Gastroenterological Surgery

Our department aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of gastrointestinal tumors—including esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, colorectal, hepatic, biliary, pancreatic cancers, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), utilizing surgically resected specimens and blood samples.

Currently, a variety of research projects are underway, and we would like to introduce two of them here. The first focuses on GAPPS (Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach), a rare hereditary disease characterized by multiple polyps in the upper stomach with a high risk of cancer. We are investigating genomic alterations involved in the development of gastric cancer in GAPPS. The second project focuses on the role of Hippo signaling in pancreatic cancer. We study molecules such as YAP/TAZ that are related to drug resistance and cancer progression, aiming to reveal mechanisms behind tumor development.

We believe that medical doctors should consistently engage with the true nature of disease in their clinical practice. Guided by the principle of “from bedside to bench, and from bench to bedside,” we are committed to promoting research that bridges basic and clinical medicine and to contributing to the advancement of medical science as a team.