Department of Internal Medicine

Hematology and Oncology

Practice of the best treatment and devekopment of new therapies for hematological disease
    • Practice of the best treatment for hematological disease
    • Educating the future generation of Japanese hematologists
    • World-class hematology research
      1) Basic research on the pathology of hematological diseaeses
      2) Translation research using seeds from basic research

 


Professor Naoki Hosen

Hematology and Oncology

We conduct research, treatment and training for various blood diseases including cancers like leukemia, malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma along with benign blood disorders such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. We aim to provide excellent patient care while also developing new treatments.

The conduct of basic research to elucidate the priniples of hematological diseases and translation research based on seeds from the basic research.

Our group not only conducts standard hematological treatments like HSC transplantation, but we also conduct basic research to develop new treatments. A summary of our different groups is given below.


1) Immune Cell Therapy Research and Development Group

We are consistently identifying cell surface antigens specifically expressed in blood cancers and developing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies targeting them. We have already succeeded in developing new CAR-T cells for multiple myeloma. We are currently identifying new target antigens and developing CAR-T cells targeting them for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and various solid tumors. We have also started developing CAR-NK cells for allogeneic cell therapy. Furthermore, we aim to develop new cell gene therapy and immunotherapy based on new findings from research by Osaka University, which is a mecca for immunology.

2) Platelet Disease Research Group

It has become clear recently that platelets play various roles in immune system and organ regeneration, in addition to the previously known roles in physiological hemostasis and the formation of pathological thrombi. In particular, the elucidation of the mechanism for controlling the activation of integrin αIIbβ3 (GPII/IIIa), which plays a central role in platelet function, is essential for the development of new antiplatelet therapies. We have clarified a part of the platelet activation mechanism through the analysis of several platelet dysfunctions, including platelet asthenia, and we are currently continuing further analysis focusing on αIIbβ3 to elucidate the molecular mechanism. We are also elucidating the mechanism of thrombocytopenia and developing therapies based on the findings of the analysis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and congenital thrombocytopenia.

3) Hematopoietic Environment Research Group

Our group is conducting research focusing on tumor cells of blood cancers and also the microenvironment in the bone marrow surrounding the tumor cells. Blood cancer remaining in the bone marrow microenvironment after chemotherapy treatment leads to recurrence and becomes more refractory to treatment. So far, we have clarified how the bone marrow environment changes after anticancer drugs and irradiation. Currently, we are researching the mechanism underlying the resistance of blood cancers to treatment. Furthermore, we aim to develop new therapies targeting the bone marrow microenvironment to control blood cancers.

4) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Group

Hematopoietic stem cells can supply various blood cells throughout their lives while replicating themselves. In clinical practice, they are important cells that form the basis of transplantation and regenerative medicine for intractable hematological diseases. Our research group has been analyzing the physiological characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells and has discovered several new surface antigens and differentiation control molecules. We also analyzed the roles of these discovered molecules in the hematopoietic mechanisms and how they are related to hematological malignant tumors, such as leukemia. We aim to use the outcomes of this ongoing basic research to develop new therapeutic methods based on hematopoietic stem cells for intractable hematological diseases.

5) Red Blood Cell Disease (PNH) Research Group

Through research on hemolytic anemia focused on paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), we have consistently elucidated the mechanism underlying stem cell clone expansion in hematopoietic disorders and the pathological conditions of complement-related diseases and developed therapeutic methods. Currently, we are investigating the homeostasis of hematopoiesis through the genetic analysis of PNH clones that demonstrate non-neoplastic expansion under hematopoietic insufficiency. In addition, we are also engaged in research on complement-related hematological diseases such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD), refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and refractory ITP and their treatment.

6) Clinical Research Group

We have been diagnosing and treating hematological malignant diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and malignant lymphoma, as well as diseases associated with abnormalities of the red blood cell/thrombocytopenia system, such as PNH and ITP.

In addition, we perform hematopoietic cell transplantations for approximately 30 cases annually and aim to provide a cure for malignant conditions by selecting appropriate donors for bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and umbilical cord based on the medical conditions of patients. We started CAR-T therapy, which is a new cell therapy, in 2020. We aim to provide evidence based on a unique perspective by conducting clinical trials (clinical studies) of various new drugs and investigator-initiated clinical research.