HIROAKI NIITSU

Last Updated :2025/07/15

Affiliations, Positions
Hiroshima University Hospital, Associate Professor (Special Appointment)

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2025/07/01, Hiroshima University Hospital, Department of Clinical & Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor (Special Appointment)
  • 2025/02/01, Hiroshima University Hospital, Molecular Testing Developing Lab, Director of Digital Image Analysis
  • 2024/04/01, 2025/06/30, Hiroshima University Hospital, Department of Clinical & Molecular Genetics, Medical Doctor
  • 2022/04/01, 2024/03/31, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Lecturer of Basic Medical Science
  • 2022/04/01, 2024/03/31, Aichi Cancer Center, Staff Scientist (Research Institute) , Chief Physician (Hospital)
  • 2019/04/01, 2021/03/31, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Overseas Research Fellowship
  • 2017/10/01, 2022/03/31, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Medicine (Robert J. Coffey Lab), Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • 2017/04/01, 2017/09/30, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chief Physician
  • 2016/04/01, 2016/03/31, Hiroshima City Funairi Citizens Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chief Physician
  • 2011/04/01, 2012/03/31, Hiroshima University Hospital, Department of Gastroenterological & Transplant Surgery, Clinical Fellow
  • 2010/04/01, 2011/03/31, Hiroshima City Asa Citizens Hospital, Department of Surgery, Surgical Trainee
  • 2008/04/01, 2010/03/31, Onomich General Hospital, Department of Surgery, Surgical Trainee
  • 2006/04/01, 2008/03/31, Hiroshima University Hospital, Resident

Educational Backgrounds

  • Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Major, Program of Medicine, 2012/04, 2016/09
  • Hiroshima University, School of Medicine, 2000/04, 2006/03

Research Fields

  • Medicine,dentistry, and pharmacy;Clinical surgery;Digestive surgery
  • Medicine,dentistry, and pharmacy;Basic medicine;Human genetics

Research Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Tumor biology
  • Genetic Medicine

Affiliated Academic Societies

  • Japan Surgical Society, 2010
  • The Japan Society of Human Genetics, 2022
  • The Japanese Cancer Association, 2015
  • American Association for Cancer Research, 2014
  • Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, 2024
  • Japanese Society of Laboratory Medicine, 2025
  • Japanese Society for Genetic Counseling, 2024
  • Japanese Society for Gene Diagnosis and Therapy, 2024

