The 75th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association

“Conquering cancer through research” is our ultimate mission of the Japanese Cancer Association (JCA), and this has also been a topic at our recent annual meetings. Nevertheless, how to direct basic research in cancer towards applications in clinical practice has been a key issue in cancer research, with the focus on linking basic research with clinical practice. This has no doubt been driving the developments in cancer research in recent years. In light of this, we hope to create a program for the 75th Annual Meeting of JCA that will consider cancer research from the perspective of how we can best facilitate so-called “breakthroughs” in research, which will lead to innovative diagnostic and treatment methods.

Tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy are examples of targeted molecular therapies that have been developed over the past few years. These therapies originated from basic research that initially did not necessarily have any association with cancer. Decades of research have produced more than a few research findings with the potential for clinical application. In order to transfer these findings into clinical practice, it is imperative to promote interdisciplinary research comprising a wide range of specialists in medicine, life science, pharmaceutical science, and other fields. Another distinguishing feature of cancer research is that findings in other fields outside medicine and life science can also lead to the development of new therapies and diagnostic devices. The integration of cancer research with other fields is a key factor in achieving the breakthroughs we are seeking.

In addition to discussing this theme, we would like the 75th Annual Meeting of JCA to be an opportunity for considering how we can recruit and train young cancer researchers, as well as looking at effective ways to make our internationalized association even more global in its reach.

We look forward to receiving your valued opinions and suggestions, so that we can ensure the 75th Annual Meeting of JCA is a meaningful and worthwhile opportunity for all attendees.

Kohei Miyazono, M.D., Ph.D.
President, The 75th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association
Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine,
The University of Tokyo