“Resources, Energy, Environment, Social Infrastructure” Field

bon/decar“Medical Science, Medicinal Science” fieldor solution Achievement : developing high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic
rious types
devicesAchievement : For their pioneering work in conceptualizing a
Against thismodelofmulti-stepcarcinogenesis
and its application andMartinAndrew
Green (Australia)rof. Green, Prof.impact
on improving cancer diagnosis and therapeutics
d an actual Born: July 20, 1948 (Age: 72)
d entrepre- Professor,
Universityof New South
Wales (UNSW Sydney)
Prof.
Bert Vogelstein(USA)
Born: June 2, 1949 (Age: 71)
Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
no carbon
r produces
Dr. Robert
A.ofWeinberg(USA)
e of solar Predicted
GrowthSolar PowerBorn: November 11, 1942 (Age: 78)
ous needs,
Member, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Researchmall-scale
Professor,
Massachusetts
Institute
Technology
Inorder
to realize
our dreams
of ofachievinga (MIT)
decarbonized society,ctric power
verity and there needs to be a shift towards the use of electrical power generated bysources that
do not emitofcarbon
dioxide,contributing
factor to
power and renewableSummary:Discoveries
oncogenes
andatumor
suppressor
generation global warming.
genes andproposal/verification
the multi-step
Renewables
include solar,ofwind,and geothermal power,
tricity in a but in thecarcinogenesis
model.
past, introducing
such sources was difficult due to the increased

costs when compared to fossil fuel-fired plants and hydroelectric power.
In the Dr.
mid-2010s,
power
droppedbelow
thoseof proto-oncofossil fuelWeinberg solar
discovered
thecostspresenceof cellular
genes,
calledpower, genes,
and thus
began
era of solar
power plants
being able
to be built
which
can betheconvertedto cancer-causing
oncogenesby a mutation(s).
cheaperHethanfuel plants.
Solar poweris expectedundergoalsofossil
contributedin the discoveryof ageneration
gene, now called
a tumortosuppressor
ar cell
rapid expansion
futurefor(seegraph).
Behindthis paradigm
shiftDr.is
gene, that inis therequiredthe below
protectionof cells
to becomecancer cells.
t thatthe abilityof photovoltaic
devices(commonly
known
as solarto convert
Vogelstein
independently
searched
for actual
mutatedgenescells)in humancancersolar energy
to electric
power
at highrates
of thatefficiency,
andto thereduction incells anddiscovered
numerousnewgenes
are criticalthe development
1.5 times
power generation
costs
allowedfor the constructionof cancer. On
thethatbasishaveof theseachievements,
the concept ofof large-scale“multi-stepssion
solar power
plants. Prof.
Green
been working
onmanyimproving
conversion
carcinogenesis
model”
was hasestablished.
Althoughother investigators
ed throughefficiencyof crystalline
photovoltaic
since thestand
1970s,
hecontributed
to this siliconfield, Drs.
Weinberg devices
and Vogelsteinout andin thatd current
has achieved
many successes
over thattime.as the pioneers and leaders in corrobthey continued
their innovative
researchorating this concept. In fact, Dr. Weinberg experimentally demonstrated therequirement of multiple oncogenes to convert normal cells into cancer cells,
Dr. Vogelsteinverifiedthe photovoltaic
concept by molecular
genetics combined
Thewhilemechanisms
behindsolar
deviceswithhistopathologyoflarge
intestinal
lesions,fromwhichhuman colorectal
and solar power generation
cancers arise, to show the association of a series of mutations in cancer-associated genes. Thus, they revealed pivotal roles for certain human oncogenes
There are many types of devices that generate power from sunlight,
and tumor suppressor genes in the propagation and suppression of numerous
but crystalline silicon (a type of semiconductor) is said to be found incommon human cancers. Their discoveries have also led to the opening of theapproximately 95% of photovoltaic devices in use around the world. The
field of cancer genomics, now an especially powerful force in discerning andInstalleddeveloping
power generation
capacity by humansource in
the State
Policiesand
Scenario,
2000-2040
mechanism-based
cancerdiagnostics
therapeutics.

on front

rface
paper)GW (Gigawatts)
3500

rface
5 paper)paper) is now
loped by Prof.

