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Division of International Collaborative Research

Introduction

Viewing cancer as a global health issue that shall be tackled by Asia and by the entire world, the division will be involved in standardization of the international code or rule-setting and research methods, and improving the research level of Asian countries. Through these activities, we shall establish the research infrastructure of public health sciences.

Besides establishment of the research infrastructure, our objective is to connect to more large-scale researches and domestic/overseas projects by starting up pioneering model research with international organizations, overseas research institutions and cancer centers, 6NC (The 6 National Research Center for Advanced and Specialized Medical Care in Japan) etc, and then demonstrating research outcomes. Our research includes international comparative studies for setting standards and guidelines in cancer registration/statistics and cancer diagnosis and screening, infrastructure development such as cancer registration and proposal of cancer control measures based on research on cancer policy. Furthermore, our research spans from basic research to clinical trials, treatment, care and survivorship of rare cancers such as pediatric cancer. We proactively work together with other departments of the National Cancer Center.

Staff

Chief

Tomohiro MATSUDA

Staff Scientist

Laureline GATELLIER

Project Researcher

Hadrien CHARVAT 

Senior Visiting Scientist

Kayo NAKATA (Osaka International Cancer Institute)

Visiting Scientist

Kumiko SAIKA (Saku Central Hospital)

Sumiyo OKAWA (National Center for Global Health and Medicine)

Research Assistant

Asako UMEDA
Erica NAKAO
Satsuki SUZUKI
Wakaba HAMAMATSU
Akane TAMINAGA

Research Activities

Cancer Policies Research and Proposition of Common Cancer Control Measures

We jointly operate the secretariat of the Asian National Cancer Centres Alliance (ANCCA), which serves as an international research platform for the 17 national cancer centres in the member countries, making it possible to study, compare and analyze the healthcare system and cancer control of each country. In addition to the result of the analysis, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Division of Prevention, we move forward the project on Asian Code against Cancer and aim to establish the Asian common cancer control measures based on scientific evidences.

Development of Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCR) and Estimation of Cancer Incidence in Asia

As Collaborative Center designated by IARC, we take part in the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) to standardize cancer registration and cancer statistics. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with Vital Strategies, we disseminate the standardized rules to Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and other Asian countries. We apply statistical models to estimate cancer incidence in these areas.

Estimation of the Burden of Rare Cancers and Collaboration with Clinical Trials in Asia

Under the framework of Rare Cancers Asia, we worked together with South Korea, Taiwan Thailand, Malaysia and India to launch RARECAREnet Asia, which provides estimations of the burden (incidence, survival and prevalence) of rare cancers including pediatric cancers. Moreover, we are collaboratively implementing the project ATLAS for infrastructure development of clinical trials in Asia led by the Division of International Clinical Development of National Cancer Center Hospital.

Clinical Research with Population-Based Cancer Statistics as an Entry Point

With IARC and IKNL Netherlands, we are implementing a long-term follow-up research for cancer patients based on population-based cancer statistics. To conduct this research, under the initiative of the Population-based Cohort Study Section of the Division of Cohort Consortium Research, we are proceeding to establish a collaborative section with IARC.

Standardization of Childhood Cancer Staging, Survival Estimation, and Development of Statistical Infrastructure

Cooperating with Italy and UK, we are conducting survival analysis (BENCHISTA Project) by applying the standard rule, Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage Guidelines, which was proposed by a research group led by the Cancer Council Queensland of Australia, to Japanese clinical/PBCR data. We are also participating in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) promoted by WHO, and are involved in the development of statistical infrastructure for childhood cancer together with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA.

Development of Data Sharing Technologies Disentailing the Transactions of Individual Information

Considering strict personal information protection rules nowadays, above all in international collaborative researches, we are planning to shift from constructing big-database to virtual data sharing technologies（Vantage6）without exchanging individual information, with IKNL Netherlands.