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. ★, Real-world data analysis for factors influencing the quality check status in FoundationOne CDx cancer genomic profiling tests., Scientific reports, 15(1), 5167, 2025
  2. The usefulness of comprehensive genome profiling test in screening of Lynch syndrome independent of the conventional clinical screening or microsatellite instability tests., Journal of human genetics, 2025
  3. Clinicopathological Characteristics of Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer With Loss of Immunohistochemical Expression of Mismatch Repair Proteins., International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association, 2025
  4. Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Testing for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in Advanced Elderly Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study., The Prostate, 2025
  5. Nectin-4 expression in upper and lower tract urothelial carcinoma: correlation with early-stage disease and prognostic relevance., Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology, 2025
  6. Right-sided versus left-sided colorectal cancer in elderly patients: a sub-analysis of a large multicenter case-control study in Japan., Surgery today, 54(10), 1173-1183, 2024
  7. Development of Pluoronic nanoparticles of fluorocoxib A for endoscopic fluorescence imaging of colonic adenomas., Journal of biomedical optics, 28(4), 040501, 2023
  8. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Squamous Epithelial Cells Constitute a Unique Microenvironment in a Mouse Model of Inflammation-Induced Colon Cancer., Frontiers in oncology, 12, 878920, 2022
  9. ★, Cell-Autonomous Role of EGFR in Spontaneous Duodenal Tumors in LRIG1 Null Mice., Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology, 12(3), 1159-1162, 2021
  10. ★, Translocator protein-targeted photodynamic therapy for direct and abscopal immunogenic cell death in colorectal cancer., Acta biomaterialia, 134, 716-729, 2021
  11. ★, Supermeres are functional extracellular nanoparticles replete with disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets., Nature cell biology, 23(12), 1240-1254, 2021
  12. ★, Differential pre-malignant programs and microenvironment chart distinct paths to malignancy in human colorectal polyps., Cell, 184(26), 6262-6280, 2021
  13. Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Osteoarthritis Using a Water-Soluble Fluorocoxib., ACS medicinal chemistry letters, 11(10), 1875-1880, 2020
  14. Identification and Characterization of Unique Neutralizing Antibodies to Mouse EGF Receptor., Gastroenterology, 158(5), 1500-1502, 2020
  15. ★, Oncogenic mutation in RAS-RAF axis leads to increased expression of GREB1, resulting in tumor proliferation in colorectal cancer., Cancer science, 111(10), 3540-3549, 2020
  16. Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Treatment for Inguinal Endometriosis in Young Women of Reproductive Age., Digestive surgery, 36(2), 166-172, 2019
  17. Clinicopathological significance of RCAN2 production in gastric carcinoma., Histopathology, 74(3), 430-442, 2019
  18. Synbiotics suppress colitis-induced tumorigenesis in a colon-specific cancer mouse model., PloS one, 14(6), e0216393, 2019
  19. Survival benefit of lymph node dissection in surgery for colon cancer in elderly patients: A multicenter propensity score-matched study in Japan., Asian journal of endoscopic surgery, 11(4), 346-354, 2018
  20. Risk factors for postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with colorectal cancer: a sub-analysis of a large, multicenter, case-control study in Japan., Surgery today, 48(8), 756-764, 2018
  21. Influence of previous abdominal surgery on surgical outcomes between laparoscopic and open surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer: subanalysis of a large multicenter study in Japan., Journal of gastroenterology, 52(6), 695-704, 2017
  22. Choline Deficiency Causes Colonic Type II Natural Killer T (NKT) Cell Loss and Alleviates Murine Colitis under Type I NKT Cell Deficiency., PloS one, 12(1), e0169681, 2017
  23. ★, Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is safe and has survival outcomes similar to those of open surgery in elderly patients with a poor performance status: subanalysis of a large multicenter case-control study in Japan., Journal of gastroenterology, 51(1), 43-54, 2016
  24. ★, Mouse model of proximal colon-specific tumorigenesis driven by microsatellite instability-induced Cre-mediated inactivation of Apc and activation of Kras., Journal of gastroenterology, 51(5), 447-457, 2016
  25. Regulation of multidrug resistance 1 expression by CDX2 in ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma., Cancer medicine, 5(7), 1546-1555, 2016
  26. Increased Calcineurin A Expression Is Associated with a Lower Relapse-Free Survival Rate after Colorectal Cancer Surgery., Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology, 83(6), 308-315, 2016
  27. ★, KRAS mutation leads to decreased expression of regulator of calcineurin 2, resulting in tumor proliferation in colorectal cancer., Oncogenesis, 5(8), e253, 2016
  28. ★, Gasdermin C Is Upregulated by Inactivation of Transforming Growth Factor beta Receptor Type II in the Presence of Mutated Apc, Promoting Colorectal Cancer Proliferation., PloS one, 11(11), e0166422, 2016
  29. The modified Glasgow prognostic score for early mortality in patients with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer., Surgery today, 45(11), 1396-1403, 2015
  30. Avoiding restorative proctocolectomy for colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis based on preoperative diagnosis involving p53 immunostaining: report of a case., World journal of surgical oncology, 13(1), 123, 2015
  31. Up-front systemic chemotherapy is a feasible option compared to primary tumor resection followed by chemotherapy for colorectal cancer with unresectable synchronous metastases., World journal of surgical oncology, 13(1), 162, 2015
  32. Total colectomy for multiple metachronous colon cancers in a patient with Lynch syndrome., Surgical case reports, 1(1), 78, 2015
  33. Colonoscopy as a tool for evaluating colorectal tumor development in a mouse model., International journal of colorectal disease, 29(2), 217-223, 2014
  34. Inguinal hernia repair with the mesh plug method is safe after radical retropubic prostatectomy., Surgery today, 44(5), 897-901, 2014
  35. ★, Using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) global rating scale to evaluate the skills of surgical trainees in the operating room., Surgery today, 43(3), 271-275, 2013
  36. Idiopathic granulomatous gastritis resembling a gastrointestinal stromal tumor., Case reports in gastroenterology, 6(2), 502-509, 2012
  37. Successful living donor left liver transplantation by using liver graft with multiple large cysts: a case report., Transplantation proceedings, 41(9), 3923-3926, 2009