Other renewables
cancer cell-derived genes in these cells,
he discovered a mutated form of the
RAS gene.
NormalRAS
gene
product
is important for the promotion of cell
NuclearBattery storage Oil
0growth and it is transiently activated by cell growth signals and then converted

500

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

2040年

multiple oncogenes. During this research, Dr. Weinberg also assumed the
how cancer is dipresence of genes the products of which suppress cancer cell development
has proven muchand greatly contributed to the discovery of RB gene, the first of so-called
and Vogelstein
PERC
solar
cells
and
Prof.
Green’srole“tumor suppressor genes”; in analogy to car driving, the driver puts on thearticles of modein
improving
solar
cell
efficiency
brakes. Thus, these studies lead to the establishment of a paradigm that
Weinberg, toget
cancer will arise by the appearance of oncogenes and disappearance ofby Dr. Vogelste
tumor
suppressor
genes (Fig.
3).
The
first efficientp-n-junction
crystalline silicon solar cell was demonOverall, the pstrated by Daryl. M. Chapin, Calvin S. Fuller, and Gerald L. Pearson at Belllished principles
Labs in 1954. From 1972 to 1974, Joseph Lindmayer, James F. Allison,of cancer, espec
Joseph G. Haynos and colleagues at COMSAT Laboratories improved
detection and inDr.
Vogelstein’s
achievements
power conversion efficiency to nearly 17%. However, there were no further
improvements in power conversion efficiency for nearly a decade. basis for many
therapies. IndeeDr.
a different
approach,using
methods
of molecular
In Vogelstein
1975, Prof.took
Greenthen provided
freshinsight
into theprocesses determinbeen synthesize
genetics
combinedwithhistopathologyoflarge
intestinal
lesions
toshow
ing the recombination of electrons and holes excited by sunlight and suggested
only Inadvanced bthata seriesof mutations
in cancer-associatedgeneswas(i.e.,experimentally
APC, RAS, TP53,feasible.
muchhigherconversion
efficiency of 25%
field
1983,
he andteam realizedrecord efficiencyof 18%.
This wasfirstof cancer
andothers)werehisassociatedwith theaprogression
from benign
adenomasto thein a seriesaggressiveof 18 certified
efficiency records
by his team,achieving cancer
24.7% patients.
increasinglycolon adenocarcinomas,
establishinga foundation

1999 (reaching
his target
in 2008).
ofefficiency
multi-stepincarcinogenesis
model(Fig.5).of 25.0%
In fact,by
Dr.recalibration
Vogelstein wasThethePERC
that he invented
measuresnot only reducing
Figure5:Multi-s
among
first tocell
demonstratethat TP53,included
which wasoriginallyfor
considered
top region
thediscoveries,
cell (the “emitter”)
asrecombination
an oncogene, is along
a tumorthe
suppressor
gene.of His
in parallel but also
alongtheofrear
the cell haveas well.
structurenow
dominates
the Normal cell
with
those
Dr. ofWeinberg,
also This
led toPERC
the openingof thefieldofGenetic
mutation/Inacphotovoltaic
cancergenomics,device
now anmarket.
especially powerful force in discerning and develaccumulation oftumo
mutations：oping mechanism-based human cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. On thebasis of the series of discoveries, Dr. Vogelstein has authored conceptual
Colorectal cancer：
cornerstoneof moderncancerresearch,
namely,Vogelgram.
Buildinga moresecuresociety
withthesolar
power generation

Figure 2:Functional difference between the normal and mutated RAS proteins

Figure 1:Discovery of an oncogene

Price reduction and spread of solar photovoltaic devices
100

10

1980

Cancer cells

1990

Cancerous cells

Introduction of extracted and fragmented
2010
DNA into cancerous cells

2000
1

0.0
0.001

2015of cancer cell clones
Appearance

Discovery of a mutated form of the gene encoding
the RAS protein
0.01

0.1

1

10

100

Cumulative production (GWp)

1000

Genetic sequence alteration（genetic mutation）

prevent
overgrowth.

