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HOME > Research Plans : New carrier system, Innovatibe Drugs, Advanced Labeling Technology, Advanced Integrated Technologies

Nanobio-targeted Therapy in a near future treatment that combines "innovative drugs", 　　　　"new carrier systems" and "advanced labeling technologies" to attack the focus of disease 　　　　while minimizing the adverse effect. 　　　　Currently, at Okayama University, research continues to develop innovative drugs such as 　　　　REIC/Dkk-3 that selectively kill cancer cells and Telomeysin virus that shrinks cancer cells 　　　　as well as new carrier systems to transport these innovative drugs to the targeted cells 　　　　effectively. Moreover, with advanced labeling technology using fluorescent peptides and 　　　　proteins, and brand new biochemical approaches, success has been made to visualize 　　　　phenomena which occured inside the body on the molecular bases. 　　　　In the field of advanced integrated technologies, cancer treatments are being researched 　　　　using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. Research on multifunctional immuno-cells derived 　　　　from umbilical cord blood are also conducted.

New carrier systems

● Adenovirus vectors 　　　　　Adenovirus vectors, most widely used in human gene therapy, 　　　　　have been developed by modifying wild adenovirus typeV genetically. 　　　　　Its transduction efficiency is sufficiently high and toxicity has been 　　　　　validated to be low. Thus, we will try to use adenovirus vectors as a 　　　　　vehicle in the initial study of REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy. 　　● Biodegradable polymers as new chemically synthesized carriers 　　　　　In cooperation with Nitto Denko Ltd, research is underway to develop 　　　　　new biodegradable polymers as a new gene delivery system replacing 　　　　　conventional virus vectors in clinical applications. Currently, preclinical 　　　　　research of biodegradable polymers is being done using new therapeutic 　　　　　gene（REIC/Dkk-3） for prostate cancer and malignant mesothelioma, 　　　　　with prospects for clinical application. 　　● Bio-nanocapsule 　　　　　Nano-scale particle based on hepatitis B vaccine （bio-nanocapsule） is 　　　　　under development as the safe delivery vector of medicine targeting 　　　　　specific cells and tissues exploiting the specificty of viral infection 　　　　　including human liver cells. This technology could be applied for a wide 　　　　　range of therapy of disorders as well as cancer. 　　● Protein therapy 　　　　　Technology has already been developed for guiding protein that has 　　　　　cancer inhibiting effect to targeted area. Moreover, development is 　　　　　underway to introduce not only protein but also nucleic acid in an 　　　　　effort to improve the effectiveness of substances introduced. 　　● Highly efficient intracellular protein delivery system 　　　　　A novel peptide-based protein vector "Wr-T" has been developed for 　　　　　intracellular delivery of a cargo protein/peptide. This system enables 　　　　　molecular targeting by various functional peptides with high efficiency, 　　　　　which contributes to develop a peptide/protein-based antitumor therapy.

Innovative Drugs

● Cancer suppressor genes （REIC/Dkk-3） 　　　　　Forced expression of REIC/Dkk-3 induces selective apoptosis in 　　　　　various types of cancer cells including prostate cancer and malignant 　　　　　mesothelioma. Our preliminary date indicate that REIC/Dkk-3 gene 　　　　　transfer shows augmented "bystander effects" against cancer cells. 　　　　　We are planning to expand our therapeutic systems using REIC/Dkk-3 　　　　　and/or protein. 　　● Oncolytic virus （Telomelysin） 　　　　　Based on the data of a PhaseⅠ clinical trial in the US, we will pursue 　　　　　the basic research to enhance the antitumor effect of Telomelysin as 　　　　　well as to clarify the molecular mechanism of the effect of Telomelysin 　　　　　when used with conventional therapies.

Advanced Labeling Technology

● Cancer cell imaging 　　　　　Development is underway on new screening technologies 　　　　　that utilize peptides to detect cancer cells. Also, technologies 　　　　　for attaching fluorescent labels to peptides and proteins are 　　　　　underway. The basis of the latter technology has been almost 　　　　　finished and work continues in enhancing its effectiveness and 　　　　　convenience for practical applications.

Advanced Integrated Technologies

● High intensity focused ultrasound treatment 　　　　　In cooperation with Takai Hospital Supply Co. who has a proven 　　　　　record with prostate cancer treatment using physical energy, 　　　　　efforts are being directed at enhancing the effectiveness and 　　　　　targeting performance of gene delivery using a high intensity 　　　　　focused ultrasound system. 　　● Next generation cytotherapy 　　　　　Research is moving forward on applying multifunctional immune cells 　　　　　"HOZOT" derived from umbilical cord blood and PERIT from peripheral 　　　　　blood to cancer patients. This cytotherapy is also considered to be 　　　　　available for the patients with autoimmune diseases. 　　● A novel in vitro antibody generation system 　　　　　A fast and efficient in vitro antibody generation system was developed using the 　　　　　DT40-SW hypermutating chicken B cell line whose hypermutation machinery can 　　　　　be reversibly switched on/off by an extracellular stimulus. Research is underway 　　　　　using the system to obtain useful antibodies including those for treatment and 　　　　　diagnosis of cancer.