Overview of the ethical guidelines for medical and biological research involving human subjects in Japan.

The new national guidelines for clinical research, the Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Biological Research Involving Human Subjects, were implemented in Japan in June 2021. The guidelines were developed by integrating two ethical guidelines: Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human Subjects and Ethical Guidelines for Human Genome/Gene Analysis Research. The Ethical Guidelines for Clinical Research were originally developed as three separate guidelines: Ethical Guidelines for Human Genome/Gene Analysis Research formulated in 2001, Ethical Guidelines for Epidemiological Research in 2002 and Ethical Guidelines for Clinical Research in 2003.

Results from a 1-day workshop on the assessment of quality of life in cancer patients: a joint initiative of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

This report summarizes the presentations and discussion in the first Japan Clinical Oncology Group-European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life/Patient-Reported Outcome workshop funded by the National Cancer Center Hospital that was held on Saturday, 1 September 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. The infrastructure and understanding regarding the Quality of Life/Patient-Reported Outcome assessment of cancer patients in Japan is still immature, in spite of the increased demand for oncological Patient-Reported Outcome research felt not only by researchers but also by patients or other stakeholders of cancer drug development. The workshop aimed to share each perspective, common issues to be considered and future perspectives regarding the strong alliance between the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group and the Japan Clinical Oncology Group for Quality of Life/Patient-Reported Outcome research as well as explore the possibility of conducting collaborative research.

Impact of Previous, Simultaneous or Subsequent Bladder Cancer on Prognosis after Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Purpose: We investigated the impact of previous, simultaneous or subsequent bladder cancer on the clinical outcomes of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 2,668 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy of nonmetastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in 1995 to 2009. We evaluated the impact of bladder cancer on overall mortality and the factors predictive of subsequent bladder cancer.

Randomized phase III study to evaluate the value of omission of prophylactic neck dissection for stage I/II tongue cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG1601, RESPOND).

For stage I/II tongue cancer patients, it is controversial whether prophylactic neck dissection should be performed with partial glossectomy. Based on the evidence of the primary tumor's depth of invasion as a predictive factor of occult lymph node metastases and a prognostic factor of disease-free survival, randomized phase III trial was initiated in November 2017 to evaluate the omission value for prophylactic neck dissection for stage I/II tongue cancer with 3-10 mm of depth of invasion. In 5 years, 440 patients will be accrued from 28 institutions.

A randomized Phase III trial of comparing two dose-fractionations stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for medically inoperable Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer or small lung lesions clinically diagnosed as primary lung cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG1408 (J-SBRT trial).

A randomized Phase III trial commenced in Japan in February 2016. Currently, 42 Gy in four fractions of stereotactic body radiotherapy prescribed at the D of the planning target volume, which is considered equal to the commonly used 48 Gy in four fractions at the isocenter using an old dose calculation algorithm, is the standard treatment in Japan for medically inoperable Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer and small lung lesions clinically diagnosed as primary lung cancer. This study aims to examine the superiority of 55 Gy in four fractions over 42 Gy in four fractions.

A Phase III study of oral steroid administration versus local steroid injection therapy for the prevention of esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection (JCOG1217, Steroid EESD P3).

A randomized Phase III trial commenced in Japan in September 2014. Endoscopic local steroid injection has been commonly used and considered acceptable as the current standard treatment for the prevention of esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study is to confirm the superiority of prophylactic oral steroid administration following endoscopic submucosal dissection in terms of stricture-free survival over endoscopic local steroid injection for patients with superficial esophageal cancer.

A randomized controlled Phase II/III study comparing endoscopic balloon dilation combined with steroid injection versus radial incision and cutting combined with steroid injection for refractory anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG1207.

A randomized Phase II/III trial commenced in May 2014. Endoscopic balloon dilation with steroid injection is the current standard treatment for patients with refractory anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. The purpose of this study is to confirm the superiority of radial incision and cutting with steroid injection in terms of both restricture-free survival and number of dilations within 24 weeks compared with endoscopic balloon dilation with steroid injection for these patients.