In the 21st century, we have come to realize that the way to “conquer cancer” will not result simply and directly from the discoveries of oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in 1980’s and following years. On the other hand, the concept of “individualized cancer treatment,” which had also emerged in that earlier period, has been further evolving into “cancer genome medicine.”
So-called molecular targeted therapy, which was only at the experimental level in early 1980’s, has advanced rapidly, and immunotherapy is ascending to a new development stage with immune checkpoint inhibitors. A current big challenge lies in formulating how the vast body of genome information relevant to biological malignancy and therapeutic response should be organized and disseminated. As such, cancer treatment is entering into a borderless phase where treatments are classified not by organ or organ area but by gene and molecular profile.
The Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO) covers diverse medical specialties and professional categories, drawing high public expectation for providing a platform for multi-disciplinary medical treatment, research, and human resource development answering the needs of the times. The Society has carried out academic research and educational activities from the multidisciplinary and cross-professional standpoints. As one of the efforts in the field of cancer genome medicine, we have started collaboration with Japan Cancer Association and Japan Society of Medical Oncology, forming a task force for promotion of cancer genome medicine. In this TF, we endeavor to spread our messages to raise social awareness of the current situation of cancer genome medicine and of the remaining practical issues in applications to patient care of cancer genome medicine. The Society is committed to increasingly contribute to national welfare through activities including: projects to publicize, assess and develop Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, under which rapidly advancing and increasingly complex cancer-related information is objectively sorted; and projects to train the Certified Cancer Network Navigator, who functions to deliver information to individuals about clinical cancer treatment in the local community.
Today 70 to 80% of cancer patients can survive with some type of treatment. Therefore, we consider it important to address patient advocacy leadership and various problems faced by children and adolescents with cancer. Among cancer prevention activities, which will receive greater attention in the future, “cancer prevention education starting from elementary school age” is an extremely significant theme in the long run.
In recent years, cancer medical treatment and research are rapidly becoming globalized. We have strengthened partnerships with leading internationals academic associations. In addition, we established the Federation of Asian Clinical Oncology (FACO) with Korean and Chinese counterparts to undertake formulation of the basic grounds for promotion of clinical research centered on the Asian region.
To meet such wide-ranging expectations, we will enhance the Society’s strong organizational structures, and conduct activities in steady and stable ways.