New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida on Monday held wide-ranging bilateral discussions.  The talks between the two leaders were held here after Kishida arrived in India this morning on a two-day official visit.  He also extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G7 leaders' summit, which is to be held in May this year in Hiroshima.  The invitation has been accepted by the prime minister.  During the talks, both leaders vowed to expand the India-Japan global strategic partnership, stressing that it is important for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.  Addressing the media after the bilateral talks, Modi referred to India's presidency of the G20 and Japan chairing the G7 grouping, and said it is the best opportunity to work together on priorities of both sides for global good.  "Today, I told PM Kishida in detail about the priorities of our G20 presidency. An important foundation of our G20 presidency is to voice the priorities of the Global South. A culture that believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, believes in going ahead by bringing everyone together," Modi said.  He also thanked Kishida for inviting him to the G7 leaders' summit.  "In September this year, I will again get the opportunity to welcome PM Fumio Kishida to India for the G20 Leaders' Summit," Modi said.  Welcoming his Japanese counterpart to India, the prime minister said, "In the last one year, PM Fumio Kishida and I have met several times and every time I've felt his positivity and commitment to the India-Japan bilateral relationship. His today's visit will be beneficial to maintain this momentum."  Adding further, Modi said, "That is why we have taken this initiative. The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on our mutual democratic values and respect for rule of law on international platforms."  Kishida unveiled "on Indian soil" his plan "for a free and open Indo-Pacific". The exact details of what his vision of a free Indo-Pacific would entail though, are yet to be known.  "Our economic cooperation with India, which continues to grow rapidly, will not only support the further development of India but also create significant economic opportunities for Japan. In this regard, we welcome that steady progress is being made towards realising 5 trillion yen of public and private investment in financing from Japan to India in five years," the Japanese prime minister said after the bilateral discussions.  "We will continue to work on decarbonisation and energy. 2023 will be the year of the Japan-India tourism exchange to promote our exchanges through tourism. I welcome the renewal of our MoC on Japanese language education," he added. IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida on Monday held wide-ranging bilateral discussions.

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Kishida, thanks him for G7 summit invite

Washington: The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that as the war in Kyiv continues to get intense, Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be a significant topic of conversation during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Responding to the media queries aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, Sullivan said, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms large and will be a significant topic of conversation. There will be discussions about the state of play on the battlefield." "There will be discussions about the state of play on sanctions and the steps that the G7 will collectively commit to on enforcement in particular, making sure that we are shutting down evasion networks, closing loopholes in the sanctions so that the impact is amplified and magnified in the -- in the months ahead," he said during the press briefing. Regarding the US President's meeting with the QUAD leaders, who will also be present in Hiroshima for the G7 Summit, Sullivan stated, "President felt it was critical that he be at the G7 because this particular format is so central to getting alignment and convergence with key countries -- including, by the way, the countries in the Quad, because both Australia and India will be in Hiroshima, and he will have the opportunity to engage with them there -- that that was a vital part of the trip." US President Joe Biden recently cancelled his planned trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea. "President Biden will return to the United States on Sunday, following the completion of the G7 summit, in order to be back for meetings with Congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action by the deadline to avert default. The President spoke to Prime Minister Albanese earlier today to inform him that he will be postponing his trip to Australia. He also invited the Prime Minister for an official state visit at a time to be agreed by the teams. The President's team engaged with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea's team to inform them as well," a statement by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, read. Meanwhile, continuing with the press briefing, the US NSA on Biden's visit to Hiroshima said that the US President would kickstart his Japan visit with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. "The President will start his engagements in Hiroshima with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, where they will review the really quite extraordinary progress in the alliance over the course of the past two years, building on the trip that President Kishida made to Washington in January," Sullivan said. The President will also co-host an event on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, where "we will review the progress from the previous year, including some announcements of new investments and new deals," Sullivan added. He will also review a wider buildout of work with the private sector, including very senior private-sector representatives coming so that public investment is facilitating private investment to propel infrastructure development in the developing world, Sullivan added. Earlier, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said that Biden would depart for Japan on Wednesday as scheduled, but a subsequent stop in Australia is being re-evaluated. "We're working through, thinking through, the rest of the trip right now," Kirby had said, as he noted Biden would meet India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia's Anthony Albanese at the G7 anyway in Hiroshima, Japan. "We're re-evaluating the rest of the trip right now. We will make proper notifications if there are changes made to the rest of the trip. Given where we are right now, it's also incredibly prudent and responsible for the President to take a look at the rest of the trip and evaluate whether it makes sense going forward," said Kirby. "We'll see where it goes...We are going to reevaluate the rest of the week after the G7, and we'll see where it goes. If the trip gets truncated or changed or modified in any way, it should be nothing more than a statement of the President putting his priorities where he believes they need to be," said Kirby. (ANI)

