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Hark Min Lee

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Hark Min Lee's research lab specializes in urological oncology, with a primary focus on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and prostate cancer. The lab investigates perioperative outcomes, surgical techniques—particularly laparoscopic and robotic approaches—and the impact of preoperative biomarkers such as the De Ritis ratio on long-term survival. It also explores the role of advanced imaging, including diffusion-weighted MRI, in improving cancer detection and surgical planning. The lab emphasizes personalized medicine through 3D renal modeling and aims to optimize patient outcomes via evidence-based surgical strategies and renal function preservation.

renal cell carcinomapartial nephrectomyoncological outcomes3D renal modelingdiffusion-weighted imaging

Research Overview

Papers
199
Total Citations
2,403
Papers (5y)
53
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
53total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
236total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|67 citations·2016
De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ratio) as a significant prognostic factor after surgical treatment in patients with clear‐cell localized renal cell carcinoma: a propensity score‐matched study
Hakmin Lee, Sang Eun Lee, Seok‐Soo Byun, Hyeon Hoe Kim, Cheol Kwak, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1British Journal of UrologyOA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase [AST]/alanine transaminase [ALT]) with postoperative clinical outcomes after surgical treatment of localized RCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 2 965 patients surgically treated for non-metastatic RCC. Propensity scores for high AST/ALT ratio were calculated and 430 patients with a high AST/ALT ratio were matched to 1 117 patients with a low AST/ALT ratio. The association

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
2
Article|65 citations·2018
Personalized 3D kidney model produced by rapid prototyping method and its usefulness in clinical applications
Hakmin Lee, Ngoc Ha Nguyen, Sung Il Hwang, Hak Jong Lee, Sung Kyu Hong, Seok‐Soo Byun
SJR Q2International braz j urolOA

The personalized 3D renal model was revealed to significantly enhance the understanding of correct renal anatomy in patients with renal tumors in both urologist and student groups. These models can be useful for establishing the perioperative planning and also education program for medical students.

Biomedical EngineeringEngineering
3
Article|60 citations·2019
Comparison of oncological and perioperative outcomes of open, laparoscopic, and robotic nephroureterectomy approaches in patients with non-metastatic upper-tract urothelial carcinoma
Hakmin Lee, Hak Ju Kim, Sang-Chul Lee, Sung Kyu Hong, Seok‐Soo Byun
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

The laparoscopic and robotic approaches yielded better perioperative outcomes, such as less intraoperative bleeding, shorter hospital stays, less analgesic usage, and non-inferior oncological outcomes, compared with the open approach. Further prospective studies are needed to compare these surgical techniques.

SurgeryMedicine
4
Article|60 citations·2016
De Ritis Ratio (AST/ALT) as a Significant Prognostic Factor in Patients With Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer Treated With Surgery
Hakmin Lee, Young Hyo Choi, Hyun Hwan Sung, Deok Hyun Han, Hwang Gyun Jeon, Byong Chang Jeong, Seong Il Seo, Seong Soo Jeon, Hyun Moo Lee, Han Yong Choi
SJR Q1Clinical Genitourinary Cancer
SurgeryMedicine
5
Article|52 citations·2018
The risk of thyroid cancer and obesity: A nationwide population-based study using the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation cohort database
Haiyoung Son, Hakmin Lee, Keera Kang, Ilkyun Lee, Ilkyun Lee
SJR Q1Surgical Oncology
Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
6
Article|51 citations·2015
Risk of metastasis for T1a renal cell carcinoma
Hakmin Lee, Jung Keun Lee, Kwangmo Kim, Cheol Kwak, Hyeon Hoe Kim, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1World Journal of Urology
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
7
Article|43 citations·2018
Outcomes of pathologic stage T3a renal cell carcinoma up-staged from small renal tumor: emphasis on partial nephrectomy
Hakmin Lee, Minseung Lee, Sang Eun Lee, Seok‐Soo Byun, Hyeon Hoe Kim, Cheol Kwak, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q2BMC CancerOA