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. The effect of Pten haploinsufficiency on genomic and transcriptomic profiles in combined genetically-engineered mouse models for colonic neoplasia based on Apc inactivation, Sada H, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Sakamoto N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H, Hinoi T., AACR Annual Meeting 2025, 2025/04, Without Invitation, English, Chicago, IL
  2. A Case of Early Postoperative Cerebellar Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treated with the KEYNOTE-522, Hiraoka E, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Suzuki K, Fujimoto M, Ikejiri H, Amioka A, Sasada S, Shigematsu H, Okada M, JSMO2025, 2025/03, Without Invitation, Japanese
  3. How can we choose appropriate genome profiling tests? – Lessons from real-world data analysis for factors influencing the accuracy in tissue-based CGP in Hiroshima, Japan, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Ishida K, Kaneko Y, Toshida A, Abe A, Ishihara M, Hayes CN, Arihiro K, Hinoi T., 2024 International Joint conference with KSMGG&EAUHGS, 2024/12, With Invitation, English, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
  4. Appropriate selection of cancer genome profiling tests guided by real-world data in Hiroshima, Japan., Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Ishida K, Kaneko Y, Toshida A, Abe A, Ishihara M, Hayes CN, Arihiro K, Hinoi T., 2024 International Joint conference with KSMGG&EAUHGS, 2024/12, With Invitation, English, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
  5. The role of the department of medical genetics in disclosing secondary findings in cancer genome profiling, Kitamura K, Ishihara M, Toshida A, Abe A, Niitsu H, Hinoi T., JSHG 2024, 2024/10, Without Invitation, Japanese, Sapporo, Hokkaido
  6. Genetic and Clinical observation of Japanese Patients of Hiroshima Prefecture with suspected Lynch Syndrome, Qiu R, Akabane S, Nakahara H, Niitsu H, Miguchi M, Toshida A, Hattori M, Yamamoto G, Akagi K, Hinoi T., JSHG 2024, 2024/10, Without Invitation, Japanese, Sapporo, Hokkaido
  7. Factors affecting accuracy in cancer genome profiling tests: Analysis of real-world data in Hiroshima, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Arihiro K, Hinoi T., JSHG 2024, 2024/10, Without Invitation, Japanese, Sapporo, Hokkaido
  8. Current Status and Issues of Genomic Profiling Testing for Gynecological Cancer in Our Hospital, Yamane H, Koh I, Yamazaki T, Tomono K, Mukai Y, Banno K, Kudo Y, Nakahara H, Niitsu H, Hinoi T, JSHG 2024, 2024/10, Without Invitation, Japanese, Sapporo, Hokkaido
  9. Establishment of mouse model recapitulating familial adenomatous polyposis and its whole genome analysis, Sada H, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Sakamoto N, Ohdan H, Tashiro H, Hinoi T, The 83th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association, 2024/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, Fukuoka, Japan
  10. The Effect Of Pten Haploinsufficiency In Genetically-engineered Mouse Models For Colonic Neoplasia With Apc Inactivation, Sada H, Niitsu H,Nakahara H, Sakamoto N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H, Hinoi T., The 8th JCA-AACR Special Joint Conference, 2024/06, Without Invitation, English, Kyoto, Japan
  11. Overcoming adaptive resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors, Adachi Y, Niitsu H, Yamaguchi R, Ebi H, The 82nd Annual Meeting of The Japanese Cancer Association, 2023/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, Yokohama, Japan
  12. Transcriptomic analysis of mucinous adenocarcinoma in genetically-engineered mouse model, Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Miguchi M, Sakamoto N, Oue N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H., AACR Annual Meeting 2023, 2023/04, Without Invitation, English, Orlando, FL
  13. Clinical impact of next-generation sequencing in patients with solid cancer: A single institute study, Kazuki Nozawa, Masumi Yamaguchi, Tomoko Aoki, Nobue Takaiso, Hiroaki Niitsu, Yuta Adachi, Issei Imoto, Rui Yamaguchi, Hiromichi Ebi, JSMO2023, 2023/03, Without Invitation, Japanese, Fukuoka, Japan
  14. Recent advances in moleculary-targeted therapy for MAPK signal pathway in colorectal cancer, Niitsu H, Adachi Y, Ebi H, The 81st Annual Meeting of The Japanese Cancer Association, 2022/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, Yokohama, Japan
  15. Genetically-engineered mouse model for colonic neoplasia presenting mucinous, Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Miguchi M, Sakamoto N, Oue N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H., The 81st Annual Meeting of The Japanese Cancer Association, 2022/09, Without Invitation, English, Yokohama, Japan
  16. Recent advances in overcoming resistance to targeted therapy in KRAS mutant cancers., Adachi Y, Niitsu H, Ebi H, The 81st Annual Meeting of The Japanese Cancer Association, 2022/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, Yokohama, Japan
  17. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts And Squamous Epithelial Cells Constitute A Unique Microenvironment In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Vega PN, Nilsson A, Kumar MP, Niitsu H, Simmons AJ, Ro J, Wang JW, McKinley ET, Coffey RJ, Lauffenburger DA, Lau KS., Digestive Disease Week2022, 2022/05, Without Invitation, English, Chicago, IL
  18. Genetically-engineered mouse model for colonic neoplasia presenting mucinous and microsatellite unstable phenotype., Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Miguchi M, Sakamoto N, Oue N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H., AACR Annual Meeting 2022, 2022/04, Without Invitation, English, New Orleans, LA
  19. Elucidation of the mechanism developing mucinous adenocarcinoma in high-frequency microsatellite instability colon cancers, Sada H, Hinoi T, Miguchi M, Niitsu H, Sakamoto N, Tashiro H, Ohdan H., 2021/11, Without Invitation, Japanese
