旭 火華 (アサヒ ヨウ)

医学研究院 外科系部門 外科学分野特任助教
Last Updated :2026/04/14

■研究者基本情報

学位

  • 博士(医学), 北海道大学大学院医学研究院, 2020年03月

Researchmap個人ページ

研究者番号

  • 10876246

研究キーワード

  • 肝臓悪性腫瘍

研究分野

  • ライフサイエンス, 腫瘍生物学, 肝臓悪性腫瘍

■経歴

経歴

  • 2025年04月 - 現在
    北海道大学病院, 消化器外科Ⅰ, 特任助教, 日本国
  • 2024年01月 - 2025年03月
    北海道大学病院, 消化器外科Ⅰ, 医員
  • 2022年12月 - 2023年12月
    Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics, アメリカ合衆国
  • 2019年04月 - 2022年03月
    北海道大学病院 消化器外科Ⅰ 肝胆膵グループ, 日本国
  • 2016年04月 - 2019年03月
    日鋼記念病院 外科, 日本国
  • 2014年04月 - 2016年03月
    JCHO 札幌北辰病院 外科, 日本国
  • 2013年04月 - 2014年03月
    小樽市立病院 外科, 日本国
  • 2010年04月 - 2013年03月
    北海道大学病院 消化器外科Ⅰ, 日本国
  • 2009年04月 - 2010年03月
    釧路ろうさい病院 外科, 日本国
  • 2008年04月 - 2009年03月
    苫小牧市立病院 外科, 日本国
  • 2007年04月 - 2008年03月
    北海道大学病院 消化器外科Ⅰ, 日本国
  • 2005年04月 - 2007年03月
    北見赤十字病院, 日本国

学歴

  • 2009年04月 - 2020年03月, 北海道大学大学院, 医学研究科, 消化器外科学分野I, 日本国
  • 1999年04月 - 2005年03月, 北海道大学, 医学部, 医学科, 日本国

■研究活動情報

受賞

  • 2018年09月, 北海道外科学会, 第109回北海道外科学会で北海道外科学会学会賞               
  • 2013年04月, 第113回日本外科学会定期学術集会, Young Researcher Award               
    Prevention of early graft loss by Proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist in canine islet autotransplantation
    旭 火華

