Developing new insights into iron-controlled biology
Iron is the most common metal on Earth and an essential element for all living creatures. Thus, iron control is a potential candidate for therapeutic applications. There are many researchers studying iron at Okayama University. Multi-disciplinary workshops have been held from time to time to connect the various research fields including medicine, engineering and science (Picture 1).
As well as healthy cells, cancer cells also need iron to proliferate and metastasize. Dr. Toshiaki Ohara (M.D., Ph.D.) and colleagues are developing a new therapy to decrease the iron content in cancer tumors (Literature 1& Fig.1). A clinical study for hepatocellular carcinoma patients is ongoing in Okayama University Hospital supported by the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund.
Researchers are also considering whether an iron-control technique is applicable for dealing with infection (Literature 2). On 18 March 2015, a multidisciplinary fusion study symposium for inflectional disease using an iron-control technique was held (Picture 2). The participants discussed the iron dependency of pathogenic bacteria. The symposium enabled attendees to share their knowledge and connect the various research fields.
We are now gathering more colleagues to study iron control in the different research disciplines.
Literature 1:
A novel synergistic effect of iron depletion on antiangiogenic cancer therapy:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.27943/abstract
Literature 2:
Iron controlled therapy for cancer and inflectional disease (Japanese / English):http://www.okayama-u.net/renkei/document/pdf/oogata_tenjikai/4_lifescienceworld/2015/3_ohara.pdf
For reference:
Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund:http://www.ptcrf.or.jp/english/index.html
Okayama university hospital:http://www.hsc.okayama-u.ac.jp/hos/en/index.html
【Correspondence】
Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Associate professor Toshiaki Ohara
TEL:+81-86-235-7143
e-mail:t_ohara@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/byouri/pathology-1/TOP.html