It is essential for clinicians to investigate the mechanisms of tumor metastasis, local recurrence and peritoneal dissemination which may occur even after curative surgery. We are particularly focusing on cancer stem cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which may lead to better understanding of some problematic phenomena in cancer patients. In this context, we are attempting to find methods targeting either cancer stem cells or EMT for clinical application. For instance, the role of the novel EMT inducer identified by our group will be analyzed particularly in relation to activation of the TGF-B pathway.
We are also attempting to generate human caner stem cell-like cells by transfection of human gastric cancer cells with 4 known genes to reprogram differentiated cells to pluripotent stem cells (iPS). We are currently analyzing these cells to understand the characteristics of cancer stem cells and develop possible methods targeting them. Furthermore, to prove chemotherapy resistant feature of cancer stem cells, we are evaluating caner stem cell like population in breast cancer patients before and after the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The obtained results will be useful for development of new methods both for diagnosis and clinical treatment.