The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that as the war in Kyiv continues to get intense

Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be 'significant' topic of conversation: US Security Advisor on Biden's Hiroshima visit for G7

New Delhi: On Thursday, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States' Vice President Joe Biden, together with their Japanese and Australian counterparts, announced that they were attending the Quad summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
Modi will go to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia starting this Friday for a total of six days to participate in three important multilateral summits. These will include the Group of Seven (G7) and the Quad summits.
Over 40 events have been scheduled for Prime Minister Modi during his three-nation tour, according to officials, and he will meet with more than two dozen foreign leaders in summits and bilateral meetings.—Inputs from Agencies

On Thursday, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States' Vice President Joe Biden, together with their Japanese and Australian counterparts, announced that they were attending the Quad summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

PM Modi to have over 40 engagements during 3-nation visit: Officials

Hiroshima: On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the Japanese city that would host the G7 summit and the third in-person meeting of the Quad leaders.
Modi has begun his three-country trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, where he is scheduled to attend more than 40 events.
Officials have stated that he will meet with more than two dozen foreign leaders in summits and bilateral encounters.
I'm looking forward to talking with the G7 and the other invited partners about the world's problems and how we can solve them together. While in Hiroshima for the G7 Summit, I will also be interacting with other leaders individually," Modi stated in his farewell message.
India's presidency of the G20 this year makes my participation in this G7 conference all the more significant. I'm excited to have the opportunity to discuss global issues with the G7 and other invited partners and hear their perspectives on the importance of working together to find solutions.
From May 19-21, Modi will be in Hiroshima largely for the annual summit of the G7 major countries, where he is anticipated to address on global challenges such as food, fertiliser, and energy security.
At the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Modi will meet with other foreign leaders individually.
The United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan make up the G-7 group, along with the European Union.
On May 22, he and Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea will co-host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Modi's final stop on his tour will be Australia, which he will visit from May 22nd to 24th.
After US President Joe Biden postponed his trip to Australia to focus on vital debt-ceiling talks in Washington, the Quad meeting was moved from Sydney to Hiroshima.
According to the White House, the leaders of the United States, India, Australia, and Japan will meet to discuss ways to further strengthen the Quad's cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues of importance to the people of the Indo-Pacific region.
Modi will be the first Indian prime leader to visit Papua New Guinea.
As Modi put it, "I am grateful that all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have accepted the invitation to attend this crucial summit (FIPIC).
During his 2014 trip to Fiji, he officially created FIPIC.
While in Australia, Modi expressed enthusiasm about meeting with his counterpart, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Anthony Albanese.
The first India-Australia annual summit was conducted in March this year in New Delhi, and he is looking forward to the chance their next meeting will provide to "take stock of our bilateral ties and follow up on our first India-Australia annual summit."
"I will also meet the Indian community in Sydney at a special event and interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders," he said.—Inputs from Agencies

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the Japanese city that would host the G7 summit and the third in-person meeting of the Quad leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Hiroshima for G7 and Quad summits

