|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Atsushi Kawakami, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, The 2nd International Symposium on Castleman Disease (ISCD2025)
Professor, Department of Immunology and Rheumatology
/Clinical Neuroscience and Neurology,
Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences |
|
| |
| I am honored to host the 2nd International Symposium on Castleman Disease (ISCD2025) with the support of the Japan Intractable Diseases Research Foundation. |
|
| In Castleman disease, lesions form in lymph nodes where immunocompetent cells accumulate, producing an inflammatory response due to activation of these cells. Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease, one of the main subtypes of Castleman disease, has been designated as an intractable disease. In recent years, heterogeneity of their lymph node histopathology has become evident and this is considered to be directly linked to the heterogeneity of clinical signs, effector cells and molecules. However, there are many aspects that remain unclear, which are a major research question in this area of disease internationally. As part of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Science Research Grant Project Intractable Disease Policy Research Project, the research team for Castleman disease, TAFRO syndrome and related diseases is working on developing and improving clinical practice guidelines for their diagnosis and treatment, with the aim of building an international consensus. The group’s research activities over the three-year period starting in FY 2023 have focused on promoting international cooperation and joint research and collaborating with patient organizations, which align well with the purpose of this symposium. An international counterpart for this area of disease is the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN), based at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. In 2021, Intractable Disease Policy Research Project research team organized the first ISCD online in collaboration with the CDCN. This was the world’s first international symposium on Castleman disease, TAFRO syndrome and related diseases, where information was exchanged on the latest findings on pathophysiology, treatment, research and epidemiology. The program was not limited to researchers, but also included interactions between Japanese (Castleman Disease Patient Group) and overseas (CDCN Patient Group) patient groups as well as government initiatives, bringing about a more comprehensive understanding of this area of disease. However, Castleman disease and TAFRO syndrome are not well defined internationally due to high heterogeneity. |
|
| The Intractable Disease Policy Research Project research team is working with Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Practical Research Project for Rare / Intractable Diseases team aiming to develop precision medicine infrastructure for Castleman disease and TAFRO syndrome using the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Science Research Grant Project /AMED integrated registry. They have regular online meetings with the CDCN three or four times a year to share research questions and strive to build international consensus through information exchange and international joint research. Data from more than 400 cases including those from patients who are planning to register for the integrated registry have been collected throughout Japan and analyzed. Information is shared with the CDCN and discussions continue in order to bridge each other’s gaps. They are also participating in international joint research on the development of a proteomics platform to distinguish the target groups of disease at the molecular level. |
|
| This time, the ISCD2025 executive committee was formed mainly from members of the Intractable Disease Policy Research Project research team, AMED Practical Research Project for Rare / Intractable Diseases team and the CDCN. ISCD2025 will be held with the participation of the CDCN to discuss and resolve gaps in Castleman disease and TAFRO syndrome, leading to the development of classification/diagnostic criteria and clinical practice guidelines based on the established international consensus. The aim of this symposium is to standardize their diagnosis and treatment internationally, and thus contribute to the advancement of precision medicine for intractable diseases. It will be held in person (partly online) at Dejima Messe Nagasaki in Nagasaki City for three days from February 7th to 9th, 2025. We look forward to welcoming you and providing the opportunity to learn more about the cutting edge in this area of diseases. |
|
| |
|
