Cancer virus therapy, gene and cell therapy

Gene and cell therapy, cancer treatment

In this department, we conduct research and development into gene and cell therapy for intractable cancers and hereditary diseases.

(1) Development of cancer viral therapy
1. Development of anti-cancer viruses
• Oncolytic adenovirus: malignant mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, etc.
• Proliferative retroviruses: malignant mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc.
②Development of a new delivery method for anticancer viruses

(2) Development of gene and cell therapy for intractable genetic diseases
① Cell and gene therapy for epidermolysis bullosa
② Cell and gene therapy for congenital metabolic disorders

(3) Development of cell visualization and tracking techniques and creation of cancer-bearing models
① Cell labeling using lentiviral vectors
②Development of cell- and tissue-specific expression systems
③ Creation of a metastatic cancer model that can be evaluated by in vivo imaging

We have two RRV therapy technologies that can lead to personalized viral therapy.
We are also developing new delivery methods that will lead to the development of new treatments.
Additionally, we are currently searching for drugs that can increase RRV infectivity and enhance the efficacy of treatment.

We design, construct, and own various vectors that are useful for developing treatments for intractable diseases.
Additionally, our laboratory has specialized techniques such as forced gene expression and knockdown using gene transfer and manipulation techniques, and cell visualization and tracking techniques using in vivo imaging.
Furthermore, we have extensive experience in collaborative research with many laboratories both in Japan and overseas, and have achieved many successful results.

Development of new treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs such as the following:

• Metastatic cancer with distant metastasis or peritoneal dissemination
• Hereditary incurable diseases

We believe it would be possible to verify and jointly develop technologies (from companies) that are deemed useful for cell culture and virus production.

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1. Enhanced antitumor efficacy of fiber-modified, midkine promoter-regulated oncolytic adenovirus in human malignant mesothelioma. Takagi-Kimura M, Yamano T, Tamamoto A, Okamura N, Okamura H, Hashimoto-Tamaoki T, Tagawa M, Kasahara N, Kubo S. Cancer Sci. 2013 Nov;104(11):1433-9. PMID: 23962292
2. Oncolytic virotherapy for osteosarcoma using midkine promoter-regulated adenoviruses. Takagi-Kimura M, Yamano T, Tagawa M, Kubo S. Cancer Gene Ther. 2014 Mar;21(3):126-32. PMID: 24577130
3. Highly efficient tumor transduction and antitumor efficacy in experimental human malignant mesothelioma using replicating gibbon ape leukemia virus. Kubo S, Takagi-Kimura M, Logg CR, Kasahara N. Cancer Gene Ther. 2013 Dec;20(12):671-7. PMID: 24201868
4. Efficient tumor transduction and antitumor efficacy in experimental human osteosarcoma using retroviral replicating vectors. Kubo S, Takagi-Kimura M, Kasahara N. Cancer Gene Ther. 2019 Feb;26(1-2):41-47. PMID: 30042500
5. Dual-vector prodrug activator gene therapy using retroviral replicating vectors. Kubo S, Takagi-Kimura M, Tagawa M, Kasahara N. Cancer Gene Ther. 2019 May;26(5-6):128-135. PMID: 30348946