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with pathologic stage T3a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that is up-staged from a small renal tumor remains controversial. We evaluated the prognosis of patients with RCC who were up-staged from clinical stage T1 to pathologic stage T3a. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 3431 patients who were surgically treated for clinical stage T1 RCC. The survival outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional analyses. RESULTS: Among the clini

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
8
Article|36 citations·2015
High preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio predicts biochemical recurrence in patients with localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy
Hakmin Lee, Seong Jin Jeong, Sung Kyu Hong, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Jong Jin Oh
SJR Q1World Journal of Urology
OncologyMedicine
9
Article|35 citations·2017
Impact of warm ischaemia time on postoperative renal function after partial nephrectomy for clinical T1 renal cell carcinoma: a propensity score‐matched study
Hakmin Lee, Byung Do Song, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1British Journal of UrologyOA

Objectives To analyse the effect of prolonged warm ischaemia time ( WIT ) on long‐term renal function after partial nephrectomy ( PN ), as controversy still exists as to whether prolonged WIT adversely affects the incidence of chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) after PN . Patients and Methods We reviewed data from 1816 patients who underwent PN for a clinical T1 renal tumour. The propensity scores for prolonged WIT were calculated with the shorter WIT group (<30 min) matched to the longer WIT gro

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
10
Article|33 citations·2018
Diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging for prostate cancer: Peripheral zone versus transition zone
Hakmin Lee, Sung Il Hwang, Hak Jong Lee, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

DWI detects tumors in PZ of prostate more accurately than those in TZ. Such accuracy of DWI was shown to be more evident with higher DWI grade. Meanwhile, a negative DWI did not guarantee absence of high grade PCa.

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
11
Article|32 citations·2016
Accuracy of preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of unfavorable pathology in patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy
Hakmin Lee, Chan Kyo Kim, Byung Kwan Park, Hyun Hwan Sung, Deok Hyun Han, Hwang Gyun Jeon, Byong Chang Jeong, Seong Il Seo, Seong Soo Jeon, Han Yong Choi, Hyun Moo Lee, Hyun Moo Lee
SJR Q1World Journal of Urology
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
12
Article|30 citations·2018
Visually interpretable deep network for diagnosis of breast masses on mammograms
Seong Tae Kim, Jae-Hyeok Lee, Hakmin Lee, Yong Man Ro
SJR Q1Physics in Medicine and Biology

Recently, deep learning technology has achieved various successes in medical image analysis studies including computer-aided diagnosis (CADx). However, current CADx approaches based on deep learning have a limitation in interpreting diagnostic decisions. The limited interpretability is a major challenge for practical use of current deep learning approaches. In this paper, a novel visually interpretable deep network framework is proposed to provide diagnostic decisions with visual interpretation.

Artificial IntelligenceComputer Science
13
Article|29 citations·2014
Impact of Prostatic Apical Shape and Protrusion on Early Recovery of Continence After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Hakmin Lee, Kwangmo Kim, Sung Il Hwang, Hak Jong Lee, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q2Urology
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
14
Article|25 citations·2015
Preoperative Glycemic Control Status as a Significant Predictor of Biochemical Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients after Radical Prostatectomy
Hakmin Lee, Harim Kuk, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Poor glycemic control was significantly associated with BCR after RP. Meanwhile, metformin use was not associated with biochemical outcome after RP. Further investigation would be needed to identify exact mechanism underlying the impact of glycemic control on PCa treatment outcome.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|24 citations·2015
Diabetes Mellitus as an Independent Predictor of Survival of Patients Surgically Treated for Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Study
Hakmin Lee, Cheol Kwak, Hyeon Hoe Kim, Seok‐Soo Byun, Sang Eun Lee, Sung Kyu Hong
SJR Q1The Journal of Urology

Diabetes mellitus is an independent predictor of cancer specific and overall survival in patients who undergo surgery for renal cell carcinoma. Also, in patients with diabetes mellitus poor glycemic control is associated with a higher risk of progression.

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine

Research Areas

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineOncologyCancer ResearchSurgeryArtificial IntelligenceMolecular Biology

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