Biohistory Jyournal, Summer, 2002

Scientist Library: Index > The apotosis of cancer cells by substance from butterfly larvae

The apotosis of cancer cells by substance from butterfly larvae

Takashi Sugimura, President Emeritus, National Cancer Center

photograph by Naruaki Onishi

Takashi Sugimura 1926: Born in Tokyo 1949: Graduated from the University of Tokyo School of Medicine 1950: Assistant at the Department of Radiology at the University of Tokyo 1954: Assistant at the Cancer Institute of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research 1957: Studied at the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. 1959: Studied at Case Western Reserve University 1962-1972: Director of the Biochemistry Division of the National Cancer Center Research Institute 1970-1985: Professor at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo 1972-1974: Deputy Director of the National Cancer Center Research Institute 1974-1984: Director of the National Cancer Center Research Institute 1984-1991: Director of the National Cancer Center 1994-2000: Dean, The Toho University Dr. Sugimura is the recipient of such honors as the Order of Culture and the Japan Prize.

How does the body of a butterfly change on the inside when it is transformed from an embryo to a chrysalis and then to an adult? Does the original tissue die and become replaced by new tissue? These questions had remained unanswered for years until Dr. Sugimura became excited when in his 70s, he discovered a substance that induced apoptosis, a kind of suicide, in the actively multiplying cancer cells in a butterfly embryo. This revealed the starting point for biological research different from the research in large projects.     Dr. Sugimura is well known for his impressive work in discovering that the mutagenic substances that alter genes are also carcinogenic substances, creating the impetus for research into the genetics of cancer. This research also was connected with the butterflies that he has loved since he was a child.     While looking at the photograph of a smiling Dr. Sugimura, please read about the history of his research, which has overlapped the history of cancer research, and think about what science and nature are.

During his days at the University of Tokyo School of Medicine (Front row, left)

Conducting an experiment at the Cancer Institute

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