Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B
Online ISSN : 1349-2896
Print ISSN : 0386-2208
ISSN-L : 0386-2208
Special Issue
Volume 84, Issue 6
Displaying 1-3 of 3 articles from this issue
Reviews
  • Kenji OHMORI
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 6 Pages 167-175
    Published: June 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2008
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Coherent control is based on optical manipulation of the amplitudes and phases of wave functions. It is expected to be a key technique to develop novel quantum technologies such as bond-selective chemistry and quantum computing, and to better understand the quantum worldview founded on wave-particle duality. We have developed high-precision coherent control by imprinting optical amplitudes and phases of ultrashort laser pulses on the quantum amplitudes and phases of molecular wave functions. The history and perspective of coherent control and our recent achievements are described.

    (Communicated by Toshimitsu YAMAZAKI, M.J.A.)
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  • Shozo TAKAYAMA, Unnur P. THORGEIRSSON, Richard H. ADAMSON
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 6 Pages 176-188
    Published: June 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2008
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This review covers chemical carcinogenesis studies in nonhuman primates performed by the National Cancer Institute, USA, to provide hitherto unavailable information on their susceptibility to compounds producing carcinogenic effects in rodents. From autopsy records of 401 breeders and untreated controls, incidences of spontaneous malignant tumors were found to be relatively low in cynomolgus (1.9%) and rhesus monkeys (3.8%), but higher in African green monkeys (8%). Various chemical compounds, and in particular 6 antineoplastic agents, 13 food-related compounds including additives and contaminants, 1 pesticide, 5 N-nitroso compounds, 3 heterocyclic amines, and 7 “classical” rodent carcinogens, were tested during the 34 years period, generally at doses 10∼40 times the estimated human exposure. Results were inconclusive in many cases but unequivocal carcinogenicity was demonstrated for IQ, procarbazine, methylnitrosourea and diethylnitrosamine. Furthermore, negative findings for saccharine and cyclamate were in line with results in other species. Thus susceptibility to carcinogens is at least partly shared by nonhuman primates and rodents.

    (Communicated by Takashi SUGIMURA, M.J.A.)
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  • Takashi TSURUO, Naoya FUJITA
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 6 Pages 189-198
    Published: June 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2008
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Metastasis is the major cause of death from cancer, yet the optimal strategy against it remains uncertain. The pathogenesis of hematogenous metastasis is dynamic and consists of the following steps: 1) detachment of tumor cells from the primary site, 2) invasion into the host’s blood vessels, 3) migration in the host’s blood stream, 4) transport along the circulation, 5) arrest in or adhesion to the capillary in a distant organ, 6) extravasation, and 7) proliferation within the foreign tissues. A key to successful hematogenous metastasis is tumor survival in the bloodstream because most circulating tumor cells are rapidly destroyed by the shear forces or are attacked by the immune system. Less than 0.01% of these cells result in metastasis. Tumor cell–induced platelet aggregation has been reported to facilitate hematogenous metastasis by increasing the arrest of tumor cell emboli in the microcirculation. Platelet aggregation is also believed to protect tumor cells from immunological assault in the circulation. We have identified Aggrus as a platelet–aggregating factor expressed on a number of human cancers. Because hematogenous metastasis is reduced when neutralizing antibodies or eliminating carbohydrates attenuates Aggrus function, Aggrus’s main contribution to hematogenous metastasis of Aggrus–expressing cells, then, is by promoting platelet aggregation. Aggrus could serve as an ideal target for drug development to block metastasis.

    (Communicated by Takao SEKIYA, M.J.A.)
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