InstructionnFigure 3:Development of cancer cell；Outline
Proto-oncogene

Tumor suppressor gene

Promotion of cell growth

Suppression of excessive
cell growth

Mutation

Mutation

Generation of oncogene

Therapeutic
Aerobic
glycolysis
inhibitors

De

✖

e
Therapeutic

Inactivation of tumor
suppressor gene

1km

Proapoptotic
BH3
mimetics

Source : Google Earth

cell
Noor Abu Dhabi PV Power Plant, a gigawatt-levelCancer
solar power
plant in Abu Dhabi. This power plant TP53
is installed with the p-n junction crystalline silicon PERC cells invented by Prof. Green. PERC devices
are considered environmentally friendly because they can generate between 10 and 30 times theamount4:Actionof energy required
to produce
the devices, dependingon locationand technologies used.
Figureof normal
tumor suppressor
p53（TP53
gene product）
Therapeutic(Source: Google Maps）
No stimulation

p53
Front contact
N-type silicon

10000

Up until 2000, improvements in conversion eﬃciency were a major factor in the reduced cost of solar
photovoltaic devices, but in the 2000s, the increased size of power plants also began to contribute to

Early diagnosis：e.g
cancer-associated DN
blood sNormal RAS protein
RAS protein for global
The decades-old
notion, that renewable energy isMutatedimportant
is important for the promotion
The mutated RAS
Instructionhas completelyof cell growth“Vogelgram” (menvironmental protection
but is too expensive,protein remains changed, as“switched
The normal RAS
the society-wide adoptionof photovoltaics has madealways
solar
power cheaperon”
and keeps
protein is “switchedpromoting cellon” whencells needthan fossil fuel power.
Thischange is encouraging companies
to enter thegrowth.
to grow but it issubsequently
sustainable energy market
andisdrivingapolicypush
forrenewableenergy,Figure 6:The ha“switched oﬀ” toDNA (RAS gene)Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2019[Inﬂation adjusted Euros (2019)/Wp]
Module Pricean be tailored
energy power
rt grid, it can
er .

Coal
Natural Gas
OilDr. Weinberg’s achievements
Nuclear
2500
Wind
Natural Gas
Coal
Solar PV
Dr. Weinberg helped launch this new era of human cancer
genes. In elegant
2000
Other
and original research, he introduced extracted and fragmented
DNA from
renewables
1500
Hydro
cancer cells and thenHydro
introduced the fragmented
cells andWind DNA into cancerous
Battery
storage the1000found an appearance of cancer cell clones (Fig. 1). When hethen analyzed
Solar PV

3000

majority of those are p-n junction solar cells, which have p-type siliconis placed adjacent to n-type silicon. When struck by photons from theinto an inactive state to prevent excessive cell growth. On the other hand,sun, the energy causes the release of a negatively-charged electron The
and ripple e
the product of the mutated RAS continues to remain in the active form; ina positively-charged “hole,” whereby the electron moves into the n-type
by Drs. Wei
analogycar driving,
driver into
keepsthestepping
the accelerator(Fig. 2).then flows
silicontoandthe holethemoves
p-typeonsilicon.
That chargeThis“oncogene”
wassimultaneously
discoveredby
othergroups,but
out the electrodes (or contacts) as electrical power.
The scientificDr. Weinberg
furtheradvanced
his
study
using
primary
cultured
cells,A high power conversion efficiency can be obtained if every electron-holeand Vogelstein hwhichcannotbetransformedbythemutantRAS
gene
alone.
He
thenpair that is generated can be extracted as power, but in practice, energy haveis lostprovided ademonstrated
that theseandprimary
become (seecancercells byintroducing
when the electrons
holescells
recombine.
below
figure.)view up throughInduction of cell death (apoptosis)
in cancerous cells

HoleRadiation
Carcinogeni

PARP
inhibitors

Electronp53
Growth arrest for

DNA damage repair
Recombination

p-n junction

Resiscell d“Hallmarks of cancer” (m“Resources, Energy, Environment, Social Infrastructure” Field