論文

  • Prognostic significance of Albumin-Bilirubin score changes in patients treated with systemic therapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver resection.
    Yoh Asahi, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Takeshi Aiyama, Sunao Fujiyoshi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Yuki Fujii, Yuichi Yoshida, Shunsuke Shichi, Ken Imaizumi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Surgery today, 2025年12月24日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), PURPOSE: To clarify the characteristics of patients who received systemic therapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver resection and evaluate the associated prognostic factors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 177 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with recurrence after liver resection; 79 received tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Prognostic factors were analyzed in the patients who received systemic therapy. RESULTS: The median survival time after the initiation of systemic therapy was 23.3 months among the patients who received such therapy. These patients had more advanced disease at recurrence than those who did not receive systemic therapy. In the systemic therapy group, a deterioration of liver function relative to the preoperative status, expressed as the change in the albumin-bilirubin score (≥ 0.469 vs. <0.469), was independently associated with a poorer survival (9.5 vs. 25.2 months, respectively; P = 0.022). Receiving multiple regimens was associated with a longer survival than receiving a single regimen (36.6 vs. 17.7 months, respectively; P = 0.023). Four patients (5.1%) achieved complete remission, two with systemic therapy alone and two after conversion therapy; all achieved a long-term overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: A preserved liver function and multiple systemic therapy regimens are favorable prognostic factors. Achieving complete remission results in an improved long-term survival.
  • Risk Factors and Management of Portal Vein Thrombosis after Hepatectomy: A Single-Center Experience.
    Kazuki Wakizaka, Shunsuke Shichi, Takeshi Aiyama, Yoh Asahi, Akihisa Nagatsu, Tatsuya Orimo, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Akinobu Taketomi
    Annals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches, 5, 4, e523, 2024年12月, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the risk factors and management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after hepatectomy. BACKGROUND: PVT after hepatectomy can cause liver dysfunction and portal hypertension, and may be fatal. However, it has not been sufficiently investigated. METHODS: The study included 1403 consecutive patients who underwent elective hepatectomy at our department from January 2010 to July 2022. The patients were divided into PVT and non-PVT groups based on the presence or absence of PVT, and relevant risk factors were analyzed. The management and prognosis of patients with PVT were investigated. RESULTS: Among the 1403 patients, PVT occurred in 33 cases, giving a frequency of 2.4%. In univariate analyses, female sex (P = 0.03), portal vein reconstruction (P = 0.01), and left lateral sectionectomy (P < 0.001) were significant risk factors for PVT. On multivariate analysis, portal vein reconstruction (P = 0.01) and left lateral segmentectomy (P < 0.001) remained significant risk factors for PVT. The management options for PVT were thrombectomy, antithrombotic therapy, and observation. With antithrombotic therapy, 96.4% of patients achieved PVT resolution. Among patients who underwent hepatectomy with portal vein reconstruction, the PVT site was the main trunk of the portal vein in all 3 cases, and thrombectomy was performed in 2 cases. No perioperative mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, portal vein reconstruction and left lateral sectionectomy were identified as risk factors for PVT after hepatectomy. As PVT can be fatal, early detection and appropriate treatment according to the status of PVT are important.
  • The anticancer effects of Aronia berry extract are mediated by Chk1 and p53 in colorectal cancer.
    Yoh Asahi, Caiming Xu, Keisuke Okuno, Akinobu Taketomi, Ajay Goel
    Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 135, 156086, 156086, 2024年09月19日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Aronia berry extracts (ABE) have recently been reported to possess significant anti-cancer effects in various malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), due to their high polyphenolic content. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the anti-cancer effects of ABE in CRC remain unclear, which is important to consider when considering their use as complementary medicine approaches in cancer. METHODS: We performed genome-wide transcriptomic profiling and pathway enrichment analysis to identify specific growth signaling pathways associated with ABE treatment in CRC cells. In addition, a series of systematic and comprehensive cell culture studies were performed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of ABE in SW480 and HCT116 CRC cell lines. Subsequently, these findings were validated in patient-derived 3D organoids (PDOs) models. RESULTS: Transcriptomic profiling analysis identified p53 signaling as one of the key enriched pathways mediating the anti-cancer activity of ABE. Analysis of public datasets revealed that Chk1, a key regulator of p53, was one of the critical targets of ABE in CRC. Chk1 and p53 activation was shown to be downregulated with ABE treatment, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest (p = 0.003-0.014) and enhanced DNA damage (p = 0.015-0.026). Furthermore, these findings were validated in PDOs, where the ABE treatment resulted in significantly fewer and smaller PDOs in a concentration-dependent manner (p = 0.045 - <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We firstly provide evidence for the role of the p53 signaling pathway as a mediator of the anti-cancer activity of ABE, which provides a rationale for its use as a safe and effective integrative medicine approach in CRC.
  • Improved survival outcome of curative liver resection for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
    Yoh Asahi, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Takeshi Aiyama, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Kazuki Wakizaka, Shunsuke Shichi, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology, 2024年07月26日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of curative liver resection, (LR) of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC-C HCC) after tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) became approved as a treatment option for recurrent lesions. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with BCLC-C HCC who underwent curative LR were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into two groups according to whether LR was performed before (n = 24) or after (n = 43) TKI approval ("beforeTKI" and "afterTKI" group, respectively). RESULTS: There was no difference in the median disease-free survival time after LR between the beforeTKI and afterTKI groups (5.6 and 7.1 months, respectively; p = 0.435). However, the median survival time after LR was longer in the afterTKI than beforeTKI group (42.7 and 14.9 months, respectively; p = 0.022). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the date of LR was the only independent factor affecting postresection survival. When the patients were limited to those with recurrence, there were no differences in the recurrence pattern or progression of HCC at the time of recurrence between the two groups. The only difference in the treatment distribution was the administration of TKIs (14 of 34 patients in afterTKI group and only 1 of 19 patients in beforeTKI group, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that TKI therapy for recurrent BCLC-C HCC is associated with improved overall survival. Thus, LR could be a promising option for BCLC-C HCC in the current era of TKI therapy.
  • Diacylglycerol kinase alpha is a proliferation marker of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma associated with the prognosis.
    Shunsuke Shichi, Ko Sugiyama, Yoh Asahi, Chisato Shirakawa, Hiroki Nakamoto, Saori Kimura, Kazuki Wakizaka, Takeshi Aiyama, Akihisa Nagatsu, Tatsuya Orimo, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Akinobu Taketomi
    Cancer medicine, 13, 9, e7238, 2024年05月, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has a high recurrence rate and a poor prognosis. Thus, the development of effective treatment and prognostic biomarkers is required. High expression of diacylglycerol kinase alpha (DGKα) is a prognostic factor for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the relationship between DGKα expression and prognosis in ICC has not been reported. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with anti-DGKα antibody was performed on surgical specimens of ICC (n = 69). First, DGKα expression in cancer cells was qualitatively classified into four groups (-, 1+, 2+, 3+) and divided into two groups (DGKα- and DGKα+1 + to 3+). The relationship between clinical features and DGKα expression was analyzed. Second, Ki-67 expression was evaluated as a cell proliferation marker. The number of Ki-67-positive cells was counted, and the relationship with DGKα expression was examined. RESULTS: DGKα IHC divided the patients into a DGKα+ group (1+: n = 15; 2+: n = 5; 3+: n = 5) and a DGKα- group (-: n = 44). In the DGKα+ group, patients were older and had advanced disease. Both overall survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were significantly worse in the DGKα+ patients. DGKα+ was identified as an independent prognostic factor for RFS by multivariate analysis. Furthermore, the number of Ki-67-positive cells increased in association with the staining levels of DGKα. CONCLUSION: Pathological DGKα expression in ICC was a cancer proliferation marker associated with recurrence. This suggests that DGKα may be a potential therapeutic target for ICC.
  • Lymphaticovenous anastomosis for treatment of refractory chylous ascites: A case report.
    Shoichi Tsuzaka, Takeshi Aiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Taku Maeda, Toshiya Kamiyama, Akinobu Taketomi
    Microsurgery, 43, 6, 606, 610, 2023年09月, [国際誌]
    英語, Chylous ascites, the leakage of lymphatic fluid into the abdominal cavity caused by lymphatic fluid stasis or lymphatic vessel damage, can be treated by lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA). We report rarely performed abdominal LVA to treat a case of refractory ascites possibly caused by ligation of the thoracic duct and pleurodesis in a man aged 60 years requiring weekly ascites drainage. Ligation was abandoned because the leakage site was not determined. The greater omentum (GO) was generally edematous and showed lymphatic effusion by gross appearance, and was considered suitable for LVA. We performed once LVA in the lymphatic vessels and veins of the GO using common microsurgical instrumentation and lateral anastomosis. Lymphatic vessels in the omentum were dilated to 2-3 mm, and LVA was simple. After LVA, GO edema improved. Postoperatively, the patient developed paralytic ileus, which improved within a few days, and the patient was discharged without any increase in ascites after starting to diet. One year post-surgery, there was no recurrence of ascites. LVA at the GO may be effective for the treatment of refractory chylous ascites because of its absorptive lymphatic draining capabilities and large transverse vessels.