Tokyo: The G7 leaders (Group of Seven) on Friday came together in Hiroshima to issue a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons while ensuring security for all, according to a White House statement. The document, the first of its kind with a specific focus on nuclear disarmament, highlights the importance of transparency, non-proliferation and diplomacy in realizing this goal. "I have welcomed my fellow G7 leaders to Hiroshima. After touring the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, we spoke with atomic bomb survivors and offered flowers at the Peace Memorial Park. This was an opportunity to send out a powerful message to the world about the G7's commitment to achieving a World Without Nuclear Weapons as the G7 leaders deepened their understanding of the tragic realities of the atomic bombing," tweeted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In their statement 'Hiroshima Action Plan', the G7 leaders condemned Russia's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and undermining of arms control regimes" and stated their intent to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. They stressed that any use of nuclear weapons or threats of use by Russia in the context of its aggression against Ukraine is deemed inadmissible. "We underscore the importance of the 77-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons. Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, undermining of arms control regimes, and stated intent to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus are dangerous and unacceptable," the statement said. Recalling the statement in Bali of all G20 leaders, including Russia, the statement said, "We reiterate our position that threats by Russia of nuclear weapon use, let alone any use of nuclear weapons by Russia, in the context of its aggression against Ukraine are inadmissible." "We further express our profound concern over Russia's attempt to control Ukraine's nuclear facilities, which poses serious nuclear safety and security risks and is in total disregard of Ukraine's right under the NPT to pursue peaceful uses of nuclear energy," added the statement. Calling Russia to "recommit - in words and deeds - to the principles enshrined in that Statement," it recalled the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear- Weapon States issued on January 3, 2022, on 'Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races', and affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. "Our security policies are based on the understanding that nuclear weapons, for as long as they exist, should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war and coercion," added the statement. Additionally, the G7 leaders expressed regret over Russia's decision to undermine the New START Treaty and called for its full implementation. Concerns were raised about China's increasing nuclear arsenal build-up without transparency. "In this regard, Japan's 'Hiroshima Action Plan' is a welcome contribution. We deeply regret Russia's decision to undermine the New START Treaty, and call on Russia to enable a return to full implementation of the Treaty. At the same time, China's accelerating build-up of its nuclear arsenal without transparency nor meaningful dialogue poses a concern to global and regional stability," added the statement. Transparency measures were emphasized in the statement, with the G7 leaders commending the United States, France, and the United Kingdom for providing data on their nuclear forces. They called on other nuclear-weapon states to follow suit and engage in meaningful dialogue with non-nuclear-weapon states on transparency and limiting nuclear competition. "We emphasize the importance of transparency with regard to nuclear weapons and welcome actions already taken by the United States, France and the United Kingdom to promote effective and responsible transparency measures through providing data on their nuclear forces and the objective size of their nuclear arsenal," read the statement.  It called on nuclear-weapon States to promote transparency through an open explanation of national reports coupled with an interactive discussion with non-nuclear-weapon States and civil society participants at future NPT-related meetings. "In this regard, we stress the benefit of pre-notification of relevant strategic activities, as a substantial contribution to risk reduction. The G7 recognizes the need for concrete steps by nuclear-weapon States to reduce strategic risks. We call on China and Russia to engage substantively in relevant multilateral and bilateral forums, in line with their obligations under the NPT," the statement said. It also called for the immediate commencement of long overdue negotiations of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. "2023 will mark the 30th year since the consensual adoption of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution calling for a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT), and we urge all countries to refocus political attention towards the FMCT as a priority action to forestall a recurrence of the nuclear arms race, including any and all independent or complementary efforts," added the statement. The Hiroshima Action Plan further called to declare and maintain voluntary moratoria on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. It also said that no nation should carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion or other nuclear explosion, condemn any threats to do so, and emphasize that bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force is another urgent matter. "We remain committed to upholding the global norm against nuclear explosive testing until it is legally binding and call on all states to declare new or maintain existing moratoriums on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions," the statement said. "We express our concern over Russia's announcement of its readiness to conduct a nuclear test, and we call for Russia's adherence to its moratorium on nuclear tests. We further underscore the essential role of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission in detecting and reporting suspected nuclear explosions worldwide," it added. The G7, collectively, has supported the CTBTO's activities in the amount of more than 100 million US dollars in 2023. A world without nuclear weapons cannot be achieved without nuclear non-proliferation. The Hiroshima Action Plan demanded North Korea to refrain from any other destabilizing or provocative actions, including any further nuclear tests or launches that use ballistic missile technology. "North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the NPT. It is critical that sanctions be fully and scrupulously implemented by all states and remain in place for as long as North Korea's WMD and ballistic missile programs exist," read the statement. The Hiroshima Action Plan also was deeply concerned about Iran's unabated escalation of its nuclear program, which has no credible civilian justification and brings it dangerously close to actual weapon-related activities. "We reiterate our clear determination that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon and we call on all countries to support the implementation of UNSCR 2231. We urge Iran to cease nuclear escalations," added the statement. The Hiroshima Action Plan also opposed any attempt to produce or support the production of plutonium for military programs under the guise of civilian programs, which undermines the objectives of the NPT including the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. "We call on all states that committed to reporting annually their holdings of all plutonium in peaceful nuclear activities to the IAEA to fulfil those commitments," the statement further mentioned. The G7 leaders encouraged visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to raise awareness of the realities of nuclear weapons use and supported initiatives that promote the engagement of youth, women, and civil society in disarmament and non-proliferation processes. "We welcome initiatives such as the "Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons" by Japan, the "Young Professionals Network" of P5, the "Youth Champions for Disarmament" financed by Germany, and the "Young Women Next Generation Initiative" established by the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, as well as other initiatives that support the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in addition to the engagement of civil society in disarmament and non-proliferation processes," added the statement. (ANI)

The G7 leaders (Group of Seven) on Friday came together in Hiroshima to issue a joint statement reaffirming their commitment 