  20. LRIG1 act as a tumor suppressor in mouse intestinal neoplasia via EGFR and via ERBB1-3 in BRAFV600E colorectal cancer., Niitsu H., 2020-2021 Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center Retreat, 2021/01, Without Invitation, English, Nashville, TN
  21. Lrig1 is EGFR-dependent tumor suppressor in mouse duodenal and colonic neoplasia., Niitsu H, Lu Y, Huh WJ, Franklin JL, Coffey RJ., AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II 2020, 2020/06, Without Invitation, English, Web
  22. Evidences of Colonoscopy Surgery Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in elderly patients: A multicenter retrospective study, Hinoi T, Yamamoto S, Okamura R, Takahashi M, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Sada H, Okajima M, Ohdan H, Hasegawa H, Yamaguchi S, Murata K, Horie H, Watanabe M., 2019/12, Without Invitation, Japanese
  23. Establishment of mouse model recapitulating familial adenomatous polyposis and its whole genome analysis, Sada H, Niitsu H, Nakahara H, Sakamoto N, Ohdan H, Tashiro H, Hinoi T., 2019/09, Without Invitation, Japanese
  24. Identification And Characterization of The First Neutralizing Antibody To Mouse Egfr, Huh WJ, Niitsu H, McKinley ET, Carney B, Houghton JL, Coffey RJ., Digestive Disease Week2019, 2019/05, Without Invitation, English, San Diego, CA
  25. Investigation of pathways associated with tumor invasion in mouse model for colon cancer with Pten haploinsufficiency, Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Sakamoto N, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W, Ohdan H., 2018/11, Without Invitation, Japanese
  26. Expression and distribution of RCAN-2 in gastric carcinoma, Hattori Y, Sentani K, Shinmei S, Hattori T, Imai T, Sekino Y, Sakamoto N, Oue N, Niitsu H, Hinoi T, Ohdan H, Yasui W, The 77th Annual Meeting of Japanese Cancer Association, 2018/09, Without Invitation, Japanese
  27. Pten haploinsufficiency enhances carcinogenesis in mouse colon epithelium with Apc deficiency, Sada H, Hinoi T, Saito Y, NIitsu H, Kochi M, Sakamoto N, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W, Ohdan H, 2018/09, Without Invitation, Japanese
  28. Right-sided vs left-sided colorectal cancer after curative resection in patients over 80 years of age: An analysis of a large multicenter study in Japan, Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Ohdan H, Okajima M, Yamamoto S, Konishi F, Watanabe M., ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2018, 2018/05, Without Invitation, English, Nashville, TN
  29. Survival Benefit of Lymph Node Dissection in Surgery for Colon Cnacer in Elderly Patients: A Multicenter Popensityy Score-matched Case-control Study in Japan, Takahashi M, Niitsu H, Sakamoto K, Hinoi T, Hattori M, Goto M, Horie H, Watanabe M., ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2018, 2018/05, Without Invitation, English, Nashville, TN
  30. Pten haploinsufficiency promotes tumor invasion and carcinogenesis in mouse colon epithelium with Apc deficiency, Sada H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Sakamoto N, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W, Ohdan H., Annual Meeting of AACR 2018, 2018/04, Without Invitation, English, Chicago, IL
  31. The generation of colorectal cancer mouse model based on microsatellite instability and the identification of transforming growth factor-beta signal target, Miguchi M, Hinoi T, Shimomura M, Adachi T, Saito Y, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Sada H, Sotomaru Y, Ijichi H, Ikenoue T, Shigeyasu K, Tanakaya K, Kitadai Y, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W, Ohdan H., Annual Meeting of AACR 2015, 2015/04, Without Invitation, English, Philadelphia, PA
  32. Gene expression profiling for oncogenic Kras mutation in mice and human colorectal cancer, Miguchi M, Hinoi T, Kawaguchi Y, Sentani K, Oue N, Sotomaru Y, Adachi T, Saito Y, Miguchi M, Kochi M, Shimomura M, Yasui W, Ohdan H., Annual Meeting of AACR 2015, 2015/04, Without Invitation, English, Philadelphia, PA
  33. Impact of synbiotics administration on tumorigenesis of colon cancer mouse model, Saito Y, Hinoi T, Adachi T, Shimomura M, Miguchi M, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Ohdan H, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W., Annual Meeting of AACR 2015, 2015/04, Without Invitation, English, Philadelphia, PA
  34. Is Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery feasible for elderly patients with poor performance status? A multi-centre large cohort study., Hasegawa H, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Kawaguchi Y, Watanabe M., Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Irland (ALSGBI) 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting, 2014/11, Without Invitation, English, Aberdeen, UK
  35. Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery for elderly patients with poor performance status: a large multi-centre cohort study., Hasegawa H, Hinoi T, Kawaguchi Y, Niitsu H, Suzuka I, Ueno M, Yamaguchi T, Endo S, Hida K, and Watanabe M., European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 9th Scientific & Annual Meeting, 2014/09, Without Invitation, English, Barcelona, Spain
  36. Sulindac delayed and suppressed the tumor progression, was not effective on inhibition of tumor initiation in a human colorectal cancer mouse model (CPC;Apc mouse), Adachi T, Hinoi T, Sasaki Y, Shimomura M, Saito Y, Miguchi M, Niitsu H, Sotomaru Y, Oue N, Yasui W, Ohdan H., 2014/04, Without Invitation, English, San Diego, CA
  37. Portal vein reconstruction using recipient's own right hepatic vein as an interposition graft in living donor liver transplantation, Niitsu H, Tashiro H, Itamoto T, Amano H, Ohdan H, Ishiyama K, Asahara T., The 8th World Congress of International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, 2008/02, Without Invitation, English, Mumbai, India

