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Tumor Biology (Molecular Pathology) Lab
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A lab that elucidates the mechanisms of epigenomic abnormalities and works on developing therapeutic drugs and diagnostic methods.
AboutAbout the lab
Elucidating epigenomic abnormalities to advance diagnosis and treatment
The Tumor Biology (Molecular Pathology) Lab studies abnormalities in epigenetics, the mechanism that determines how genes are used, with a particular focus on cancer.
Within the epigenome, the lab focuses on long non-coding RNAs, which are not translated into proteins, conducting basic research while aiming to apply the findings to diagnosis and treatment.
The lab aims to detect cancer-specific epigenomic abnormalities early and reliably for use in diagnosis, and is developing new treatment strategies that suppress cancer with epigenome-targeting drugs.
Since 2024, the lab has been conducting an investigator-initiated clinical trial for glioblastoma of a therapeutic drug targeting TUG1, a long non-coding RNA essential for cancer growth.
Key terms
- Epigenetics
- The mechanisms that determine how the genes on DNA are used
- Epigenome
- A collective term for the marks (chemical modifications such as methylation) attached to genes on DNA that indicate whether they are used or not
- Long non-coding RNA
- Among non-coding RNAs, which are not translated into proteins, those that are 200 nucleotides or longer
- Glioblastoma
- A type of intractable brain tumor
NewsLab news
A student received the Young Scientist Award at the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association
A student received the Best Discusser Award at the FY2025 Technical Workshop for Supporting Young Researchers
At the Basic Research Placement presentation, students received the top award and an excellence award
A student received the Best Discusser Award at the FY2024 Technical Workshop for Supporting Young Researchers
An Assistant Professor received a Poster Award at the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer
ResearchResearch themes
Epigenomic abnormalities cause various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders, through dysregulation of cell differentiation and proliferation. Among the gene regulation abnormalities involved in disease onset, this lab focuses on long non-coding RNAs in its basic research, aiming to apply the findings to diagnosis and treatment.
*Illustrative imageLong non-coding RNAs and cancer
The lab discovered TUG1, a long non-coding RNA produced in cells when a problem occurs in DNA replication. In glioblastoma, where TUG1 is highly expressed, inhibiting it induces cell death, and since February 2024 the lab has been conducting an investigator-initiated clinical trial of a drug that targets it.
*Illustrative imageFibroblasts and cancer progression
In mice that develop pancreatic cancer, the lab analyzed gene expression and the epigenome of the tumor and stroma at the single-cell level. It found that myCAFs, a type of cancer-associated fibroblast, include multiple subtypes whose characteristics change as pancreatic cancer progresses.
*Illustrative imageBacterial infection, endometriosis, and cancer
The lab found that Fusobacterium infection is highly frequent in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis. In a mouse model, infection worsened the lesions and eradicating the bacteria improved them. The lab is also studying the effect on the development of ovarian cancer.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Tumor Biology (Molecular Pathology) Lab consist of faculty, researchers, visiting researchers, doctoral and master's students, and research assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorYutaka Kondo
- Associate ProfessorKeiko Shinjo
- Assistant ProfessorMiho Suzuki
- Assistant ProfessorTakenori Nishimura
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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: “Laboratory (2)” Linda Bartlett (Photographer) / Public domain (cropped)
- Long non-coding RNAs and cancer: “A-DNA, B-DNA and Z-DNA” Original uploader was Richard Wheeler (Zephyris) at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Fibroblasts and cancer progression: “Indian Muntjac fibroblast cells ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Bacterial infection, endometriosis, and cancer: “Fusobacterium novum 01” Dr.V.R.Dowell / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Respiratory Medicine Lab): “Device for Spirometry or Body Plethysmography 02” Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Genetics Lab): “Elektrof” Stefan Walkowski / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Oncology (Cancer Cells) Lab): “Gel electrophoresis apparatus demonstration” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nagoya University Menard Collaborative Research Lab): “Laboratory microbiological shaker with cultures-01” real name: Matylda Sęk pl.wiki: Cygaretka commons: Cygaretka / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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