  • The Non-Coding RNA Journal Club: Highlights on Recent Papers—12
    Patrick K. T. Shiu, Mirolyuba Ilieva, Anja Holm, Shizuka Uchida, Johanna K. DiStefano, Agnieszka Bronisz, Ling Yang, Yoh Asahi, Ajay Goel, Liuqing Yang, Ashok Nuthanakanti, Alexander Serganov, Suresh K. Alahari, Chunru Lin, Barbara Pardini, Alessio Naccarati, Jing Jin, Beshoy Armanios, Xiao-bo Zhong, Nikolaos Sideris, Salih Bayraktar, Leandro Castellano, André P. Gerber, He Lin, Simon J. Conn, Doha Magdy Mostafa Sleem, Lisa Timmons
    Non-Coding RNA, 9, 2, 28, 28, MDPI AG, 2023年04月18日
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), We are delighted to share with you our twelfth Journal Club and highlight some of the most interesting papers published recently [...]
  • ASO Visual Abstract: Hepatectomy is Beneficial for Select Patients with Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinomas.
    Tatsuya Orimo, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Takeshi Aiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Annals of surgical oncology, 29, 13, 8448, 8448, 2022年09月30日, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • Hepatectomy is Beneficial in Select Patients with Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinomas.
    Tatsuya Orimo, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Takeshi Aiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Annals of surgical oncology, 29, 13, 8436, 8445, 2022年09月13日, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: A single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a good indication for hepatic resection regardless of tumor size, but the surgical indications for cases with multiple HCCs remain unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of hepatectomies for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0, A, and B HCCs. We further subclassified stage A and B into A1 (single nodule <5 cm, or three or fewer nodules ≤3 cm), A2 (single nodule 5-10 cm), A3 (single nodule ≥10 cm), B1 (two to three nodules >3 cm), and B2 (four or more nodules). RESULTS: A total of 1088 patients were enrolled, comprising 88 stage 0, 750 stage A (A1: 485; A2: 190; A3: 75), and 250 stage B (B1: 166; B2: 84) cases. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for stage 0, A1, A2, A3, B1, and B2 patients were 70.4%, 74.2%, 63.8%, 47.7%, 47.5%, and 31.9%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Significant differences in OS were found between stages A1 and A2 (p = 0.0118), A2 and A3 (p = 0.0013), and B1 and B2 (p = 0.0050), but not between stages A3 and B1 (p = 0.4742). In stage B1 patients, multivariate analysis indicated that Child-Pugh B cirrhosis was the only independent prognostic factor for the OS outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A hepatectomy should be considered for multiple HCCs if the number of tumors is three or fewer, especially in patients with no cirrhosis or in Child-Pugh A cases, because the long-term results are equivalent to those for a single HCC.
  • Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for multiple lung metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma
    Shunji Sano, Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Takeshi Aiyama, Keizo Kazui, Hiroki Shomura, Shinya Ueki, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Chisato Shirakawa, Hirofumi Kamachi, Hirokazu Sugino, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Akinobu Taketomi
    INTERNATIONAL CANCER CONFERENCE JOURNAL, 2022年08月, [査読有り], [責任著者]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • Impact of comorbid renal dysfunction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on long-term outcomes after curative resection.
    Yuzuru Sakamoto, Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Ko Sugiyama, Yoh Asahi, Akihisa Nagatsu, Tatsuya Orimo, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Hirofumi Kamachi, Yoichi M Ito, Akinobu Taketomi
    World journal of gastrointestinal surgery, 14, 7, 670, 684, 2022年07月27日, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. However, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise because of the increase in lifestyle-related diseases. AIM: To establish a tailored management strategy for HCC patients, we evaluated the impact of comorbid renal dysfunction (RD), as stratified by using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR), and assessed the oncologic validity of hepatectomy for HCC patients with RD. METHODS: We enrolled 800 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between 1997 and 2015 at our university hospital. We categorized patients into two (RD, EGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; non-RD, EGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and three groups (severe CKD, EGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2; mild CKD, 30 ≤ EGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; control, EGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) according to renal function as defined by the EGFR. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared among these groups with the log-rank test, and we also analyzed survival by using a propensity score matching (PSM) model to exclude the influence of patient characteristics. The mean postoperative observation period was 64.7 ± 53.0 mo. RESULTS: The RD patients were significantly older and had lower serum total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels than the non-RD patients (P < 0.0001, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). No patient received maintenance hemodialysis after surgery. Although the overall postoperative complication rates were similar between the RD and non-RD patients, the proportions of postoperative bleeding and surgical site infection were significantly higher in the RD patients (5.5% vs 1.8%; P < 0.05, 3.9% vs 1.8%; P < 0.05, respectively), and postoperative bleeding was the highest in the severe CKD group (P < 0.05). Regardless of the degree of comorbid RD, OS and RFS were comparable, even after PSM between the RD and non-RD groups to exclude the influence of patient characteristics, liver function, and other causes of death. CONCLUSION: Comorbid mild RD had a negligible impact on the prognosis of HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy with appropriate perioperative management, and close attention to severe CKD is necessary to prevent postoperative bleeding and surgical site infection.
  • Liver metastasis 13 years after the resection of a malignant triton tumor originating in the duodenum
    Keita Ohashi, Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Tomofumi Takagi, Takuya Otsuka, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Shintaro Sugita, Tadashi Hasegawa, Akinobu Taketomi
    International Cancer Conference Journal, 11, 3, 178, 183, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2022年07月, [査読有り], [責任著者]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • A case of alveolar echinococcosis in the liver that ruptured into the pericardium treated by a combination of hepatectomy and albendazole.
    Yoichi Yamamoto, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Toshiya Kamiyama, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Tatsuya Orimo, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Hirofumi Kamachi, Takuya Otsuka, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Surgical case reports, 8, 1, 63, 63, 2022年04月08日, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare parasitic disease caused by the larva of Echinococcus multilocularis. It nearly always occurs in the liver, and cardiac involvement is extremely rare. Liver resection is the most effective intervention for AE because the only potentially curative treatment is removal of the lesion. Even when complete resection is not performed, long-term survival can be expected after surgical removal of most of the lesion with lifelong administration of albendazole (ABZ). CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old man who lived in Hokkaido was referred to our hospital due to abnormalities in biliary enzymes. According to the findings from enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resource imaging of the abdomen, transthoracic echocardiography and serologic tests, he was diagnosed with hepatic AE with rupture into the pericardium. He underwent extended left hemi-hepatectomy with reconstruction of the inferior vena cava and opening of the pericardium with drainage as reduction surgery. Pathological examination revealed echinococcal infection in the pericardium as well as the liver. He started chemotherapy with 400 mg ABZ per Day 67 days after surgery. Although the surgical margin was positive in the pathological findings, he was alive 19 months later with no regrowth of the echinococcal lesion. CONCLUSION: AE with cardiac involvement is extremely rare. Even if the complete removal of cardiac-involved AE is not possible, surgical debulking with lifelong ABZ treatment can successfully manage the disease.
  • Laparoscopic liver resection for liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma of the thigh: a case report.
    Shoichi Tsuzaka, Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Takeshi Aiyama, Takeyuki Uebayashi, Hirofumi Kamachi, Masatake Matsuoka, Kento Wakabayashi, Takuya Otsuka, Yoshihiro Matsuno, Akinobu Taketomi
    Surgical case reports, 8, 1, 47, 47, 2022年03月21日, [査読有り], [責任著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Although there is no established treatment strategy for liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma, liver resection has been reported to be effective in some cases. However, almost all liver resections performed for liver metastasis of primary leiomyosarcoma are reported to be open resections, and there are few reports of liver resection performed by laparoscopy. Here, we report a case of laparoscopic liver resection for liver metastasis of a leiomyosarcoma in the right thigh. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old man was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma of the right thigh with liver metastasis. The primary tumor was first resected, and he was discharged on the 25th postoperative day. Four months after primary tumor resection, a laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy was performed. There were no postoperative complications, and the patient was discharged on the 11th postoperative day with a histopathological diagnosis of liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma and negative resection margins. Currently, 9 months have passed since the resection of the primary tumor, and 5 months have passed since the laparoscopic liver resection; there is no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma was successfully removed, with good short-term outcomes after the laparoscopic liver resection. Laparoscopic liver resection seems to be effective for liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma, which is characterized by a high recurrence rate after surgery. However, more case studies may be necessary to examine the effectiveness and long-term results of laparoscopic liver resection for the treatment of liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma.
