Project Leader

Graduated from the Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Researcher (Concurrent Appointment in Esophagogastric Surgery)

The Medical Seeds Exploration Project aims to develop novel therapeutic approaches through research using clinical specimens, with a primary focus on gastric cancer. By utilizing clinical specimens accompanied by clinicopathological data, the project seeks to identify biomarkers that assist in treatment selection.

Gastric cancer treatment typically involves preoperative chemotherapy to shrink tumors and enable surgical resection, even for tumors initially deemed inoperable. However, some tumors are resistant to chemotherapy, making it critical to predict drug efficacy beforehand to improve treatment outcomes.

This project focuses on culturing cancer cells from clinical specimens, such as endoscopic biopsy samples, to conduct drug sensitivity testing. By predicting drug responsiveness before treatment, the project aims to enhance therapeutic precision.

The malignant nature of cancer cells varies between cases, influencing their response to treatment. Proteins play a key role in determining these characteristics. While numerous cancer-related proteins that regulate metastasis and chemotherapy resistance have been identified, much remains unknown. Comprehensive analysis of these proteins can help predict drug efficacy and post-treatment prognosis.

This project uses biopsy samples to conduct a thorough analysis of the proteins expressed in cancer cells. By identifying biomarkers, the project supports the development of more effective treatment strategies.

Translational research bridges clinical and basic sciences by addressing clinical questions through fundamental research and translating basic findings into new treatments. This project employs cutting-edge research techniques to systematically investigate molecular abnormalities in tumor cells.

Collaboration with universities, corporations, and hospitals enables interdisciplinary research to uncover the molecular basis of clinically significant phenomena such as metastasis, recurrence, and treatment resistance. Rapid advancements in research technologies now make

previously impossible studies feasible, driving innovative solutions to clinical challenges.

This project seeks to deliver findings that can directly benefit clinical practice by integrating clinical ideas with advanced research techniques.

Cancer models, including cell lines and animal models, are indispensable for evaluating drug efficacy and conducting molecular analyses. These models must closely mimic the characteristics of tumors in the human body. The project focuses on establishing cell lines and organoids from clinical specimens to develop models resembling in vivo tumors.

Cancer models are essential for evaluating the safety and efficacy of anticancer drugs before clinical application and for validating biomarkers or therapeutic targets identified through comprehensive analysis.

This project advances the development of effective, low-side-effect treatments and innovative diagnostic techniques by establishing 

Early detection of colorectal cancer is associated with favorable treatment outcomes; however, management becomes more challenging once metastasis or recurrence occurs. Furthermore, imaging studies alone may not always accurately predict microscopic metastasis or the risk of recurrence. Therefore, there is a growing need for blood-based biomarkers that enable minimally invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring.

In this project, we investigate blood and tumor tissue samples from patients with colorectal cancer to identify biomarkers useful for early diagnosis and prediction of metastasis and recurrence. Particular emphasis is placed on comparisons between primary and metastatic tumors, analyses across disease stages, and longitudinal assessments within individual patients to identify molecular alterations associated with disease progression and metastatic spread.

In addition, we integrate proteomic data obtained from tumor tissues with protein profiles detected in blood samples. This approach aims to establish noninvasive diagnostic methods capable of detecting molecular abnormalities occurring within tumors through blood testing. Ultimately, our goal is to develop clinically useful biomarkers that contribute to the early detection of colorectal cancer, prediction of metastasis and recurrence, and selection of optimal treatment strategies for individual patients.