Patients with pancreatic cancer and periampullary tumors

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Because the pancreas lies deep within the abdomen and is adjacent to major vessels and critical organs, traditional surgery is associated with significant blood loss, high complication rates, and prolonged hospitalization—challenges that are even more pronounced in elderly patients or those with comorbidities.

The team has developed highly complex minimally invasive procedures such as robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy using the da Vinci surgical system. With enhanced magnification, superior visualization, and stable precision control, this approach reduces wound size and blood loss while shortening operative and hospitalization time, enabling faster recovery and improved quality of life. Clinical outcomes show high success rates, consistently decreasing mortality and complication risks, and significantly improved long-term survival, with patient satisfaction approaching 100%.

For locally advanced, initially unresectable pancreatic cancer, the team pioneered the integration of chemotherapy with heavy-ion (carbon-ion) radiotherapy to downstage tumors and achieve curative resection—breaking through the long-held barrier that “unresectable disease has no solution.” This approach has produced a substantial number of successful cases and is broadly applicable. The team continues to publish research, contribute to international guidelines, and author textbook chapters, demonstrating its leadership in minimally invasive and integrated therapy for pancreatic cancer.

• Performing one of the most challenging pancreatic procedures—pancreaticoduodenectomy—using the da Vinci robotic system, achieving broad applicability, including for elderly or high-risk patients.  

• For patients with locally advanced, initially unresectable pancreatic cancer, combining chemotherapy with heavy-ion radiotherapy to downstage tumors and enable complete surgical resection.