G7 leaders reaffirm commitment to achieve world without nuclear weapons

Hiroshima (Japan): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima during his visit to the city to attend the annual summit of the G7 grouping and the third in-person Quad leaders' meeting. The Gandhian ideals of peace and harmony reverberate globally and give strength to millions, Prime Minister Modi said after the unveiling ceremony. The bust was gifted by India to Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan on the occasion of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the city for the G7 summit. The 42 inches tall bronze bust has been sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Vanji Sutar. The bust site, adjacent to the Motoyasu River, is close to the iconic - Bomb Dome that is visited by thousands of people, locals and tourists alike, every day. The location has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi dedicated his life to peace and non-violence. The location truly resonates with the principles and life of Gandhiji, which continues to inspire the world and its leaders. The United States conducted the world's first atomic attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Dignitaries present during the unveiling ceremony included Nakatani Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament; Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City; Tatsunori Motani, Speaker of the Hiroshima City Assembly; Members of Parliament from Hiroshima and senior government officials; members of the Indian community; and followers of Mahatma Gandhi in Japan. After the bust was unveiled, PM Modi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of Japan's PM Fumio Kishida. Speaking to reporters in Hiroshima after unveiling the bust of the Mahatma, PM Modi said that even today the world gets frightened when they listen to the word 'Hiroshima'. He said, "I got the opportunity to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi during my visit to Japan for the G7 Summit. The bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima will take forward the idea of non-violence." "It is a great moment for me to know that the Bodhi tree that I gifted to the Japanese PM has been planted here in Hiroshima so that people can understand the importance of peace when they come here. I pay my respect to Mahatma Gandhi," PM Modi added. "Unveiled Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Hiroshima. This bust in Hiroshima gives a very important message. The Gandhian ideals of peace and harmony reverberate globally and give strength to millions," PM Modi tweeted. The G7 leaders are currently in Japan to attend the G7 Summit scheduled to be held in Hiroshima from May 19-21. Notably, Japan assumed the G7 Presidency in 2023. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima

Gandhian ideals of peace, harmony reverberate globally and give strength to millions: PM Modi in Hiroshima

Hiroshima: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that, despite his appeal for all states to abide by international law and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all other nations, he sees the current crisis in Ukraine as an issue of humanity and human values more than politics and the economy.
At a G7 Working Session in Hiroshima, Modi urged the group to speak out against unilateral efforts to alter the status quo and said that conflicts should be settled amicably via discussion.
The Prime Minister also mentioned his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, and he reaffirmed that India will do everything in its power to end the war.—Inputs frrom gencies

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that, despite his appeal for all states to abide by international law and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all other nations, he sees the current crisis in Ukraine as an issue of humanity and human values more than politics and the economy.

PM Modi at G7 Summit: Need to raise voice together against unilateral changes to status quo

Dharamsala: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday welcomed the recent statement from the G7 Leaders' summit in Hiroshima, calling for a "world without nuclear weapons".

"This joint statement reflects the reality that we live in an increasingly interdependent world, and represents an opportunity to make this 21st century an era of peace and cooperation.

"As an avowed campaigner for demilitarization throughout the world and the elimination of all nuclear weapons, I firmly believe this to be a positive initiative. In January 2022, when the five nuclear-weapon states made a joint pledge affirming that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, I warmly commended their action," the spiritual leader said in a statement.

"In these times of uncertainty and upheaval across many parts of the globe, it is vitally important that all of us make earnest and concerted efforts to resolve problems through dialogue and diplomacy. Therefore, commitments like the one by the G7 countries represent a powerful message and recognition of the urgency of putting an end to the threat that these weapons pose to humanity.

"A world without nuclear weapons is necessary and possible. In our interconnected world, violence brings suffering even to those far from the conflict. I sincerely hope that we can all remember the oneness of humanity, and recall that harming anyone with violence, including the use of nuclear weapons harms us all," the Dalai Lama said.

"I pray that this 21st century becomes a more compassionate, peaceful and harmonious world," he added. IANS

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday welcomed the recent statement from the G7 Leaders' summit in Hiroshima, calling for a "world without nuclear weapons".

Dalai Lama welcomes G7 leaders for 'world without nuclear weapons'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday welcomed the recent statement from the G7 Leaders' summit in Hiroshima, calling for a "world without nuclear weapons".


