The global thoracic oncology community recently lost a pioneering member with the passing of Masahiro Tsuboi, MD, PhD, Chief and Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Kashiwa, Japan, and visiting professor at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine.
A valued and long-standing member of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), Dr. Tsuboi served on the association’s Board of Directors, the Lung Cancer Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee, and the Education Committee. He also served as a faculty speaker at numerous IASLC conferences.
Through these roles, he promoted global collaboration, contributed to the development of the TNM lung cancer staging classification, and supported education and research in thoracic oncology.
Dr. Tsuboi, an internationally renowned thoracic surgeon and researcher, dedicated his career to advancing lung cancer research, improving surgical care, and supporting the global thoracic oncology community. His involvement in several international clinical trials, including the ADAURA and NeoADAURA studies, played a key role in the development of targeted therapies for patients with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.
He was also deeply involved in the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) and served as the former Chair of the Lung Cancer Surgical Study Group. His leadership contributed to landmark surgical trials, including JCOG0802, JCOG0804, and the JIPANG trial, which helped shape modern treatment strategies for early-stage lung cancer.
Dr. Tsuboi will be remembered for his remarkable scientific contributions, dedication to his patients, and generosity as both a colleague and mentor. His legacy will continue to influence lung cancer research and patient care for many years to come.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the many people whose lives were touched by his work,” said Caicun Zhou, MD, IASLC President, and Karen Kelly, MD, IASLC Chief Executive Officer, in a joint statement to IASLC members.
