ABSTRACT
In the new Model Core Curriculum, the objective stated is to "understand the importance of medical research for the advancement of medicine and medical care, and support innovation in medicine through involvement in academic and research activities, developing one's scientific thinking skills." Importantly, scientific background and researcher training education, such as laboratory assignments, are clearly positioned in the Model Core Curriculum and are available to all students. The curriculum consists of five components : Developing a research mindset, Understanding established theories, Conducting Research, Publishing Research, and Research Ethics. In addition, laboratory experience and practical training in basic medicine were also added to the description. Further policy and financial support for researchers will be necessary to increase the number of basic medical researchers in the future.
ABSTRACT
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β regulates a wide variety of cellular responses, including cell growth arrest, apoptosis, cell differentiation, motility, invasion, extracellular matrix production, tissue fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune function. Although tumor-suppressive roles of TGF-β have been extensively studied and well-characterized in many cancers, especially at early stages, accumulating evidence has revealed the critical roles of TGF-β as a pro-tumorigenic factor in various types of cancer. This review will focus on recent findings regarding epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-β, in relation to crosstalk with some other signaling pathways, and the roles of TGF-β in lung and pancreatic cancers, in which TGF-β has been shown to be involved in cancer progression. Recent findings also strongly suggested that targeting TGF-β signaling using specific inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of some cancers. TGF-β plays a pivotal role in the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). TGF-β is produced as latent high molecular weight complexes, and the latent TGF-β complex expressed on the surface of Tregs contains glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP, also known as leucine-rich repeat containing 32 or LRRC32). Inhibition of the TGF-β activities through regulation of the latent TGF-β complex activation will be discussed.