he other hand,
The ripple
effects of theachievements silicon photovoltaic: developing
high-efficiency
active form;Achievement
inby Drs. Weinberg
devices and Vogelsteinerator (Fig. 2).
er groups, but
Prof. Martin
Andrew(Australia)
The scientificand socialGreen
contributionof the work by Drs. Weinberg
cultured cells,
(Age:
72)
Born: July20, 1948 has
andVogelsteinbeenimmeasurable
to the cancer field. Their efforts
lone. He thenProfessor,
New South
Wales(UNSW that
Sydney)haveUniversity
provided a ofparadigm
of cancer
progression
has shaped ourby introducing
viewupthrough
today.
While
this
has
produced
importantchanges ino assumed thehowcancerisdiagnosedandtreated,thecomplexityofcancerevolution
l development
has provenmuch greater
thanPower
any could have imagined. Drs. Weinberg
Growthof Solarst of so-calledPredicted
and Vogelstein have published influential conceptual cornerstones
ver puts on thearticles of modern cancer research, namely, Hallmarks of Cancer by Dr.
paradigm thatIn orderto realize our dreams of achieving a decarbonized society,Weinberg, together with Dr. Douglas Hanahan (Fig. 6), and Vogelgram
appearancethereof needs
to be a shift towards the use of electrical power generated by
by Dr. Vogelstein (Fig. 5).
renewable sources that do not emit carbon dioxide, a contributing factor to
Overall, the paradigm set out by these two investigators has estabglobal warming.
Renewables include solar, wind, and geothermal power,
lishedprinciples
that haveunderstandingof thecomplexity
but in the past,
introducing
suchenabled
sourcesanwas
difficult due
to theincreasedof cancer,
especiallyin providing
strongandrationalefor earlypower.
cancercosts whencompared
to fossil
fuel-firedaplantshydroelectricdetectionandintervention.
Theiraccomplishments
have
servedas theIn the mid-2010s, solar power costs dropped below those of fossil
fuel
for many
theeracontemporary
developmentsof targeted
power, basis
and thus
beganofthe
of solar power
plants being
able to cancer
be built
Indeed,the notion“precision
medicine”
in oncology
hass of molecularcheapertherapies.
than fossil
fuel plants.
Solarofpower
generation
is expected
to undergo
beensynthesized
from
many
of
their
ideas.
Overall,
their
work
has
not isesions to show
rapid expansion in the future (see below graph). Behind this paradigm shift
onlyofadvanced
basicdevices
cancer research,
but also
createdthe transformative
C, RAS, TP53,
the ability
photovoltaic(commonly
known
as solarcells) to convert
field ofdevelopment
thatofisefficiency,
improving andthe thelivesreductionof many inn adenomassolar
to energy
to cancer
electricdrug
power
at high rates
cancerpatients.
power generation costs that have allowed for the construction of large-scaleg a foundation

solar power plants. Prof. Green has been working on improving conversion
Vogelstein was
efficiencyof crystalline silicon
photovoltaic
devices since the 1970s, and he
Figure5:Multi-stepcarcinogenesis
model
ally considered
has achieved many successes over thatBenign
time.
ies, in parallel
Metastasis
Carcinoma
Normal cell
Hyperplasia
adenomaof the field of
Dysregulation of genes
mutation/
Inactivation of
Inactivation ofning and devel- Genetic
genes controlling
accumulation oftumor suppressor
tumor suppressor
metastatic ability
mutations：
gene
①
gene
②
eutics. On the
MutationdevicesofMutation
The mechanisms behindoncogene❶
solarof photovoltaic
oncogene❷
red conceptualand solar
generation
K-RAS
TP53
APC
Colorectalpower
cancer：am.
Early diagnosis：e.g., early detection ofPrecision medicine：Approach for cancer

blood samples

individual variability in genes, environment, andd RAS proteins There aretreatment
and prevention
that takes
into accountmany typesof devices
thatgeneratepower
fromsunlight,
cancer-associatedDNA mutationsin thelifestyleis
for eachbut crystalline silicon (a type of semiconductor)
saidperson.
to be found in(modiﬁedfrom the original article
of Fearonin
ER andVogelstein
B in Cell
61, 759-767,
1990)The
approximately“Vogelgram”
95% ofphotovoltaic
devicesusearoundtheworld.

Mutated RAS protein
The mutated RAS
protein remains
always “switchedon” and keeps
promoting cell
growth.

