# Ken Kato

Source: https://onco.cc/people/ken-kato/  
OnCo record `ken-kato` (Person). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Japanese oncologist who led ATTRACTION-3 and KEYNOTE-590, bringing immunotherapy to oesophageal cancer.

## Summary

Ken Kato was principal investigator of ATTRACTION-3, the first trial to show a checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab) improves survival in previously treated oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and co-led KEYNOTE-590, which established pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy first line. He leads JCOG oesophageal trials and heads oesophageal medical oncology at Japan's National Cancer Center.

## Fields

- Kind: Person
- Last checked: 2026-09-10
- Tags: esophageal; immunotherapy; japan
- Role: Chief, Department of Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
- Specialisms: Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Immunotherapy; Head and neck cancer; Japanese cooperative trials

## Sources

- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Kato%20K%5BAuthor%5D%20esophageal%20nivolumab%20OR%20pembrolizumab

## Connected records

- cancers: [Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/head-and-neck/), [Oesophageal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/esophageal/)
- technologies: [Immune checkpoint inhibitors](https://onco.cc/technologies/checkpoint-inhibitor/)
- targets: [PD-1](https://onco.cc/targets/pd1/)
- drugs: [Nivolumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/nivolumab/), [Pembrolizumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/pembrolizumab/)
- institutions: [National Cancer Center Hospital](https://onco.cc/institutions/ncc-japan/)
- trials: [KEYNOTE-590](https://onco.cc/trials/keynote-590/)

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