New Delhi: Lok Sabha MPs on Wednesday observed a minute's silence as a tribute to the freedom fighters, commemorating the 1942 Quit India Movement. They also paid tribute to the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Earlier this morning, Japanese Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki was seen arriving in parliament.    Nagasaki Day, observed annually on August 9, marks the 78th anniversary. It was the day when the Japanese city of Nagasaki was devastated by an atomic bomb during World War II. This day serves as a reminder of the immense destructive power of nuclear weapons and the need for lasting peace. In 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9.  The bombs wiped out around 90 per cent of the cities and killed around over 3 lakh people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki collectively. The toll included those who died as a result of radiation exposure. Japan surrendered a few days after the second attack, thereby ending World War II.  Quit India Movement, also known as the “Bharat Chodo Andolan”, was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942. Meanwhile, to mark the anniversary of the Quit India Movement, the BJP MPs held a demonstration on Wednesday morning on the Parliament premises.  They raised slogans and held posters with the messages- 'Corruption Quit India, Dynasty Quit India. and Appeasement Quit India'BJP leaders like Nishikant Dubey and Ravi Shankar Prasad today hit out at the Congress alleging the party of corruption and following dynastic policies. Dubey said, "In these 75 years Congress, and parties supported by it, gave three things to the country that are eating up the country like termites. It is time to create an atmosphere against them because democracy is for the common people. “The second question is about Corruption. The third is about appeasement - vote bank politics that is being done by misleading minorities. They are not allowing implementation of policies in the country." "...Rampant family rule in politics quit India, stinking corruption quit India, appeasement politics quit India. If the democratic fabric of the country is to be safeguarded these ills- family rule, and corruption have to quit India," said BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad addressing a press conference. (ANI)

Lok Sabha MPs on Wednesday observed a minute's silence as a tribute to the freedom fighters

Parliament pays tribute to victims of Hiroshima, Nagasaki

Hiroshima: In individuals with specific malignancies, including as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma, a combination of inhibitors has been shown to reduce tumour growth and prevent relapse. Their findings encourage the creation of novel therapy modalities that specifically target these tumours in the future. The findings of the study were published in the journal Oncogene on August 17, 2023. Scientists are aware that the Hippo signalling pathway is crucial to the fast cell proliferation that characterises malignancies in humans and other mammals. Yes-associated protein 1, or YAP, is a protein that is vital in controlling the development of tumours and is crucial to the onset and spread of a number of malignancies. The dysregulation of the Hippo pathway results in the activation of YAP, which aids in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Attention has been drawn to the Hippo pathway and YAP as signalling pathways that control the properties of cancer cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, is a protein in cells that contributes to their growth. When a mutation occurs in the gene for EGFR, it can grow too much, leading to cancer. EGFR is frequently amplified and highly overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and mutated and activated in lung adenocarcinoma. So the EGFR inhibitor, a drug that blocks the cancer’s growth, is used as a targeted therapy in fighting these cancers.  In earlier work, the research team clarified the mechanism by which EGFR activates YAP through the Hippo pathway. However, EGFR-targeted monotherapy has shown a low response rate. Based on this evidence, researchers believe that EGFR inhibitors may temporarily inactivate YAP, but when YAP is re-activated, it increases resistance to the EGFR inhibitors used to fight the cancer. Scientists do not yet fully understand how the YAP is re-activated.  The team focused their current study on AXL, a receptor-type tyrosine kinase. They set out to clarify the mechanism that causes the cancer cells’ resistance to EGFR inhibitors, specifically focusing on the novel regulatory mechanism of YAP by AXL. Receptor-type tyrosine kinases like AXL play an important role in cell processes. When it is working properly, AXL is mainly expressed in immune cells and does the work of removing dead cells and controlling the duration of immune responses. However, when AXL becomes dysregulated, it can contribute to cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma, acute leukaemia, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The team used comprehensive transcriptional analysis and in vitro experiments in their study. With this research, the team clarified that AXL stimulates YAP through a novel mechanism when AXL combines with EGFR. This combination activates YAP via the EGFR-LATS1/2 axis. LATS1/2, or large tumour suppressor kinases, are important members of the Hippo pathway. The team determined that the combination of AXL and EGFR inhibitors working together inactivates YAP and suppresses the viability of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells. “The combination therapy targeting both EGFR and AXL or YAP simultaneously may effectively suppress tumour growth and prevent resistance and relapse in patients with EGFR-altered cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma,” said Toshinori Ando, assistant professor at the Center of Clinical Oral Examination, Hiroshima University Hospital.  Looking ahead, the team plans to try to generate effective drugs that can target EGFR, AXL, and YAP. “We think that intrinsic YAP activation or acquired re-activation after EGFR-targeted therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma has not been clarified yet. We will continue the research,” said J Silvio Gutkind, distinguished professor at the Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego. —ANI

In individuals with specific malignancies, including as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma

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PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Kishida, thanks him for G7 summit invite

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PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Kishida, thanks him for G7 summit invite

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