Tomohiro Yazawa1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan; 2ASJ Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. ASJ Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: asj@amegroups.com
This interview can be cited as: Yazawa T, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of ASJ: Dr. Tomohiro Yazawa. AME Surg J. 2025. Available from: https://asj.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-asj-dr-tomohiro-yazawa.
Expert introduction
Dr. Tomohiro Yazawa (Figure 1) graduated from Gunma University and received his MD in 2012. He further graduated from Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine and received his PhD in 2015. He completed his residency at the Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Integrative Center of General Surgery; Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Hospital in 2015. He then worked at the National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center and the Japanese Red Cross Maebashi Hospital as a Staff Doctor. In 2021, he started to work as an assistant professor at the Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Gunma University Hospital. He is a Board-Certified Surgeon of the Japan Surgical Society and the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.
Dr. Yazawa is an active member of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery, the Japanese Association of Thoracic Surgery, the Japan Surgical Society, the Japan Lung Cancer Society, the Japanese Society of Endoscopic Surgery, the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and a full member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Figure 1 Dr. Tomohiro Yazawa
Interview
ASJ: What inspired you to pursue a career in thoracic surgery?
Dr. Yazawa: Through my clinical training during my medical student years, I developed a strong interest in thoracic surgery, including cardiovascular surgery. At the same time, I was also deeply interested in oncology. The idea that I could be involved in both fields was a major factor in my attraction to thoracic surgery. Moreover, having many skilled surgical mentors at my institution, including Professor Shimizu, who is currently a professor at Shinshu University, Japan, played a decisive role in my decision to pursue a career as a thoracic surgeon.
ASJ: Could you provide an overview of the recent publications on thoracic surgery and/or segmentectomy? Are there any articles that stood out to you?
Dr. Yazawa: The utility of segmentectomy and sublobar resection for sized 2 cm or less peripheral early-stage non-small cell lung cancer has been demonstrated, making it a noteworthy development. The results of JCOG0802 and CALGB140503 clinical trials suggest that the indications for segmentectomy will continue to expand in the future (1,2). In addition, a non-inferiority trial comparing segmentectomy with lobectomy for stage IA3 peripheral pure solid non-small cell lung cancer is also currently underway (3), and its results will be of great interest.
Meanwhile, the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, has also been demonstrated, raising the possibility of an increasing number of surgical cases with curative potential (4).
In recent years, various surgical approaches, including multiportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), uniportal VATS, and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), have been actively discussed. However, rather than focusing solely on the choice of approach, I am committed to refining and disseminating surgical techniques that ensure oncologic integrity and long-term survival.
ASJ: The field of thoracic surgery is constantly evolving. What emerging technologies or techniques do you believe will have the most impact on the future of thoracic surgery?
Dr. Yazawa: In recent years, robotic surgery has become increasingly widespread, and I believe that integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with this technology could lead to even safer surgical procedures. For example, AI-assisted intraoperative identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve could be highly beneficial in preventing postoperative hoarseness (5). Such advancements have the potential to significantly improve surgical precision and patient outcomes.
ASJ: As an assistant professor, what is your approach to educating and mentoring young surgeons in thoracic surgery? How do you balance academic rigor with practical, hands-on training?
Dr. Yazawa: In terms of education, I strongly recommend thoroughly reading guidelines, such as the Japanese Lung Cancer Treatment Guidelines. It is crucial to analyze key studies that have been incorporated into these guidelines, as doing so can lead to new clinical questions and drive further research. For hands-on training, I believe that regular dry lab and wet lab sessions are essential for the education of young surgeons. Additionally, with the availability of institutional surgical videos and the ability to access a wide range of surgical videos online, thoracic surgeons today are fortunate to have an excellent learning environment that allows them to study and refine their skills anytime.
ASJ: What do you find most rewarding about being a thoracic surgeon, and how does it drive your passion for research and clinical care?
Dr. Yazawa: In the field of thoracic surgery, which I find most fascinating, nothing brings me greater joy than seeing patients recover after undergoing our surgeries and expressing their gratitude. This, to me, is the essence of contributing to society. To increase the number of patients I can help, even if only slightly, I am committed to dedicating my passion to both research and clinical practice.
ASJ: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of ASJ?
Dr. Yazawa: I truly appreciate this valuable opportunity. I would be delighted to continue engaging in discussions with thoracic surgeons from around the world in the future.
ASJ: As an Editorial Board Member, what are your expectations and aspirations for ASJ?
Dr. Yazawa: I hope to contribute to ASJ’s mission of publishing high-quality research. A special issue focusing on safe surgical techniques, including AI technology and surgical procedure videos, could be particularly interesting and valuable.
References
Saji H, Okada M, Tsuboi M, et al. Segmentectomy versus lobectomy in small-sized peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer (JCOG0802/WJOG4607L): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet 2022;399(10335):1607-1617.
- Altorki N, Wang X, Kozono D, et al. Lobar or Sublobar Resection for Peripheral Stage IA Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. N Engl J Med 2023;388(6):489-498.
- Kamigaichi A, Hamada A, Tsuboi M, et al. A Multi-Institutional, Randomized, Phase III Trial Comparing Anatomical Segmentectomy and Lobectomy for Clinical Stage IA3 Pure-Solid Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: West Japan Oncology Group Study WJOG16923L (STEP UP Trial). Clin Lung Cancer 2024;25(4):384-388.e1.
- Forde PM, Spicer J, Lu S, et al. Neoadjuvant Nivolumab plus Chemotherapy in Resectable Lung Cancer. N Engl J Med 2022;386(21):1973-1985.
- Ichinose J, Kobayashi N, Fukata K, et al. Accuracy of thoracic nerves recognition for surgical support system using artificial intelligence. Sci Rep 2024;14(1):18329.