[Brief Report on the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association - Conquering Cancer with Collective Wisdom].

The 69th Annual Meeting was held from September 22nd through 24th, at Osaka International Convention Center and RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL Osaka. The president of this meeting was professor Morito Monden, Osaka University Medical School. In this meeting, there were many scientific meetings including Special Remarks, symposiums, workshops, international sessions, oral and poster sessions and others, English workshops, morning lectures.

[Introductory remarks of the 9th International Conference of the Asian Clinical Oncology Society (ACOS) Congress--Talk to the World Wide from Asia].

ACOS 2010 was held last August 25 through 27, with the president of doctor Shigetoyo Saji (Professor emeritus of Gifu University) at a beautiful Nagara River side of Gifu city, Japan. This ACOS was first proposed and organized by doctor Tetsuo Taguchi, Professor Emeritus of Surgical Department of the Medical School, Osaka University. Professor Yan Sun, a well known medical oncologist of The Peoples, Republic of China has had a major rule to develop this academic meeting in various sites of Asia in last 20 years with Dr.

[Future directions of anticancer drug development in Japan].

At the 13th Oncology Forum, future directions of anticancer drug development in Japan were discussed. Development of anticancer drugs in the 1990s was based on the concept of total cell kill, but now development of molecular targeted drugs becomes the mainstream. Unfortunately, molecular targeted drugs and antibody agents are mostly foreign products and translational research in Japan is poor as it stands now.

[Action mechanism of thalidomide in treatment of multiple myeloma].

Thalidomide, N-phtalidoglutamide, is a well-known teratogenic agent when given to pregnant women. It was first synthesized by CIBA in 1953, but put on market in Germany as a sedative, but Dr. Rentz reported first the relation with the teratogenicity.

[Gemcitabine is an effective single agent for the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer].

Gemcitabine, a novel nucleoside analogue, has shown broad clinical activity in a variety of malignant tumors and is currently used for the treatments of non-small-cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer in Japan. Based on the clinical results obtained in the early clinical trials in other locates, the safety profile was also established. Recently, the clinical usefulness of gemcitabine against advanced biliary tract cancer was approved in Japan.

[Introduction of new drug: letrozole, a new non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of postmenopausal women with breast cancer].

Recently, a new non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole (Femara tablet 2.5 mg) launched in Japan for the treatment of postmenopausal women with breast cancer. This drug has triazole structure, as similar drug, anastrozole (Arimidex).

[Introduction of novel anti-emetic agent, indisetron hydrochloride, developed recently in Japan].

Recently, an anti-emetic agent, indisetron hydrochloride was developed in Japan. In the pre-clinical studies, it showed almost similar affinity to 5-HT3 receptor as those developed before. Indisetron reduced 2-methyl-5-serotonin (HT)-induced bradycardia.

[Development of a novel photosensitizer, talaporfin sodium, for the photodynamic therapy (PDT)].

Recently, in Japan, a novel photosensitizer, talaporfin sodium was developed for the photodynamic therapies of various diseases including malignant tumors. At the same time, a diode laser device, Panalas 6405, to be used for this therapy was developed. Talaporfin was first extracted and refined from plant chlorophyll and was found that the skin photosensitivity caused by drug disappeared faster than the existing photosensitizer.

[Development of novel molecular targeted drug, "Iressa", for the treatment of malignant diseases--its basic and clinical studies].

One year has passed since the launch of a new molecular targeted agent, Iressa (generic name: Gefitinib), in Japan ahead of other countries in the world. Gefitinib is the first selective Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Gefitinib was investigated clinically by a single dose ascending study and 3-day multiple dosing study in male volunteers in the UK initially.

[Pilot study of TS-1 combined with lentinan in patients with unresectable or recurrent advanced gastric cancer].

TS-1, an anticancer, antimetabolis agent, has shown clinically superior antitumor activity against unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (UARG). A biological response modifier, lentinan (LNT) prolonged the survival period of patients with UARG when combined with tegafur (FT). To assess the efficacy, the safety and prognostic factors of chemo-immunotherapy using TS-1, a FT derivative, and LNT, we conducted a multi-institutional pilot study in patients with UARG.

[ImmuCyst intravesical (freeze-dried preparation made from the connaught strain of Bacillus Calmette Guérin) for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder].

Unlabelled: BCG has been used as a preventive vaccine of tuberculosis worldwide. However, in 1976, Morales et al. reported the effective use against superficial bladder cancer by intravesical administration.

[Globalization of clinical trials].

Based on reviews of the Japanese clinical trial situation in lung cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer, it was clear that much progress has been made in short time. There are considerable differences between Japan and the West and also differences between clinical areas in Japan. For regulatory purposes bridging studies have become increasingly important.

[Post launch studies].

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is a growing concept in Japan as it is elsewhere. Central to improving the use of EBM is generation of data through well conducted controlled clinical studies. There are many problems associated with conduct of clinical studies after launch in Japan, and many initiatives are ongoing to improve the situation.

[A new LH-RH agonist for treatment of prostate cancer, 3-month controlled-release formulation of goserelin acetate (Zoladex LA 10.8 mg depot)--outline of pre-clinical and clinical studies].

Goserelin acetate is a LH-RH agonist developed by AstraZeneca (formerly ICI, UK), and has been used clinically for the treatment of prostate cancer as a 4-week controlled-release formulation (Zoladex 3.6 mg depot). Recently, a new drug (Zoladex LA 10.

[Preface-importance of supportive therapies against adverse drug reactions in cancer treatment].

Importance of this special articles on the prevention and management of various adverse drug reactions was described. Among various adverse reactions, cardiac, lung and neuro-toxicities in cancer chemotherapy and the means to prevent or manage such adverse reactions were mainly reviewed. In addition, this special issue include special supportive therapies in cancer treatment at home, importance of QOL in cancer therapy and future prospect on the management of adverse drug reactions.

[Brief overview on the studies of monoclonal antibody].

There have been many basic and clinical reports of monoclonal antibody therapies of cancer, but most of them were in the phase I or early phase II. However, from these experiences, monoclonal antibody therapies have changed considerably using chimera or humanized antibodies. Recent reports on monoclonal therapies indicated the clinical usefulness in cancer treatment, opening a new era of biological therapies.

[Clinical usefulness of ondansetron injection in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy].

Before and after launch of 5-HT3, antagonist, necessary dose and duration of chemotherapy were compared between the patients who were confirmed to have undergone chemotherapy before the launch of 5-HT3 antagonist (retrospective group) and the ones currently using ondansetron (OND) for chemotherapy-induced emesis (prospective group). Clinical usefulness of OND was evaluated through survey on quality of life (QOL) to patients and questionnaires to physicians, nurses & patients. Necessary dose of chemotherapy was evaluated by investigating actual dose of cisplatin (CDDP).

[Globalization of anti-cancer therapies].

Based on short reviews of lung, gastric, colorectal, prostate, breast and ovarian cancer, there remain significant differences between Japan and the West in the therapeutic regimen for most cancers. Some of the differences are due to differences in stage of disease at diagnosis or historical factors affecting availability of products. In both Japan and the West, there are initiatives to prepare treatment guidelines based on published data.