Department of Pathology

Research

Department of Pathology was established in 1946. We currently specialize in　experimental pathology, with a focus on research and education.
Our research interest is to elucidate the mechanisms of diseases, particularly cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Our research is conducted using a wide variety of methods, including biochemical, molecular, and cell biological methods, as well as histopathological examination. Not only cultured cell lines but also mouse models of disease are employed. Especially in cancer research, we are currently interested in research using several kinds of transplantation models.

Members

Publications (2021~)

• Nishikawa M, Nakanishi M, Matsuzaki I, Nouchi T, Shirai YT, Miyakuni K, Murata S, Ehata S.
  UQCRH promoter methylation limits apoptosis and drug sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells.
  Sci Rep. 2026 in press
• Itoh T, Hatano R, Hasegawa Y, Hosokawa N, Takeda K, Yamamoto A, Horimoto Y, Yu J, Nakamura H, Saeki H, Ehata S, Matsuoka S, Otsuka H, Ohtsu H, Tomura M, Dang NH, Kaneko Y, Ohnuma K, Morimoto C.
  IL-26-driven epigenetic remodeling promotes immune evasion in colorectal cancer.
  Nat Commun. 2026 Jul 17;17(1):8764.
• Takahashi-Yamashiro K, Miyauchi K, Shimomura K, Nishikawa M, Morishita Y, Nakanishi M, Hayami S, Kawai M, Miyazono K, Ehata S.
  In vitro functional analysis of lysyl oxidase family members in highly metastatic pancreatic cancer cells derived from a syngeneic orthotopic model.
  BMC Cancer. 2026 Jun 15;26(1):1015.
• Nakamura M, Hayami S, Miyamoto A, Suzaki N, Yoshimura T, Nakamura K, Shigekawa Y, Shimizu A, Kitahata Y, Takeuchi A, Motobayashi H, Matsumoto K, Ehata S, Hamamoto R, Kawai M.
  SMYD2 regulates lymph node metastasis derived from intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma through CCR7-dependent chemotaxis
  Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 1;16(1):24827.
• Suzaki N, Hayami S, Miyamoto A, Nakamura M, Yoshimura T, Nakamura K, Shigekawa Y, Shimizu A, Kitahata Y, Takeuchi A, Motobayashi H, Osada S, Ehata S, Hamamoto R, Kawai M.
  Impact of SETD8/KMT5A overexpression on hepatocellular carcinoma progression and prognosis.
  PLoS One. 2026 Apr 13;21(4):e0337503.
• Ogikubo K, Nishida J, Takahashi-Yamashiro K, Morikawa M, Ehata S, Watabe T, Miyazono K, Koinuma D.
  OCT-2 is associated with pro-metastatic epigenomic properties of triple-negative breast cancer cells.
  Cancer Sci. 2025 Aug;116(8):2150-2162.
• Ibe A, Nakanishi M, Higashimoto K, Muragaki Y, Ehata S.
  An acidic microenvironment promotes lymphatic metastasis of melanoma by Thy-1 in endothelial cells and integrin αvβ3 in tumor cells.
  Discov Oncol. 2025 Apr 9;16(1):498.
• Nakanishi M, Ibe A, Morishita K, Shinagawa K, Yamamoto Y, Takahashi H, Ikemori K, Muragaki Y, Ehata S.
  Acid-sensing receptor GPR4 plays a crucial role in lymphatic cancer metastasis.
  Cancer Sci. 2024 May;115(5):1551-1563.
• Kato H, Hayami S, Ueno M, Suzaki N, Nakamura M, Yoshimura T, Miyamoto A, Shigekawa Y, Okada KI, Miyazawa M, Kitahata Y, Ehata S, Hamamoto R, Yamaue H, Kawai M.
  Histone methyltransferase SUV420H1/KMT5B contributes to poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  Cancer Sci. 2024 Feb;115(2):385-400.
• Oikawa K, Kuroda M, Ehata S.
  Suppression of antitumor cytokine IL‑24 by PRG4 and PAI‑1 may promote myxoid liposarcoma cell survival.
  Biomed Rep. 2023 Jul 26;19(3):60.
• Takahashi K, Abe K, Kubota SI, Morishita Y, Yoshimatsu Y, Hirakawa S, Kubota Y, Watabe T, Ehata S, Ueda HR, Shimamura T, Miyazono K.
  A new analysis modality for vascular structures combining tissue-clearing technology and topological data analysis.
  Nat Commun. 2022 Sep 12;13(1):5239.
• Sato F, Kohsaka A, Tanimoto T, Bhawal UK, Muragaki Y.
  Histological analysis of a Becker muscular dystrophy case, diurnal expression of dystrophin in control mice and decreased expression of dystrophin in Bmal1 knockout mice.
  Histol Histopathol. 2022 Jul 25:18499.
• Ehata S, Miyazono K.
  Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling in Cancer; Some Topics in the Recent 10 Years.
  Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 May 25;10:883523.
• Nishida J, Miyakuni K, Miyazono K, Ehata S.
  An in vivo orthotopic serial passaging model for a metastatic renal cancer study.
  STAR Protoc. 2022 Apr 18;3(2):101306.
• Sato F, Bhawal UK, Osaki S, Sugiyama N, Oikawa K, Muragaki Y.
  Differential immunohistochemical expression of DEC1, CK‑1ε, and CD44 in oral atypical squamous epithelium and carcinoma in situ.
  Mol Med Rep. 2022 May;25(5):159.
• Kumagai K, Takanashi M, Ohno SI, Harada Y, Fujita K, Oikawa K, Sudo K, Ikeda SI, Nishi H, Oikawa K, Kuroda M.
  WAPL induces cervical intraepithelial neoplasia modulated with estrogen signaling without HPV E6/E7.
  Oncogene. 2021 May;40(21):3695-3706.
• Murakami D, Kono M, Nanushaj D, Kaneko F, Zangari T, Muragaki Y, Weiser JN, Hotomi M.
  Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Enhances Pneumococcal Transmission Among Littermates in an Infant Mouse Model.
  Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Mar 31;11:651495.
• Nakanishi M, Korechika A, Yamakawa H, Kawabe N, Nakai K, Muragaki Y.
  Acidic microenvironment induction of interleukin-8 expression and matrix metalloproteinase-2/-9 activation via acid-sensing ion channel 1 promotes breast cancer cell progression.
  Oncol Rep. 2021 Mar;45(3):1284-1294.
• Ono K, Hata K, Nakamura E, Ishihara S, Kobayashi S, Nakanishi M, Yoshida M, Takahata Y, Murakami T, Takenoshita S, Komori T, Nishimura R, Yoneda T.
  Dmrt2 promotes transition of endochondral bone formation by linking Sox9 and Runx2.
  Commun Biol. 2021 Mar 11;4(1):326.
• Enaka M, Nakanishi M, Muragaki Y.
  The Gain-of-Function Mutation p53R248W Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma through the Down-Regulation of Keratin 17.
  Am J Pathol. 2021 Mar;191(3):555-566.

Undergraduate

• School of Medicine
  • Message from the Dean
  • List of Medicine
• School of Health and Nursing Science
  • Message from the Dean
• School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Message from the Dean

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