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Kenneth Tanabe, MD, General Surgery, Boston, MA, Massachusetts General Hospital

KennethKenjiTanabeMD

General Surgery • Boston, MA

Colon & Rectal Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Melanoma, Surgical Oncology (Other than Breast)

Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School Deputy Clinical Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Chief of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital

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Summary

  • Dr. Kenneth Tanabe is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the Deputy Clinical Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Director of the MGH Liver Surgery Program. Dr. Tanabe is a member of several of the top national and international organizations for surgery and for oncology. He serves on editorial boards of several top medical journals. His clinical practices focuses on surgical management of patients with liver tumors and patients with melanoma.

    Dr. Tanabe directs a research laboratory focused on 1) hepatocellular carcinoma prevention; and 2) experimental gene therapy for liver tumors. His laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health continuously since 1993.

    Research in the area of hepatocellular carcinoma focuses on signal transduction pathways involved during malignant transformation of hepatocytes, and molecular mechanisms of cirrhosis progression. Agents that prevent progression of cirrhosis or prevent development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic livers are examined in preclinical models before development of clinical trials. The effects on liver are monitored via a gene signature, in collaboration with Yujin Hoshida and Todd Golub at the Broad Institute.

    Research in experimental gene therapy for liver tumors focuses on development of replication-conditional viruses that destroy tumors by virtue of replication in the tumor cells, a process that simultaneously produces daughter progeny virion that can infect adjacent tumor cells. Significant progress has been made in alteration of the viral genome to restrict viral replication in normal cells. One virus is now in clinical trial for patients with primary or secondary liver tumors.

Education & Training

  • University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center
    University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer CenterFellowship, Complex General Surgical Oncology, 1990 - 1993
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)
    New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)Residency, Surgery, 1985 - 1990
  • University of California San Diego School of Medicine
    University of California San Diego School of MedicineClass of 1985

Certifications & Licensure

  • MA State Medical License
    MA State Medical License 1993 - 2026
  • ME State Medical License
    ME State Medical License 2020 - 2025
  • NH State Medical License
    NH State Medical License 2021 - 2025
  • RI State Medical License
    RI State Medical License 2021 - 2024
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 1990 - 1993
  • American Board of Surgery Surgery
  • Society of Surgical OncologyFellowship in Surgical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2003-2014
  • Boston Magazine Castle Connolly, 2009-2013
  • America's Top Doctors for Cancer Castle Connolly, 2005-2013
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Pioglitazone Reduces Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Two Rodent Models of Cirrhosis  
    Kenneth K Tanabe, Ricard Masia, Derek J Erstad, Michael Lanuti, Journal of gastrointestinal surgery
  • Facility Type Is Associated with Margin Status and Overall Survival in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Who Undergo Resection  
    Cristina R Ferrone, Kenneth K Tanabe, Motaz Qadan, Journal of The American College of Surgeons
  • Single-Institution Experience of Hepatic Resection in the Elderly at a Tertiary Referral Center  
    Jessica L Mueller, Cristina R Ferrone, Parsia A Vagefi, Kenneth K Tanabe, Motaz Qadan, Journal of The American College of Surgeons
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Other

Authored Content

  • Single-Institution Experience of Hepatic Resection in the Elderly at a Tertiary Referral CenterOctober 2018
  • Facility Type Is Associated with Margin Status and Overall Survival in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Who Undergo ResectionOctober 2018

Press Mentions

  • Healing Harmonies
    Healing HarmoniesFebruary 10th, 2016
  • Boston German Consul General Hosts Massachusetts General Hospital Music in Medicine Program
    Boston German Consul General Hosts Massachusetts General Hospital Music in Medicine ProgramFebruary 10th, 2016

Grant Support

  • Training Program In Cancer BiologyNational Cancer Institute2007–2011
  • Targeting Diffuse Liver Metastases With Herpes VirusNational Cancer Institute2006–2010
  • Phase I Clinical Trial Of Viral Oncolysis Of Liver Tumo*National Cancer Institute2006–2007
  • Targetting Diffuse Liver Metastases With Herpes VirusNational Cancer Institute2000–2002
  • CD44 Alternative Splicing In Colorectal CarcinomasNational Cancer Institute1994–1998

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Kenneth Tanabe, Dr. Kenneth Tanabe, MD, Dr. K Tanabe, Dr. Kenneth Kenji Tanabe