Faculty
Development of Novel Immunotherapy for Refractory Cancers
In recent years, there has been increasing attention on the ability of immune checkpoint inhibitors to activate immune cells against cancer cells. However, there are still some patients who cannot be cured with these drugs.
Our laboratory focuses on developing effective immunotherapies for cancers that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pancreatic cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma. Specifically, we are conducting preclinical research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms and applying them to therapy, focusing on immunogenic cell death (ICD), where cancer cells are effectively recognized by immune cells while undergoing cell death when certain drugs are added. Moreover, we are developing genetically modified T cell therapies, also known as "living drugs," using T cell receptor genes specific to antigens highly expressed in cancer cells.
These studies are conducted through translational research, where the results of basic research are applied to clinical practice, and reverse translational research, where questions arising from clinical practice are addressed through basic research.