A research team at Yokohama City University carried out analysis on the genes of several patients suffering from colon cancer without their consent, it was learned Wednesday.
Researchers also forged documents to make it appear that the patients had consented to the analysis, while a portion of their results was made public at last autumn's gathering of the Japanese Cancer Association, sources familiar with the case said.
The team in question was jointly studying the genetic patterns behind colon cancer with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Riken), a public corporation under the jurisdiction of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
According to the university, a member of the research team performed several operations on patients suffering from colon cancer and polyps while he was working at a private hospital in the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, in the spring of 2000.