Education
- 2002: M.D. Asahikawa Medical College
- 2008: Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University
Professional Experience
- 2002-2004; Resident, Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical College.
- 2009-2015; Medical staff, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
- 2015-2019; Assistant Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
- 2020-2021; Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, National Defense Medical College.
- 2022-2023; Assistant Professor, Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Toho University.
- 2023-2023; Lecturer, Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Toho University.
Research Focus
I have been engaged in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, particularly upper gastrointestinal cancers, as a surgeon. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been implemented for gastrointestinal cancers, and I have personally experienced their high clinical effectiveness in advanced cancers that are challenging to cure through surgery. Unfortunately, not all patients benefit from this high therapeutic efficacy. In our laboratory, we are conducting research to enhance the therapeutic effect against cancer by combining a novel adjuvant that activates innate immunity with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Ultimately, we aim to develop an immunotherapy that can be used in conjunction with surgical treatment, striving for the cure of advanced and refractory gastrointestinal cancers.
Academic Societies
- Japan Surgical Society; Specialist, Instructor
- The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery; Specialist, Instructor
- Japanese Society for Treatment of Obesity; Board member
Selected Publications
- Wakamatsu K, Maruyama A, Okazumi S: Evaluation of Plasma microRNA-222 as a Biomarker for Gastric Cancer. J Clin Med Wakamatsu K, Maruyama A, Okazumi S: Evaluation of Plasma microRNA-222 as a Biomarker for Gastric Cancer. J Clin Med 14;98, 2024 doi:10.3390/jcm14010098.
- Wakamatsu K, Takashi O: Proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction for treating recurrent hiatal hernia. Asian J Surg 46;2942-2-43, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.02.018.
- Wakamatsu K, Takashi O, Kitahara N, Moriyama Y, Nabekura T, Hashi K, Hayashi K, Saiki A, Okazumi S: Feasibility of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for patients with obesity and disorders of intellectual development: a single institutional experience. Obes Surg 33:1327-1332, 2023. doi: 10.1007/s11695-023-06543-0.
- Wakamatsu K, Seki Y, Kasama K, Uno K, Hashimoto K, Seto Y, Kurokawa Y:Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in morbidly obese Japanese and the impact of bariatric surgery on disease progression. Obes Surg 28:489-496, 2018. doi: 10.1007/s11695-017-2863-7.
- Wakamatsu K, Lo Menzo E, Szomstein S, Seto Y, Chalikonda S, Rosenthal RJ: Feasibility of laparoscopic resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 28:569-573, 2018. doi: 10.1089/lap.2017.0564.
- Wakamatsu K, Perez Quirante F, Montorfano L, Lo Menzo E, Seto Y, Rosenthal RJ: Laparoscopic treatment of gastroparesis: a single center experience. Surg Obes Relat Dis 14: 200-205, 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2017.07.029.
- Wakamatsu K, Ogita H, Okabe N, Irie K, Okamoto-Tanaka Miki, Ishizaki H, Ishida -Yamamoto A, Iizuka H, Miyoshi J, Takai Y: Up-regulation of loricrin expression by cell adhesion molecule nectin-1 through Rap1-ERK signaling in keratinocytes. J Biol Chem. 282:18173-18181, 2007. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M611159200.