  • Preventing Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Hepatectomy With Active Hexose-correlated Compound Derived From Lentinula edodes Mycelia.
    Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Kenji Wakayama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Takeshi Aiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Integrative cancer therapies, 21, 15347354211073066, 15347354211073066, 2022年, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), PURPOSE: Active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC), a standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, exerts antitumor effects through anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory functions. Adjuvant therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have undergone curative hepatectomy has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AHCC as adjuvant therapy in patients with advanced HCC after curative hepatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study design was single-armed, non-randomized, open (no one was blinded), and uncontrolled. Patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy were treated with AHCC (1 g) 3 times daily orally for 2 years. The inclusion criteria were HCC diagnosed preoperatively as stages A and B of the Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) classification and alpha-fetoprotein × protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) ≥ 105 for stage A. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were treated with AHCC, of which 25 (4 patients discontinued) were followed up. The 2-year recurrence-free survival rate after resection was 48% for those without discontinuations and 55.2% for all patients with a history of treatment. Serum albumin levels decreased to a minimum in the first postoperative month and gradually recovered to the preoperative level at 6 months. Almost no change in lymphocyte percentage was observed during follow-up. Inflammation-based prognostic scores were maintained at favorable levels after hepatectomy. Toxicity and adverse events were not observed in any patient. CONCLUSION: AHCC may be safe and effective in preventing HCC recurrence after curative hepatectomy, and further randomized trials of AHCC for its use in this setting are warranted.This clinical trial was registered in UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (ID UMIN000024396).
  • Outcomes of reduction hepatectomy combined with postoperative multidisciplinary therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Takeshi Aiyama, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    World journal of gastrointestinal surgery, 13, 10, 1245, 1257, 2021年10月27日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: The prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy remains poor, despite advances in the treatment of HCC, including the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The outcomes of reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for advanced HCC that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy, including those of recently treated cases, should be investigated. AIM: To examine the outcomes of combination treatment with reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for advanced HCC that is not indicated for curative hepatectomy. METHODS: Thirty cases of advanced HCC that were not indicated for curative hepatectomy, in which reduction hepatectomy was performed between 2000 and 2018 at the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, were divided into postoperative complete remission (POCR) (+) and POCR (-) groups, depending on whether POCR of all evaluable lesions was achieved through postoperative treatment. The cases in the POCR (-) group were subdivided into POCR (-) TKI (+) and POCR (-) TKI (-) groups, depending on whether TKIs were administered postoperatively. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rate and mean survival time (MST) after reduction hepatectomy were 15.7% and 28.40 mo, respectively, for all cases; 37.5% and 56.55 mo, respectively, in the POCR (+) group; and 6.3% and 14.84 mo, respectively, in the POCR (-) group (P = 0.0041). Tumor size, major vascular invasion, and the number of tumors in the remnant liver after the reduction hepatectomy were also found to be related to survival outcomes. The number of tumors in the remnant liver was the only factor that differed significantly between the POCR (+) and POCR (-) groups, and POCR was achieved significantly more frequently when ≤ 3 tumors remained in the remnant liver (P = 0.0025). The MST was 33.52 mo in the POCR (-) TKI (+) group, which was superior to the MST of 10.74 mo seen in the POCR (-) TKI (-) group (P = 0.0473). CONCLUSION: Reduction hepatectomy combined with multidisciplinary postoperative treatment for unresectable advanced HCC that was not indicated for curative hepatectomy was effective when POCR was achieved via multidisciplinary postoperative therapy. To achieve POCR, reduction hepatectomy should aim to ensure that ≤ 3 tumors remain in the remnant liver. Even in cases in which POCR is not achieved, combined treatment with reduction hepatectomy and multidisciplinary therapy can improve survival outcomes when TKIs are administered.
  • Central Hepatectomy Versus Major Hepatectomy for Centrally Located Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Study.
    Tatsuya Orimo, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Annals of surgical oncology, 28, 11, 6769, 6779, 2021年10月, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: In terms of anatomical liver sectionectomy approaches, both a central hepatectomy (CH) and major hepatectomy (MH) are feasible options for a centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the surgical outcomes of central HCC patients who underwent CH or MH. MH includes hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy, whereas CH involves a left medial sectionectomy, right anterior sectionectomy, or central bisectionectomy. The surgical outcomes were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: A total of 233 patients were enrolled, including 132 in the CH group and 101 in the MH group. The MH group cases were pathologically more advanced and had poorer overall survival rates than the CH group. After PSM, 68 patients were selected into each group, both of which showed similar overall and recurrence-free survival outcomes. The CH group showed a tendency for a longer operation time; however, other perioperative outcomes were similar between the two groups. Multivariate analyses of our matched HCC patients revealed that the type of surgery (CH or MH) was not an independent prognostic factor. More patients in the matched CH group experienced a repeat hepatectomy for recurrence and no patients in this group underwent a preoperative portal vein embolization. CONCLUSIONS: The short- and long-term surgical outcomes of CH and MH for a centrally located HCC are similar under a matched clinicopathological background. CH has the advantage of not requiring a preoperative portal vein embolization and increased chances of conducting a repeat hepatectomy for recurrence.
  • Hepatectomy and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment for liver metastasis originating from non-cutaneous melanoma: a report of three cases.
    Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatshiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Takaya Ishikawa, Hirofumi Kamachi, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Satoshi Takeuchi, Hirotoshi Dosaka-Akita, Akinobu Taketomi
    International cancer conference journal, 10, 4, 274, 279, 2021年10月, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, The outcomes of hepatectomy alone for liver metastasis derived from non-cutaneous melanoma are insufficient, and the outcomes of systemic therapy alone are also insufficient, even since the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We report the cases of three patients, in whom liver metastasis derived from non-cutaneous melanoma was treated with hepatectomy combined with ICI therapy, which was administered in various settings. One patient received ICI treatment for recurrent melanoma and survived 107 months after the first hepatectomy, one patient received both preoperative and adjuvant ICI treatment and has been disease-free for 27 months, and another patient received postoperative ICI treatment after reduction hepatectomy and has been alive with disease for 47 months. Since long-term survival is possible, hepatectomy combined with ICI therapy should be considered for the treatment of liver metastasis derived from non-cutaneous melanoma.
  • A case of laparoscopic hepatectomy for a primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor.
    Yuzuru Sakamoto, Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Hirofumi Kamachi, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Clinical journal of gastroenterology, 14, 3, 876, 880, 2021年06月, [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) account for approximately 1-2% of all gastrointestinal tumors. In particular, primary hepatic NETs (PHNETs) are extremely rare. A 42-year-old female patient was given a diagnosis of liver tumor after a medical check-up with ultrasonography. An enhanced CT scan and MRI were suggestive for a hepatic hemangioma or adenoma, but the possibility of hepatocellular carcinoma could not be denied. Moreover, this tumor grew larger, so we performed a laparoscopic partial hepatectomy for the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor cells were spindle-shaped, forming glandular-tubular structures, and had less visible nucleoli and increased mitotic figures on H&E staining. Immunohistochemical findings indicated that CK19, MOC-31, CD56, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A were positive; CK7, AFP, and glypican-3 were negative; and the Ki-67 index was 3.6%, so the final diagnosis was a PHNET G2. PHNETs differ from other NETs, as they do not produce biologically active polypeptides or amines. As a result, there are no manifestations of carcinoid syndrome. In addition, PHNETs grow slowly, and most patients show no symptoms in the early stages. Laparoscopic hepatectomy is a very useful procedure for diagnosis and treatment in such cases and can be performed safely.
  • The impact of elastography with virtual touch quantification of future remnant liver before major hepatectomy.
    Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Yusuke Kudo, Mutsumi Nishida, Akinobu Taketomi
    Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery, 11, 6, 2572, 2585, 2021年06月, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), Background: Liver elastography with virtual touch quantification (VTQ) measures the velocity of the shear wave generated by a short-duration acoustic force impulse, with values expressed in units of velocity (m/s). VTQ can evaluate right or left hepatic lobes separately. VTQ might be appropriate for the evaluation of future remnant liver after hepatectomy. Methods: We analyzed 95 patients underwent liver elastography with VTQ and both future remnant liver and resected side before hepatectomy of more than two sections, except for central bisectionectomy. We divided the patients into a high VTQ group (≥1.52 m/s, n=37, 39%) and a low VTQ group (<1.52 m/s, n=58, 61%) according to the VTQ of future remnant liver. Transient elastography could not be performed in 22 cases due to tumor size. We defined the group with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥7.9 kPa as the high LSM group (n=29, 40%) and those with LSM <7.9 kPa as the low LSM group (n=44, 60%). We investigated the outcome after hepatectomy and the correlations between the VTQ of future remnant liver and other indicators for hepatic fibrosis. Results: The high VTQ group showed significantly higher postoperative ascites (19% vs. 3%; P=0.01), pathological fibrosis (19% vs. 5%; P=0.03), and rates of patients with postoperative T-bil ≥2.0 mg/dL (70% vs. 40%; P<0.01). The high LSM group showed no significant postoperative outcomes compared to the low LSM group. The high VTQ group showed a higher frequency of male gender (78% vs. 57%; P=0.03), higher indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) (10.5% vs. 6.3%; P<0.01), hyaluronic acid (100 vs. 67 ng/mL; P=0.02), type IV collagen 7S (7.6 vs. 5.1 ng/mL; P<0.01), Mac-2 binding protein glycan isomer (M2BPGi) (1.19 vs. 1.00; P=0.01), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index (2.25 vs. 1.76; P=0.01), and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score (0.64 vs. 0.41; P<0.01). We also observed an especially strong positive correlation between the high VTQ and hyaluronic acid or type IV collagen 7S. Conclusions: Elastography with VTQ for future remnant liver before major hepatectomy is an accurate and useful method as a preoperative evaluation.
  • Functional transition: Inconsistently parallel to the increase in future liver remnant volume after preoperative portal vein embolization.
    Yosuke Tsuruga, Toshiya Kamiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Akinobu Taketomi
    World journal of gastrointestinal surgery, 13, 2, 153, 163, 2021年02月27日, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) is a widely used strategy to enable major hepatectomy in patients with insufficient liver remnant. PVE induces hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR) and a shift of the functional reserve to the FLR. However, whether the increase of the FLR volume (FLRV) corresponds to the functional transition after PVE remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the sequential relationship between the increase in FLRV and functional transition after preoperative PVE using 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) and 99mTc-galactosyl-human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) fusion images. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who underwent major hepatectomy following PVE at the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Hokkaido University Hospital between October 2013 and March 2018 were enrolled. Three-phase dynamic multidetector CT and 99mTc-GSA SPECT scintigraphy were performed at pre-PVE, and at 1 and 2 wk after PVE; 3D 99mTc-GSA SPECT CT-fused images were constructed from the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine data using 3D image analysis system. Functional FLRV (FFLRV) was defined as the total liver volume × (FLR volume counts/total liver volume counts) on the 3D 99mTc-GSA SPECT CT-fused images. The calculated FFLRV was compared with FLRV. RESULTS: FFLRV increased by a significantly larger extent than FLRV at 1 and 2 wk after PVE (P < 0.01). The increase in FFLRV and FLRV was 55.1% ± 41.6% and 26.7% ± 17.8% (P < 0.001), respectively, at 1 wk after PVE, and 64.2% ± 33.3% and 36.8% ± 18.9% (P < 0.001), respectively, at 2 wk after PVE. In 3 of the 33 patients, FFLRV levels decreased below FLRV at 2 wk. One of the three patients showed rapidly progressive fatty changes in FLR. The biopsy at 4 wk after PVE showed macro- and micro-vesicular steatosis of more than 40%, which improved to 10%. Radical resection was performed at 13 wk after PVE. The patient recovered uneventfully without any symptoms of pos-toperative liver failure. CONCLUSION: The functional transition lagged behind the increase in FLRV after PVE in some cases. Evaluating both volume and function is needed to determine the optimal timing of hepatectomy after PVE.
  • Laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatic angiomyolipoma with preoperative diagnosis of other malignancy: a report of 2 cases.
    Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Chihiro Ishizuka, Kazuya Hamada, Hirofumi Kamachi, Emi Takakuwa, Tomoko Mitsuhashi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Surgical case reports, 7, 1, 44, 44, 2021年02月08日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) is a rare liver tumor, and hepatectomy is the only effective treatment. Due to the difficulty of correct diagnosis of HAML before surgery by image studies, more than 36.6% of reported HAMLs are misdiagnosed as other malignant liver tumors before surgery. As there are only few reported cases in which HAMLs were removed using laparoscopic hepatectomy, the effectiveness of laparoscopic hepatectomy for such HAMLs in which are diagnosed as other malignant liver tumor before surgery has not been reported. Case presentation Case 1: a 58-year-old female with a history of treatment for autoimmune hepatitis was preoperatively diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (size: 20 mm) in segment 7 (S7) of the liver. The tumor was removed by laparoscopic partial resection and was diagnosed as a HAML through a pathological examination. The patient's postoperative course was good, and she was recurrence-free at 37 months after the hepatectomy. Case 2: a 29-year-old female with a history of surgery for a right mature cystic teratoma was referred to our department to receive treatment for a growing 20-mm liver tumor with some calcification, which arose in S3 of the liver. A metastatic liver tumor derived from the mature cystic teratoma was suspected, and laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy was performed. The liver tumor was diagnosed as a HAML after a pathological examination. The patient's postoperative course was unremarkable, and more than 54 months have passed since the hepatectomy without any recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Two cases in which HAMLs were preoperatively diagnosed as other malignant liver tumor were successfully removed by laparoscopic hepatectomy with a correct postoperative diagnosis. Laparoscopic hepatectomy for the present 2 cases of HAML seemed to be effective for providing a correct diagnosis after the curative removement of liver tumor with a smaller invasion compared to open hepatectomy, and for denying risk of dissemination of the malignant tumor by needle biopsy that had to be considered before ruling out malignant tumor.
  • Impact of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery.
    Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Daisuke Abo, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 5, 1, 41, 49, 2021年01月, [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), Background and Aim: Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) has been recognized as a useful imaging technique to distinguish the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We analyzed 217 hepatectomy recipients with HCCs measuring 10 cm or less. We divided the patients into a decreased intensity (DI) group (n = 189, 87%) and an increased or neutral intensity (INI) group (n = 28, 13%) according to the ratio of tumor intensity to liver intensity during the hepatobiliary phase (HBP). According to the ratio of the maximum tumor diameter (including peritumoral hypointensity) between HBP images and precontrast T1-weighted images (RHBPP), we divided the patients as follows: The group whose RHBPP was ≥1.036 was the high RHBPP group (n = 60, 28%), and the group whose RHBPP was <1.036 was the low RHBPP group (n = 157, 72%). We investigated the prognoses and clinicopathological characteristics of these patients. Results: DI versus INI was not a prognostic factor for either survival or recurrence; however, a high RHBPP was an independent predictor of unfavorable survival and recurrence in patients. In addition, the INI group showed significantly lower α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and higher rates of well-differentiated HCC and ICGR15 ≥15% than the DI group. The high RHBPP group showed significantly higher rates of vascular invasion and poorly differentiated HCC than the low RHBPP group. Conclusions: A high RHBPP by EOB-MRI is a preoperative predictor of vascular invasion and an unfavorable prognostic factor for survival and recurrence. These patients might be considered for highly curative operations such as anatomical liver resection.
  • Hepatectomy Combined with Diaphragmatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Diaphragmatic Involvement: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.
    Tatsuya Orimo, Toshiya Kamiyama, Kenji Wakayama, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Annals of surgical oncology, 27, 11, 4153, 4163, 2020年10月, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), PURPOSE: We evaluated the short- and long-term surgical outcomes of hepatectomy combined with diaphragmatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with diaphragmatic involvement. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the surgical outcomes of HCC patients with diaphragmatic resection (DR group) and HCC patients without diaphragmatic resection (non-DR group). We applied 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to these subjects. RESULTS: The study included 46 patients in DR group and 828 patients in non-DR group. The DR group cases were pathologically more advanced, and both overall and relapse-free survival among the patients in this group with pathological diaphragmatic invasion were similar to cases with pathological diaphragmatic fibrous adhesion. There were 40 patients from each group subjected to PSM. In these matched cohorts, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding perioperative outcomes, overall survival, and relapse-free survival. Multivariate analyses of our matched HCC patients revealed that alpha-fetoprotein expression and tumor size were independent prognostic factors for overall survival and poor differentiation for relapse-free survival, whereas neither diaphragmatic invasion nor diaphragmatic resection were prognostic indicators. The most frequent site of recurrence in non-DR group was the liver, whereas the most frequent site of recurrence in DR group was the lung before and after PSM. CONCLUSIONS: The short- and long-term surgical outcomes of DR HCC cases are equivalent to their non-DR counterparts under a matched clinicopathological background. Hepatectomy combined with DR is an acceptable treatment for HCC with either diaphragmatic fibrous adhesion or diaphragmatic invasion.
