Div. of Oral Pathology

Professor　 TANUMA Junichi

tanuma@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp

Our Education

　Pathology
　Oral Pathology
　Oncology
　Oral cytology

Our Research

1. Identification of novel detection markers for early identification of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED)and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using liquid-based cytology methods:
Our study aimed to establish a novel experimental rat model of tongue cancer to observe changes in the sequential expression patterns of mRNAs and proteins using liquid-based cytology techniques.
2. Demonstration of anti-inflammatory effect of Kampo medicines for oral cancer-related cachexia (improvement of sarcopenia):
Our study aims to improve cachexia and sarcopenia by administering herbal medicines for the treatment of oral cancer-related cachexia in an animal model of tongue cancer.
3. Survival of salivary pleomorphic adenoma cells under hypoxic conditions (analysis by SM-AP cell systems):
We analyzed SM-AP cells cloned from pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland to elucidate how the stroma of salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas becomes hypoxic and how the avascularity and abundant extracellular matrix allow tumor cells to grow.
4. Histological and proteomic analysis of the progression front of OSCC:　Among the proteins identified, we found that ladinin-1 was associated with the directionality of cancer cell progression, and analysis is currently ongoing.
5. Alternative splicing of mRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma:
We are aiming to elucidate the significance of alternative splicing in cancer by integrated analysis using public database searches and RNA sequencing (in collaboration with Prof. Okuda and Assistant Prof. Ling, Niigata University Medical AI Center Prof. Koelzer and Dr. Lafarge, University Hospital Zurich).
6. Cell death-induced mechanisms of cancer progression:
We have found that dead cancer cells are phagocytosed by living cancer cells, which increases cancer cell motility and promotes cancer progression. We will continue to study the mechanism in detail to develop new therapies targeting the mechanism of cancer progression initiated by cell death.

Clinical Fields

At the Dental Pathology Laboratory in the Department of Pathology, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, oral pathologists perform cytological screening using oral liquid-based cytology and histological diagnosis of specimens submitted by oral surgeons and general practitioners.

Our Website

http://www5.dent.niigata-u.ac.jp/~opatho/

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• Departments/Faculty
  • Div. of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • Div. of Biomimetics
  • Div. of Preventive Dentistry
  • Div. of Cariology Operative Dentistry and Endodontics
  • Div. of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Div. of Bio-Prosthdontics
  • Div. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Div. of Dental Clinical Education
  • Div. of Oral Anatomy
  • Div. of Oral Physiology
  • Div. of Oral Biochemistry
  • Div. of Periodontology
  • Div. of Orthodontics
  • Div. of Dysphagia Rehabilitation
  • Div. of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue
  • Div. of Oral Pathology
  • Div. of Dental Pharmacology
  • Div. of Comprehensive Prosthodontics
  • Div. of Reconstructive Surgery for Oral and Maxillofacial Region
  • Div. of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Div. of Dental Anesthesiology
  • Department of Oral Health and Welfare
  • Center for Advanced Oral Science
  • Div. of Dental Clinical Education
    General Dentistry and Clinical Education Unit
  • Oral Implant and Temporomandibular Joint Clinic