Dept. Thoracic Surgery

 

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Focusing on basic research on lung cancer and lung transplantation as both medical treatment and research

The Department of Thoracic Surgery operates as a field of the IDAC and as a department of Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Pulmonary Surgery.
The main themes of our research are related to lung cancer and lung transplantation. In addition to clinical research aimed at improving surgical outcomes, with the cooperation of many basic and clinical research fields, we are developing molecular biological and pathological research on lung cancer and intractable respiratory diseases, research related to lung preservation, research related to ischemia and reperfusion lung injury, and research related to acute and chronic rejection after lung transplantation. Immunology, in particular, is a field that spans cancer research and organ transplantation research, and is the main research theme of our department. We are also conducting basic research on cell therapy for various lung diseases with a view to early clinical　application. In addition, we are also focusing on　research related to the regeneration of lung tissue,　the creation of lungs from stem cells, and research on　aging medicine, which is the mission of our institute,　i.e., how changes in lung tissue associated with aging　affect various diseases and pathological conditions.

Research Topics

・Molecular biological and pathological research on lung cancer and intractable respiratory diseases.
・Research related to lung preservation.
・Research related to ischemia and reperfusion lung injury.
・Research related to acute and chronic rejection after lung transplantation.
・Development of implantable bioartificial lungs.

Selected Publications

1. Hayasaka K., Shimokawa M., Haratake N., Notsuda H., Katsumata S., Hamada A., Nomura K., Fujino K., Yoshikawa M., Suzawa K., Shien K., Suda K., Ohara S., Fukuda S., Kinoshita I., Takamori S., Muto S., Takanashi Y., Mizuno K., Hayakawa T., Sekihara K., Toda M., Matsuo S., Takegahara K., Hashimoto M., Nakahashi K., Endo M., Ozawa H., Fujikawa R., Tomioka Y., Namba K., Matsubara T., Suzuki J., Watanabe H., Takada K., Hoshino H., Kaiho T., Toyoda T., Shiono S., Soh J., Ohde Y., Okada Y. “Survival Outcomes of Patients with Uncommon EGFR Mutations in Surgically Resected Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Real-World Database Study (CReGYT-01 EGFR Study).” Lung Cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands); 2026 Jan.; 212); 108908, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2026.108908.
2. Hirama T, Nagao M, Okada Y. Pre-Transplant Infection Screening and Vaccination During Prolonged Waiting Periods for Lung Transplantation in Donor-Limited Asia-Pacific Settings. Respirology. 2026 Mar;31(3):232–5. doi:10.1002/resp.70226 PubMed PMID: 41693109; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12963693.
3. Niikawa H., Sakota D., Kosaka R., Sakanoue I., Baba S., Ohuchi K., Kigata T., Farver C. F., McCurry K. R., Okada Y., Okamoto T. “A Whole-Body Cooling Strategy in Uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death: Insights From a Porcine Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Model.” Transplantation Direct; 2026 Mar.; 12 (3); e1904, https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001904.
4. Niikawa H., Notsuda H., Onodera K., Watanabe T., Watanabe Y., Hirama T., Togo T., Kumata S., Suzuki T., Oishi H., Noda M., Okada Y. “Preoperative Pulmonary Function and Nutrition Predict Survival in Lung Cancer Patients with Previous Operated Malignancies.” Journal of Thoracic Disease; 2025 Nov.; 17 (11); 9774–88, https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-2025-844.
5. Onodera K., Notsuda H., Kumata S., Watanabe T., Watanabe Y., Suzuki T., Hirama T., Oishi H., Okada Y. “Adjuvant Chemotherapy Appears Less Effective in Undernourished Lung Cancer Patients as Assessed by the Controlling Nutritional Status Score: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” Journal of Thoracic Disease; 2026 Feb.; 18 (2); 133, https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-2025-1-2607.

Research Interests

Transplant immunity, transplant lung preservation, customized treatment of lung cancer, bioartificial lungs

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