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a cholelithiasis patient with an aberrant biliary duct of B5: a case report.
    Takuto Suzuki, Yoh Asahi, Akifumi Sawada, Kohei Umemoto, Masaya Kina, Masahiro Shinohara, Kazunori Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Masuko
    Surgical case reports, 6, 1, 240, 240, 2020年09月30日, [査読有り], [責任著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: An aberrant biliary duct of segment 5 (B5) is a rare anomaly of the biliary tract. All anatomical anomalies of the biliary tract are risk factors for bile duct injury during surgery. We report a case of cholelithiasis with an aberrant B5 that was detected during a detailed preoperative imaging examination and treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital with abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, and an aberrant B5 branching off the hepatic duct was suggested during preoperative imaging. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed at our surgical department. There were no intra- or postoperative complications, and the patient was discharged on the fourth day after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely performed without intra- or postoperative complications in patients with cholelithiasis and an aberrant B5 if it is accurately diagnosed preoperatively.
  • COVID-19: clinical issues from the Japan Surgical Society.
    Masaki Mori, Norihiko Ikeda, Akinobu Taketomi, Yo Asahi, Yoshio Takesue, Tatsuya Orimo, Minoru Ono, Takashi Kuwayama, Seigo Nakamura, Yohei Yamada, Tatsuo Kuroda, Kenji Yuzawa, Taizo Hibi, Hiroaki Nagano, Michiaki Unno, Yuko Kitagawa
    Surgery today, 50, 8, 794, 808, 2020年08月, [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), In this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, several key issues must be addressed to ensure safe treatment and prevent rapid spread of the virus and a consequential medical crisis. Careful evaluation of a patient's condition is crucial for deciding the triage plan, based on the status of the disease and comorbidities. As functionality of the medical care system is greatly affected by the environmental situation, the treatment may differ according to the medical and infectious disease circumstances of the institution. Importantly, all medical staff must prevent nosocomial COVID-19 by minimizing the effects of aerosol spread and developing diagnostic and surgical procedures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for COVID-19 infection, particularly in asymptomatic patients, should be encouraged as these patients are prone to postoperative respiratory failure. In this article, the Japan Surgical Society addresses the general principles of surgical treatment in relation to COVID-19 infection and advocates preventive measures against viral transmission during this unimaginable COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Prognostic impact of CD8+ T cell distribution and its association with the HLA class I expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
    Yoh Asahi, Kanako C Hatanaka, Yutaka Hatanaka, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Nozomi Kobayashi, Moto Fukai, Akinobu Taketomi
    Surgery today, 50, 8, 931, 940, 2020年08月, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), PURPOSE: A lack of effective systemic therapy is one reason for the poor prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Newly developed immune checkpoint inhibitors function by minimizing CD8+ T cell suppression to improve tumor-specific responses. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of CD8+ T cells in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Clinicopathological data, including the overall survival, of 69 cases of postoperative intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were prospectively investigated. We then immunohistochemically stained for CD8, Foxp3, CD163, PD-L1, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and counted the number of CD8+ T cells, Foxp3+ T cells, and CD163+ macrophages in different areas (outer border, interborder, and intratumor). RESULTS: A significant difference was found in the 5-year overall survival between the CD8+ T cell high group (45.5%) and low group (24.7%) in the outer border area (p = 0.0103). Furthermore, the number of CD8+ T cells and the high expression of HLA class I were positively correlated (p = 0.0341). CONCLUSION: The number of CD8+ T cells in the outer border area of the tumor correlated with the HLA class I expression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and may therefore be a prognostic factor for patients with postoperative intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
  • Predictive value of gadoxetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for posthepatectomy liver failure after a major hepatectomy.
    Tatsuya Orimo, Toshiya Kamiyama, Hirofumi Kamachi, Shingo Shimada, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Daisuke Abo, Akinobu Taketomi
    Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences, 27, 8, 531, 540, 2020年08月, [査読有り], [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: We assessed the usefulness of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the prediction of posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) after a major hepatectomy. METHODS: We reviewed 140 cases involving a hepatectomy of two or more sections between 2010 and 2016 (study cohort). We used the standardized remnant hepatocellular uptake index (SrHUI) which was calculated by: SrHUI = future remnant liver volume × [ (signal intensity of remnant liver on hepatobiliary phase images/signal intensity of spleen on hepatobiliary phase images) - 1]/body surface area. Validation of the SrHUI was performed in another cohort of 52 major hepatectomy cases between 2017 and 2018 (validation cohort). RESULTS: The SrHUI of patients with PHLF was significantly lower than that of non-PHLF cases. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and the Youden index revealed that the SrHUI cutoff value for the prediction of PHLF and PHLF grade ≥ B were 0.313 L/m2 and 0.257 L/m2 , respectively. In the validation cohort, the cutoff value of SrHUI for the prediction of PHLF or PHLF grade ≥ B had a sensitivity of 75.0% or 88.8%, and specificity of 78.1% or 91.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SrHUI value is a predictor for PHLF after a major hepatectomy.
  • Prognoses, outcomes, and clinicopathological characteristics of very elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy.
    Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    World journal of surgical oncology, 18, 1, 122, 122, 2020年06月10日, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the prognostic factors, clinicopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes after hepatectomy in very elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We analyzed 796 patients with HCC from 2000 to 2017. Patients aged 80 years or older were classified into the very elderly group (group VE; n = 49); patients younger than 80 years old and aged 65 years or older were classified into the elderly group (group E; n = 363), and patients younger than 65 years old were classified into the young group (group Y; n = 384). We investigated the prognoses, clinicopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes after hepatectomy. RESULTS: The number of surgical procedures and outcomes, including morbidities, was not significantly different. Groups VE, E, and Y showed similar prognoses in terms of both survival and recurrence. In group VE, prothrombin activity (PA) < 80% and PIVKA-II ≥ 400 mAU/ml were unfavorable factors for survival, and PIVKA-II ≥ 400 mAU/ml and the presence of portal venous invasion (PVI), hepatic venous invasion, and fibrosis were unfavorable factors for recurrence. In group E, ChE < 180 IU/l, AFP ≥ 20 ng/ml, tumor size ≥ 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, PVI, and hepatic venous invasion (HVI) were unfavorable factors for survival, and ChE < 180 IU/l, tumor size ≥ 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, PVI, and HVI were unfavorable factors for recurrence. In group Y, AFP ≥ 20 ng/ml, the presence of multiple tumors, poor differentiation, PVI, HVI, and blood loss ≥ 400 ml were unfavorable factors for survival, and PA < 80%, albumin < 3.5 g/dl, AFP ≥ 20 ng/ml, tumor size ≥ 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, poor differentiation, and PVI were unfavorable factors for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor factors might have limited influence on the prognosis of very elderly patients, and liver function reserve might be important for the long-term survival of very elderly patients. Hepatectomy can be performed safely, even in very elderly patients. Hepatectomy should not be avoided in very elderly patients with HCC if patients have a good general status because these patients have the same prognoses as nonelderly individuals.
  • Long-term prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who survive over 10 years after hepatectomy.
    Shingo Shimada, Toshiya Kamiyama, Tatsuya Orimo, Akihisa Nagatsu, Yoh Asahi, Yuzuru Sakamoto, Hirofumi Kamachi, Akinobu Taketomi
    Journal of surgical oncology, 121, 8, 1209, 1217, 2020年06月, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate long-term prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who survived over 10 years after hepatectomy and compare prognostic factors between patients with recurrence who died and survived 10 years after initial hepatectomy. METHODS: We analyzed the HCC patients without recurrence over 10 years after hepatectomy (n = 35), those with recurrence who survived over 10 years (n = 48), and those who died within 10 years (n = 132). RESULTS: The rate of recurrence was 16.3%, 10-year overall survival rate was 38.6%, and the 10-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 16.7%. Nonviral, solitary tumor, well differentiation, and without severe fibrosis were independent favorable factors for long-term RFS. High cholinesterase levels, small tumors and without portal vein invasion were independent favorable factors for long-term survival among patients with recurrence. Long-term survivors with recurrence showed significantly low early recurrence, extrahepatic recurrence, multiple intrahepatic recurrences. CONCLUSION: Important factors for long-term prognoses in HCC patients were a solitary tumor, small tumors, and no advanced fibrosis. A treatment for nonviral hepatitis is needed to achieve long-term RFS. Even patients who relapse might survive long term if they have a late or solitary intrahepatic recurrence, nonsevere cirrhosis, and curative treatment at recurrence.
