Tomoko

Akaike

MD

Appointments

UW Medical Center – Roosevelt Dermatology Center

206.598.4067
Schedule Online

4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Floor 4
Seattle, WA 98105

Fred Hutch Cancer Center  

855.557.0555
Schedule Online

South Lake Union Clinic
825 Eastlake Ave E
Seattle, WA 98109

Biography

Tomoko Akaike, MD, (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the UW Department of Dermatology and a dermatologist at the UW Medical Center – Roosevelt Dermatology Center and Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

Dr. Akaike’s leads clinical trials and translational research on Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), at the Merkel Cell Carcinoma Collaborative (MC3) Institute.

Dr. Dr. Akaike first joined the Nghiem Lab in 2018 as a visiting scientist, and since then she has steadily taken on more demanding roles as a result of her impactful leadership, teaching, and research in Merkel cell carcinoma cancer immunology. Dr. Akaike has contributed to 13 peer-reviewed journal publications, including 7 as first author, three of which have been cited in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Additionally, she has authored chapters in two textbooks, Bologna and Fitzpatrick.

Her accomplishments have been recognized through six prestigious awards, including the 2019 Everett C. Fox, MD Memorial Lecture Award and Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology Resident and Fellows Symposium, and the 2022 Conquer Cancer Merit Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Education & Training

MD, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan (2010)

Residency in Dermatology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Senior clinical fellowship in Dermatology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Senior Fellowship in Clinical research, University of Washington

HONORS 

2019   Everett C. Fox, MD Memorial Lecture Award and Grant, American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Residents and Fellows Symposium

2021   Nominated for 2021 Society for Investigative Dermatology, Future leaders retreat, Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting

2022 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting

2023 Travel Grant Award, International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting

2024 Travel Grant Award, Japanese Societies for Investigative Dermatology

Research & cLinicaL Interests

• Merkel cell carcinoma (Biomarkers, circulating tumor DNA testing; Radiation Oncology, hypofractionated radiotherapy)
• Cutaneous lymphoma
• Melanoma

Publications 

 

Gong E., Zawacki L., Fan X., Hippe D.S., Menon A.A., Remington A.J., Lachance K., Akaike T., Tachiki L., Park S.Y., Nghiem P. Immunotherapy response in immunosuppressed patients with Merkel cell carcinoma: analysis of 183 patients. BMJ Oncol. 2025 Mar 6;4(1):e000654 

Akaike T, Thakuria M, Silk A, Hippe D, Park S, So N, Maloney N, Gunnell L, Eschholz A, Kim E, Sinha S, Hall E, Bhatia S, Reddy S, Rodriguez A, Aleshin A, Choi J, Tsai K, Yom S, Yu S, Choi J, Chandra S, Nghiem P, Zaba C. Circulating tumor DNA assay detects Merkel cell carcinoma recurrence, disease progression, and minimal residual disease: surveillance and prognostic implications. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jul 25:JCO2302054. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.02054

Akaike T, Jabbour A, Goff P, Park S, Bhatia S, Nghiem P.
Merkel cell carcinoma refractory to anti-PD(L)1: Utility of adding Ipilimumab for salvage therapy. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2024 Jul 24;12(7):e009396. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009396

Akaike T, Jabbour A, Goff P, Park S, Bhatia S, Nghiem P.
Merkel cell carcinoma refractory to anti-PD(L)1: Utility of adding Ipilimumab for salvage therapy. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2024 Jul 24;12(7):e009396. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009396

Akaike T, Cahill K, Akaike G, Huynh E.T, Hippe D.S, Shinohara M.M, Liao J, Apisarnthanarax S, Parvathaneni U, Hall E, Bhatia S, Cheng R.K, Nghiem P, Tseng Y.D. Management and Prognosis of Cardiac Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study and Literature Review. Cancers. 2022 Nov 30;14(23):5914. doi: 10.3390/cancers14235914.  

Akaike T, Qazi J, Anderson A, Behnia F, Shinohara M, Akaike G, Hippe D, Thomas H, Takagishi S, Lachance K, Park S, Tarabadkar E, Iyer J, Blom A, Parvathaneni P, Vesselle H, Nghiem P, Bhatia S. High somatostatin receptor expression and efficacy of somatostatin analogues in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, the British Journal of Dermatology. 2021; 184:319-327. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19150

Akaike T, Nghiem P. Scientific and clinical developments in Merkel cell carcinoma. J Dermatol Sci. 2021; (21):252-248.doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2021.10.004

Breneman A, Akaike T, Paulson K, Breneman D, Nghiem P. Merkel cell carcinoma can be indolent: a case with seven locoregional recurrences over 15 years highlights the importance of patient-tailored management. JAAD Case Rep. 2021;16:58-61. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.08.009

Nghiem P, Bhatia S. Lipson E, Sharfman W, Kudchadkar R, Brohl A, Friedlander P, Daud A, Kluger H, Reddy S, Boulmay B, Riker A, Burgess M, Hanks B, Olencki T, Kendra K, Church C, Akaike T, Ramchurren N, Shinohara M, Salim B, Taube J, Jensen E, Kalabis M, Fling S, Homet Moreno B, Sharon E, Cheever M, Topalian S. Three-year survival, correlates, and salvage therapies in patients receiving first-line pembrolizumab for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2021;9(4):e002478. doi:10.1136/jitc-2021-002478

Park SY, Doolittle-Amieva C, Moshiri Y, Akaike T, Parvathaneni U, Bhatia S, Zaba LC, Nghiem P. How we treat Merkel cell carcinoma: within and beyond current guideline. Future Oncology. Future Oncol. 2021 Jan 29. doi: 10.2217/fon-2020-1036

Barrios D, Do M, Phillips G, Postow M, Dunn L, Akaike T, Nghiem P, Lacouture M. CME Part 1: Immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat cutaneous malignancies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Nov;83(5):1239-1253. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.131

Akaike G, Akaike T, Shaima, Lachance K, Nghiem P, Behnia S. Imaging of Merkel cell carcinoma: What imaging experts should know. Radiographics. 2019;39(7):2069-2084. doi: 10.1148/rg.2019190102