Installed power generation capacity by source in the State Policies Scenario, 2000-2040
GW (Gigawatts)
3500

Figure 6:The hallmarks of cancer and their therapeuticCoal
targetingence alteration
mutation）

3000

2000
1500

Therapeutic

BH3
mimetics

CDK4/6
inhibitors

Natural Gas

RAS

Evading
growthWind
suppressors

Sustaining
Hydro proliferative
signaling

Nuclear

0 Therapeutic
2005
2000
Proapoptotic

Solar PV

APC

Aerobic
glycolysis
inhibitors

1000
500

Therapeutic

Herceptin
TKI inhibitor
MEK inhibitors
Coal
RAS inhibitors

2500

Deregulating
cellularenergetics

2010

Other renewablesAvoiding

2020

Battery storage Oil

2025

2030

2035

[Inﬂation adjusted Euros (2019)/Wp]
Module Pricedeath (apoptosis)
erous cells

Therapeutic

10

1980

PARP
inhibitors

1990

The decades-old notion, that renewable energy is important for global
environmental protection but is too expensive, has completely changed, as
the society-wide adoption of photovoltaics has made solar power cheaper
than fossil fuel power. This change is encouraging companies to enter thesustainable energy market and is driving a policy push for renewable energy,nInducing
angiogenesis

Activating ofinvasion &metastasis
2010

Therapeutic

Therapeutic

Inhibitors of
VEGF signaling

Inhibitors ofc-Met/HGF

1km

Telomerase
inhibitors

Tumorpromoting
inﬂammation

2000

1

Building a more secure society with solar power generation

Therapeutic

2040年
Enabling
replicative

Source: IEA World Energy Outlook
2019
immortality

Genomeinstability &mutation

100

The first efficient p-n-junction crystalline silicon solar cell was demonstrated by Daryl. M. Chapin, Calvin S. Fuller, and Gerald L. Pearson at Bell
Labs in 1954. From 1972 to 1974, Joseph Lindmayer, James F. Allison,
Joseph G. Haynos and colleagues at COMSAT Laboratories improved
power conversion efficiency to nearly 17%. However, there were no further
improvements in power conversion efficiency for nearly a decade.
In 1975, Prof. Green then provided fresh insight into the processes determining the recombination of electrons and holes excited by sunlight and suggested
much higher conversion efficiency of 25% was experimentally feasible. In
1983, he and his team realized a record efficiency of 18%. This was the firstin a series of 18 certified efficiency records by his team, achieving 24.7%
efficiency in 1999 (reaching his target of 25.0% by recalibration in 2008).
The PERC cell that he invented included measures for not only reducing
recombination along the top region of the cell (the “emitter”) but also
along the rear of the cell as well. This PERC structure now dominates thephotovoltaic device market.

immunedestruction

2015

Resistingcell death

PERC solar cells and Prof. Green’s rolein improving solar cell efficiency

Natural Gas
Oil
Nuclear
Wind
Solar
PV
Therapeutic
Other
Anti-PD1
AntiPD-L1
renewables
Anti-CTLA4
Hydro
Battery storage

TP53
Price reduction
and spread of solar photovoltaic devices

ne product）

h arrest formage repair

Therapeutic

majority of those are p-n junction solar cells, which have p-type siliconis placed adjacent to n-type silicon. When struck by photons from thesun, the energy causes the release of a negatively-charged electron anda positively-charged “hole,” whereby the electron moves into the n-typesilicon and the hole moves into the p-type silicon. That charge then flows
out the electrodes (or contacts) as electrical power.
A high power conversion efficiency can be obtained if every electron-hole
pair that is generated can be extracted as power, but in practice, energy is lostwhen the electrons and holes recombine. (see below figure.)

Therapeuticantiinﬂammatory
drugs

Source : Google Earth
Noor Abu Dhabi PV Power Plant, a gigawatt-level solar power plant in Abu Dhabi. This power plantis installed with the p-n junction crystalline silicon PERC cells invented by Prof. Green. PERC devices
are considered environmentally friendly because they can generate between 10 and 30 times theamount of energy required to produce the devices, depending on location and technologies used.
(Source: Google Maps）

Hole

2015

0.0
0.001
0.1
1 the original
10in Hanahan
100D and Weinberg
1000 RA,10000“Hallmarks0.01
of cancer” (modiﬁed
from
Cell 144, 646-674, 2011)

Cumulative production (GWp)

Up until 2000, improvements in conversion eﬃciency were a major factor in the reduced cost of solar
photovoltaic devices, but in the 2000s, the increased size of power plants also began to contribute toElectron

Front contact
N-type silicon
Recombination
p-n junction