  • 【新しい肝予備能評価とPVEによる肝切除治療戦略】
    島田 慎吾, 神山 俊哉, 折茂 達也, 長津 明久, 旭 よう, 若山 顕治, 敦賀 陽介, 横尾 英樹, 蒲池 浩文, 武冨 紹信
    北海道外科雑誌, 64, 1, 2, 7, 北海道外科学会, 2019年06月, [査読有り]
    日本語
  • 血液透析患者の腹部緊急手術の検討
    旭 よう, 吉田 祐一, 奥村 一慶, 沢田 堯史, 喜納 政哉, 高田 譲二, 益子 博幸
    北海道外科雑誌, 63, 1, 28, 33, 北海道外科学会, 2018年06月, [査読有り], [筆頭著者]
    日本語
  • Usefulness of Plain Computed Tomography with Swallowing of GastrografinTM for the Diagnosis of a Late-Onset Iatrogenic Diaphragmatic Hernia following Biopsy of a Diaphragmatic Tumor: Report of a Case.
    Yoh Asahi, Shohei Honda, Tadao Okada, Hisayuki Miyagi, Makoto Kaneda, Akihiro Iguchi, Kichizo Kaga, Akinobu Taketomi
    Case reports in gastroenterology, 12, 2, 271, 276, 2018年05月01日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), Although diaphragmatic hernia (DH) may be congenital, posttraumatic, or iatrogenic, DHs after diaphragmatic surgery are rarely reported in the literature. This report describes the rare case of a 14-year-old girl complicated by iatrogenic DH following the biopsy of granulomatous lesions of the left diaphragm, when a mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor was extirpated. Plain computed tomography (CT) with swallowing of GastrografinTM was useful for the diagnosis of this disorder. The patient presented to our hospital with frequent epigastric pain and vomiting 11 months after the original surgery. Chest X-ray, a gastrointestinal contrast study, and plain CT with swallowing of GastrografinTM revealed the left DH with gastric content. At laparotomy, the diaphragmatic defect, 3 × 3 cm in diameter, was repaired using nonabsorbable sutures after hernia reduction. The patient showed a rapid recovery with complete resolution of symptoms. We should consider the presence of iatrogenic DH in patients who develop epigastralgia after procedures involving the diaphragm, even at 11 months after the original surgery. Furthermore, plain CT with swallowing of GastrografinTM is useful for the diagnosis of this disorder.
  • Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis Secondary to Sunitinib Treatment for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.
    Yoh Asahi, Takuto Suzuki, Akiufumi Sawada, Masaya Kina, Joji Takada, Hiroko Gotoda, Hiroyuki Masuko
    Case reports in gastroenterology, 12, 2, 432, 438, 2018年05月01日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者, 責任著者]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), A 67-year-old man with liver and retroperitoneal metastases from a gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in the jejunum had been administered oral sunitinib for 2 months. He presented to our department with right-sided lower abdominal pain. His general condition was good, with no high-grade fever, and the other vital signs were also stable. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was promptly performed, and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) was detected in a wide area around the ileocecal lesion. There were no signs of acute abdomen requiring emergency surgery due to conditions such as intestinal perforation, ischemia, or obstruction. Sunitinib was discontinued and the patient was placed on nil orally with intravenous infusion. PCI resolved promptly and the patient was discharged on the 21st day after admission. PCI is a rare side effect of sunitinib with only 8 cases reported previously, which can complicate with acute abdomen or gastrointestinal perforation, in some cases. Thus, the early identification of sunitinib as the cause of PCI is important. Although PCI is a rare adverse effect of sunitinib, clinicians must be aware of it to promptly provide the correct diagnosis and treatment.
  • Malignant triton tumor of the duodenum: report of a case.
    Yoh Asahi, Takahito Nakagawa, Katsuya Nakanishi, Tomofumi Takagi, Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, Kazuki Wakizaka, Ryoji Yokoyama, Manabu Takahashi, Fumiaki Sasaki
    International cancer conference journal, 7, 2, 52, 58, 2018年03月13日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), We report a case of malignant triton tumor of the duodenum, which is extremely rare. A submucosal malignant tumor was detected in the duodenum of a 49-year-old woman. The tumor was completely resected by performing pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pathological examination revealed that the lesion was a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation, i.e., a malignant triton tumor. Long-term survival has been achieved with no recurrence at 8.5 years after surgery.
  • Ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma associated with congenital absence of the portal vein
    Kazuki Wakizaka, Takahito Nakagawa, Yoh Asahi, Ryoji Yokoyama, Manabu Takahashi
    Japanese Journal of Gastroenterological Surgery, 50, 2, 130, 138, Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery, 2017年
    日本語, 研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • The Impact of c-Fos/Activator Protein-1 Inhibition on Allogeneic Pancreatic Islet Transplantation
    T. Yoshida, K. Yamashita, M. Watanabe, Y. Koshizuka, D. Kuraya, M. Ogura, Y. Asahi, H. Ono, S. Emoto, T. Mizukami, N. Kobayashi, S. Shibasaki, U. Tomaru, H. Kamachi, M. Matsushita, S. Shiozawa, S. Hirono, S. Todo
    American Journal of Transplantation, 15, 10, 2565, 2575, 2015年10月01日
    研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • Resection of liver metastasis derived from alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer-report of 4 cases.
    Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Shigenori Homma, Kanako C Hatanaka, Hideki Yokoo, Takahito Nakagawa, Hirofumi Kamachi, Kazuaki Nakanishi, Munenori Tahara, Tatsuhiko Kakisaka, Kenji Wakayama, Satoru Todo, Akinobu Taketomi
    International cancer conference journal, 5, 2, 98, 103, 2015年09月04日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), As is the case for metastatic liver tumors derived from standard gastric cancers, there is no consensus about the optimal treatment for metastatic liver tumors derived from alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer, including regarding the surgical indications for such lesions. We report the cases of 4 patients in whom metastatic liver tumors derived from AFP-producing gastric cancer that were curatively resected. One of the patients had a thrombus in his inferior vena cava at the time of the liver resection, and both the liver tumor and thrombus were completely removed. The patient has survived 93 months after receiving multidisciplinary therapy including partial pneumonectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy and currently has no evaluable disease. Another patient has survived for 3 years without suffering any recurrence. Since long-term survival is possible, liver resection should be considered as a treatment for liver metastases from AFP-producing gastric cancers.
  • Chondroma of the diaphragm mimicking a giant liver tumor with calcification: report of a case.
    Yoh Asahi, Toshiya Kamiyama, Kazuaki Nakanishi, Hideki Yokoo, Munenori Tahara, Akihiro Usui, Tohru Funakoshi, Masanori Sato, Ayami Sasaki, Yoshihiro Matsuno, Akinobu Taketomi, Satoru Todo
    Surgery today, 44, 12, 2361, 5, 2014年06月17日, [査読有り], [筆頭著者], [国内誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), Extraskeletal chondroma is an unusual benign tumor, which rarely arises in the diaphragm. We report a case of chondroma of the diaphragm in a 31-year-old woman. Initially, a benign liver tumor with calcification was suspected, based on pre and intraoperative examination findings. Although parts of the tumor were contiguous with the diaphragm, its connections with the diaphragm were much narrower than its connection with the liver, which suggested a liver tumor. Pathological examination subsequently revealed that the chondroma was contiguous with the diaphragm and that there was a distinct border between the tumor and the liver; thus, the tumor was diagnosed as a chondroma of the diaphragm.
  • Efficacy of DHMEQ, a NF-κB inhibitor, in islet transplantation: I. HMGB1 suppression by DHMEQ prevents early islet graft damage.
    Daisuke Kuraya, Masaaki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Koshizuka, Masaomi Ogura, Tadashi Yoshida, Yoh Asahi, Hirofumi Kamachi, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Michitaka Ozaki, Kazuo Umezawa, Michiaki Matsushita, Kenichiro Yamashita, Satoru Todo
    Transplantation, 96, 5, 445, 53, 2013年09月15日, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌), BACKGROUND: Pancreatic islet transplantation (PITx) is an attractive treatment option for restoring appropriate glucose homeostasis in type 1 diabetes patients. Although islet grafts can successfully engraft after PITx, large numbers of islet grafts are required mainly because immune reactions, including inflammation, destroy islet grafts. In these processes, nuclear factor (NF)-κB plays a central role. We hypothesized that the inhibition of NF-κB activation would ameliorate inflammatory responses after PITx and aid successful engraftment. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, a newly developed NF-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), was used on a syngeneic mouse PITx model. One hundred seventy-five islets from C57BL/6 (B6) mice were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic B6 mice. The recipient mice were administered DHMEQ for 1, 2, or 3 days after PITx. The underlying mechanisms of DHMEQ on islet graft protection were investigated in an in vitro coculture model of pancreatic islets and macrophages. RESULTS: With a vehicle treatment, only 11.1% of the islet-recipients achieved normoglycemia after PITx. In sharp contrast, DHMEQ treatment markedly improved the normoglycemic rate, which was associated with the suppression of serum high mobility group complex-1 (HMGB1) and proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, after PITx. In a murine macrophage-like cell line, DHMEQ inhibited HMGB1-driven activation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion and further prevented death isolated islets after coculture with these activated macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of NF-κB activation by DHMEQ after PITx reduces the HMGB1-triggered proinflammatory responses and results in engraftment of transplanted islets even with fewer islet grafts.
  • Efficacy of DHMEQ, a NF-kappa B Inhibitor, in Islet Transplantation: II. Induction DHMEQ Treatment Ameliorates Subsequent Alloimmune Responses and Permits Long-Term Islet Allograft Acceptance
    Masaaki Watanabe, Kenichiro Yamashita, Hirofumi Kamachi, Daisuke Kuraya, Yasuyuki Koshizuka, Susumu Shibasaki, Yoh Asahi, Hitoshi Ono, Shin Emoto, Masaomi Ogura, Tadashi Yoshida, Michitaka Ozaki, Kazuo Umezawa, Michiaki Matsushita, Satoru Todo
    TRANSPLANTATION, 96, 5, 454, 462, 2013年09月, [査読有り], [国際誌]
    英語, 研究論文(学術雑誌)
  • 大腸癌におけるchorionic gonadotropin-βの過剰発現によるEMTへの関与の検討
    川俣 太, 本間 重紀, 長津 明久, 旭 よう, 藤好 真人, 蒲池 浩文, 高橋 典彦, 西原 広史, 神山 俊哉, 武冨 紹信
    日本外科学会雑誌, 114, 臨増2, 610, 610, (一社)日本外科学会, 2013年03月
    日本語

