteins.
The lab aims to develop its basic research into translational research and to create novel cancer treatments and diagnostics.
Key terms
- Metalloproteinase
- An enzyme that uses metal ions to cleave proteins. MT1-MMP is one located in the cell membrane
- Processing
- The partial cleavage of a protein, after which it takes on a function different from the original
- Biomarker
- A substance in blood, urine, or other samples that serves as a clue to the presence or progression of a disease
NewsLab news
Accepting applications for lab tours for third-year undergraduates
A doctoral student's paper received the Osumi Journal Award
Several master's students received Outstanding Presentation Awards in Master's Thesis Research Planning II
Press release on joint research with Osaka University on the cleaved fragment of EphA2
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates how cancer cells acquire malignant traits, using multifaceted analytical approaches that are not confined to a single research field. Focusing on MT1-MMP and its substrates, it aims to generate new cancer therapies and diagnostics.
*Illustrative imageEphA2 Cleavage and Cancer Malignancy
EphA2, a receptor abundant in cancer, has its ligand-binding region cut off by MT1-MMP. The lab considers that the remaining fragment acts as a mediator of signals that promote malignant transformation, and is building a foundation for drug discovery based on this molecular mechanism.
*Illustrative imageDetecting Cancer with Laminin γ2 Monomer
The lab has created an antibody that selectively captures laminin γ2 monomer, an extracellular matrix protein that appears only in malignant cancer cells. Together with university hospitals in Japan and abroad, it is verifying the clinical performance of this antibody as a biomarker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma and bladder cancer.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis by Mathematical Simulation
The lab measures intracellular signals in multiple dimensions and over time using reverse-phase protein arrays, and builds mathematical models from the resulting data. It uses simulation to predict the behavior of signals that control cancer malignancy, which is hard to see in experiments, and confirms the predictions experimentally.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Koshikawa Lab are faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, researchers, technical support staff, and administrative support staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorKoshikawa NaohikoPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorNobuaki FunahashiPublications ↗
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Cancer cells” Dr. Cecil Fox (Photographer) / Public domain (cropped)
- EphA2 Cleavage and Cancer Malignancy: “Protein MMP2 PDB 1ck7” Emw / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Detecting Cancer with Laminin γ2 Monomer: “Antibody IgG1 structure” Tokenzero / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Analysis by Mathematical Simulation: “Chaos Theory & Double Pendulum - 1” Cristian V. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (小倉研究室): “Fluorescence of porphyrine” Sunmosk / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (林研究室): “1D electrophoresis gel with Cy dyes” Jean-Etienne Poirrier / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (門之園研究室): “Antibody IgG1 surface” Tokenzero / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (中村・岡田研究室): “Boron neutron capture therapy (bnct) illustration” Pat Kenny (Illustrator) / Public domain (cropped)
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