Awards

  1. 2024/12/06, Outstanding Presentation Award (Oral Presentation), KSMGG&EAUHGS, How can we choose appropriate genome profiling tests? – Lessons from real-world data analysis for factors influencing the accuracy in tissue-based CGP in Hiroshima, Japan
  2. 2024/12/06, Outstanding Presentation Award (Poster Presentation), KSMGG&EAUHGS, Appropriate selection of cancer genome profiling tests guided by real-world data in Hiroshima, Japan

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. JSPS KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), The mechanism of GTP metabolic reprograming in colorectal cancer and the development of molecularly-targeted therapy by drug repositioning, 2025/04, 2027/03
  2. Ryokufukai Encouragement Award for Education and Research, Grant-in-Aid for Young Investigator, Tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer in Lynch Syndrome, 2024/07, 2025/03
  3. JSPS KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Biological significance of EGFR expression in stroma of colorectal cancer and its impact on drug resistance to MAPK signal inhibitors, 2023/04, 2025/03
  4. JSPS KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up, Investigation of resistant mechanisms to novel KRAS inhibitors in mutant KRAS colorectal cancers by utilizing three-dimensional cell culture recapitulating tumor microenvironment, 2022/10, 2024/03
  5. JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship, Elucidation and conquest of chemoresistant mechanism in colon cancer due to cancer cells expressing stem cell marker Lrig1, 2019/04, 2021/03