Ritsuko Komaki, MD, FACR, FASTRO
Dr. Ritsuko Komaki is an Emeritus Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She is noted for her work in both research and clinical care, and particularly for her advocacy and use of proton therapy in treating challenging tumors including lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and breast cancer.[1]
Dr. Komaki’s philosophy of care stresses the importance of listening to patients, being kind to patients, and learning from failure. She says, “I’m passionate to cure the patient. I will do everything to cure the patient, but I also always learn something. When we fail, we have to learn from that. I think that’s very important.”[2]
Education and Career
Dr. Komaki received her medical degree from Hiroshima University School of Medicine in Hiroshima, Japan. She completed a fellowship at the VA Medical Center Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then completed an internship and residency in Radiation Oncology at St. Mary’s Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following this experience, she completed a fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.[2]
After completing her medical education and training, Dr. Komaki spent time working in medical oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York until she was recruited to return to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as Section Chief of Thoracic Radiation Oncology.[2]
Professional Memberships and Activities
Dr. Komaki holds leadership positions in numerous organizations dedicated to excellence in radiation oncology. She was co-chair of the Lung Committee of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, sits on the PDQ Extramural Board of Associate Editors at the National Cancer Institute, is an executive committee member of the International Association Study for Lung Cancer, and is chair of the American College of Radiology’s Committee on Appropriateness of Management of Lung Cancer. She is the past Chair of Radiation Oncology for the Texas Radiological Society, past president of the American Association for Women Radiologists, and an ABR Oral Board Examiner.[1]
Additionally, Dr. Komaki serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Radiology, and Journal of Women’s Imaging.[1]
Research
Dr. Komaki is noted for her innovative research. She is the principal investigator in several important Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) clinical trials in lung cancer and has been named the Gloria Lupton Tennison Distinguished Endowed Professor for Lung Cancer Research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.[1]
She has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Seminars in Radiation Oncology, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Radiology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of National Cancer Institute, Cancer, and Clinical Cancer Research.[1]
Her recent publications include:[3]
The Inherited KRAS-variant as a Biomarker of Cetuximab Response in NSCLC. Joanne B Weidhaas, Chen Hu, Ritsuko Komaki, Gregory A Masters, George R Blumenschein, Joe Y Chang, Bo Lu, Adam P Dicker, Jeffrey A Bogart, Yolanda I Garces, Samir Nara…>; Cancer Research Communications. 2023 Oct 11
Association of Radiotherapy Duration With Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Treated in NRG Oncology Trials: A Secondary Analysis of NRG Oncology Ran… Christopher L Hallemeier, Jennifer Moughan, Michael G Haddock, Arnold M Herskovic, Bruce D Minsky, Mohan Suntharalingam, Kenneth L Zeitzer, Madhur K Garg, Bruce D Gree…>; JAMA Network Open. 2023 Apr 3
High-Dose Once-Daily Thoracic Radiotherapy in Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: CALGB 30610 (Alliance)/RTOG 0538. Jeffrey Bogart, Xiaofei Wang, Gregory Masters, Junheng Gao, Ritsuko Komaki, Laurie E Gaspar, John Heymach, James Bonner, Charles Kuzma, Saiama Waqar, William Petty, Th…>; Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023 May 1
