Name：Takuya Fukushima (MD, PhD)

• Position：Professor
• Research：Hematology
• Email：fukutaku (@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp)

• 【Researcher bate base】https://researchmap.jp/fukutaku259936

As adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is the main research theme of our laboratory, lectures are facilitated to achieve an understanding of fundamental concepts in hematological morphology, molecular biology, therapeutics and clinical trials in hematology, and immunology. Through meetings and various forms of idea-exchange opportunities with other students and professors, graduate students are able to improve their research skills, such as paper reading, planning and producing research protocols, and paper writing, in addition to having a deeper understanding of research ethics. Through laboratory work, students will be able to master methods such as cell culturing and various molecular techniques.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), associated with the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1), is a peripheral T-cell neoplasm with poor prognosis. Okinawa prefecture is one of the endemic areas of HTLV-1. Approximately 5% of HTLV-1 carriers develop ATL. To improve treatment outcomes and to explain pathologic conditions in ATL, we conduct various clinical research and molecular-biological research. To elucidate the transmission route of HTLV-1, we conduct molecular epidemiologic analysis of HTLV-1 genotypes, not only in Okinawa, but also in Southeast Asian countries.

• Proteomic profiling of HTLV-1 carriers and ATL patients reveals sTNFR2 as a novel diagnostic biomarker for acute ATL.
  Guerrero CLH, Fukushima T, et al.
  Blood Advances, in press
• Possibility of a risk-adapted treatment strategy for untreated aggressive adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (ATL) based on the ATL prognostic index: a supplementary analysis of the JCOG9801.
  Toyoda K, Fukushima T, et al.
  Br J Haematol 2019; 186 (3): 440-447.
• Intestinal helminth infections in HIV-infected patients in Savannakhet after establishment of an HIV registration network in Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
  Kaneshiro Y, Fukushima T, et al.
  Trop Med Health 2019; 47: 11
• Revised adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma international consensus meeting report.
  Cook LB, Fukushima T, et al.
  J Clin Oncol 2019; 37(8): 677-687.
• Association of high levels of plasma OX40 with acute adult T-cell leukemia.
  Tanaka Y, Fukushima T, et al.
  Int J Hematol 2019; 109(3): 319-327.
• Evaluation of two prognostic indices for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the subtropical endemic area, Okinawa, Japan.
  Tamaki K, Fukushima T, et al.
  Cancer Sci 2018; 109(7): 2286-2293.
• EPOCH regimen as salvage therapy for adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma.
  Toriyama E, Fukushima T, et al.
  Int J Hematol 2018; 108(2): 167-175.
• Human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax genotype analysis in Okinawa, the southernmost and remotest islands of Japan: Different distribution compared with mainland Japan and the potential value for the prognosis of aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.
  Sakihama S, Fukushima T, et al.
  Leuk Res 2017; 61: 18-24.
• Characterization of patients with aggressive adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in Okinawa, Japan: a retrospective analysis of a large cohort.
  Nishi Y, Fukushima T, et al.
  Int J Hematol 2016; 104(4): 468-475
• Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) prognostic index and characterization of long-term survivors of aggressive adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (JCOG0902A).
  Fukushima T, et al.
  Br J Haematol 2014; 166(5): 739-748.

Master course

• Molecular analysis of ATL patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Okinawa (2014, Sakihama S)
• A screening study of asymptomatic human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) carriers in Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, Japan. (2015, Kaneshiro Y)
• Prevalence and risk behaviors of HTLV-1 among the Aeta indigenous people in the Philippines. (2017, Gurerro CLH)
• Clinical Trial using fucoidan from Cladosiphon Okamuranus Tokida for human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) carriers: Analysis of anti-HTLV-1 effect. (2017, Ohkawa Y)
• Prevalence and genotype analysis of human T-cell leukemia virus type I in Miyako island and Kume island, Okinawa (2018, Takatori M)

PhD course

• Human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax genotype analysis in Okinawa, the southernmost and remotest islands of Japan: Different distributions compared with mainland Japan and the potential value for the prognosis of aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma（2017、Sakihama S）
• Intestinal helminth infections in HIV-infected patients in Savannakhet after establishment of an HIV registration network in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. (2019、Kaneshiro Y)

With the establishment of the Okinawa HTLV-1/ATL Biobank, we conduct molecular and biological studies to elucidate the pathogenesis of ATL, and find clinical biomarkers for ATL. The source of our samples in the Biobank has expanded to Southeast Asian, and we are conducting the molecular epidemiological analysis to elucidate the transmission route of HTLV-1. In addition, we are developing new molecular targeting agents in collaboration with other institutions and large enterprises.