その他活動・業績

所属学協会

  • 2008年07月 - 現在
    日本消化器外科学会               
  • 2007年04月 - 現在
    日本外科学会               

共同研究・競争的資金等の研究課題

  • 切除検体を基にした網羅的糖鎖解析による肝細胞癌悪性度解析と新規バイオマーカー開発
    科学研究費助成事業
    2021年04月01日 - 2024年03月31日
    神山 俊哉, 西村 紳一郎, 旭 火華, 坂本 譲, 柿坂 達彦, 折茂 達也, 長津 明久
    これまでの糖鎖解析を行う癌に関する研究は、患者血清を用いるものが多かったが、患者背景:併存する疾患、人種などの影響があり、癌細胞上で行われる糖鎖修飾がどのように癌細胞の生物学的な悪性度を関連性があるかは未解決である。肝癌細胞株での実験で、これまで報告された患者血清から検出された糖鎖と異なるものが、浸潤能に関与していることが分かったため、実際の切除検体である癌細胞組織での検討が必要であるとの考えに至った。
    今年度は、実際の切除検体である癌細胞組織での糖鎖解析による検討を行った。2001年から2006年までの肝細胞癌切除例48例の凍結検体の網羅的糖鎖解析による糖鎖発現を全自動血清糖鎖プロファイル解析で行った。1325.55m/zから3336.24m/zまでの39個の糖鎖を検出でき、肝癌組織のN型糖鎖プロファイルを解析できた。凍結保存された肝細胞癌切除標本の糖鎖解析が普遍的に可能であることが検証された。今後、同一患者さんで、非癌部の肝組織、血清での発現と、今回検出できた糖鎖との関連性を検証していく。さらにこれらの結果と臨床病理学的所見・組織病理学的所見、切除後の予後・再発との関連性を検討する予定であり、実際の肝細胞癌組織と癌悪性度、浸潤能などとの関連性がある特異の糖鎖が発見され、この糖鎖修飾を阻害することができる阻害剤が見つかれば、創薬の点からも癌治療に大きく貢献できると確信している。肝切除かあるいは分子標的薬による薬物治療かの治療選択基準となりうる新規バイオマーカーを検出できる可能性がある。
    日本学術振興会, 基盤研究(C), 北海道大学, 21K07210