Research Achievements

  1. Saito, E., T. Yano, M. Hori, D. Yoneoka, T. Matsuda, Y. Chen, and K. Katanoda, Is young-onset esophageal adenocarcinoma increasing in Japan? An analysis of population-based cancer registries. Cancer Med, 2022. 11(5): p. 1347-1356.
  2. Nguyen, P.T., K. Katanoda, E. Saito, M. Hori, T. Nakayama, and T. Matsuda, Trends in lung cancer incidence by gender, histological type and stage at diagnosis in Japan, 1993 to 2015: A multiple imputation approach. Int J Cancer, 2022.
  3. Nakata, K., E. Hiyama, K. Katanoda, T. Matsuda, Y. Tada, M. Inoue, K. Kawa, M. Maru, C. Shimizu, K. Horibe, and I. Miyashiro, Cancer in adolescents and young adults in Japan: epidemiology and cancer strategy. Int J Clin Oncol, 2022. 27(1): p. 7-15.
  4. Kawakita, D., I. Oze, S. Iwasaki, T. Matsuda, K. Matsuo, and H. Ito, Trends in the incidence of head and neck cancer by subsite between 1993 and 2015 in Japan. Cancer Med, 2022.
  5. Inoue, M., M. Hirabayashi, S.K. Abe, K. Katanoda, N. Sawada, Y. Lin, J. Ishihara, R. Takachi, C. Nagata, E. Saito, A. Goto, K. Ueda, J. Tanaka, M. Hori, T. Matsuda, and P.A.F.J.C. Cancer, Burden of cancer attributable to modifiable factors in Japan in 2015. Glob Health Med, 2022. 4(1): p. 26-36.
  6. Pilleron, S., N. Alqurini, J. Ferlay, K.R. Haase, M. Hannan, M. Janssen-Heijnen, K. Kantilal, K. Katanoda, C. Kenis, G. Lu-Yao, T. Matsuda, E. Navarrete, N. Nikita, M. Puts, F.J. Strohschein, and E.J.A. Morris, International trends in cancer incidence in middle-aged and older adults in 44 countries. J Geriatr Oncol, 2021.
  7. Stacchiotti, S., A.M. Frezza, J.Y. Blay, E.H. Baldini, S. Bonvalot, J. Bovee, D. Callegaro, P.G. Casali, R.C. Chiang, G.D. Demetri, E.G. Demicco, J. Desai, M. Eriksson, H. Gelderblom, S. George, M.M. Gounder, A. Gronchi, A. Gupta, R.L. Haas, A. Hayes-Jardon, P. Hohenberger, K.B. Jones, R.L. Jones, B. Kasper, A. Kawai, D.G. Kirsch, E.S. Kleinerman, A. Le Cesne, J. Lim, M.D. Chirlaque Lopez, R. Maestro, R. Marcos-Gragera, J. Martin Broto, T. Matsuda, O. Mir, S.R. Patel, C.P. Raut, A.R.A. Razak, D.R. Reed, P. Rutkowski, R.G. Sanfilippo, M. Sbaraglia, I.M. Schaefer, D.C. Strauss, K. Sundby Hall, W.D. Tap, D.M. Thomas, W.T.A. van der Graaf, W.J. van Houdt, O. Visser, M. von Mehren, A.J. Wagner, B.A. Wilky, Y.J. Won, C.D.M. Fletcher, A.P. Dei Tos, and A. Trama, Ultra-rare sarcomas: A consensus paper from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society community of experts on the incidence threshold and the list of entities. Cancer, 2021.
  8. Soerjomataram, I., A. Bardot, J. Aitken, M. Pineros, A. Znaor, E. Steliarova-Foucher, B. Kohler, M. Bettio, T. Matsuda, M. de Camargo Cancela, L. Mery, and F. Bray, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-based cancer registry. Int J Cancer, 2021.
  9. Matsuda, T. and H. Charvat, Age-specific testis cancer incidence rate in the world. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 2021. 51(6): p. 1019-1020.
  10. Matsuda, T., Moving from collective to distributed epidemiological cancer research. Lancet Respir Med, 2021. 9(9): p. 945-947.
  11. Lombe, D., R. Sullivan, C. Caduff, Z. Ali, N. Bhoo-Pathy, J. Cleary, M. Jalink, T. Matsuda, D. Mukherji, D. Sarfati, V. Vanderpuye, A. Yusuf, and C. Booth, Silver linings: a qualitative study of desirable changes to cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecancermedicalscience, 2021. 15: p. 1202.
  12. Katanoda, K., M. Hori, E. Saito, A. Shibata, Y. Ito, T. Minami, S. Ikeda, T. Suzuki, and T. Matsuda, Updated trends in cancer in Japan: incidence in 1985-2015 and mortality in 1958-2018 - a sign of decrease in cancer incidence. J Epidemiol, 2021.
  13. Gatellier, L., A. Shankar, L.K.M. Dewi, Q.M. Hussain, T. Dendup Wangdi, D.B. Sukumaran, N.K. Sari, S. Tavakkoli Shiraji, M. Biglari, M. Tahmasebi, S. Iwata, T. Suzuki, S.K. Myung, J.Y. Chun, J.S. Han, F.N. Lau, S. Yusak, L. Bayarsaikhan, K.T. Mu, K.K. Pradhananga, A. Yusuf, C.H. Lin, R.C. Chiang, S. Sangrajran, Q.T. Nguyen, G.N. Huong, A.N. Soe, D.N. Sharma, M. Sengar, C.S. Pramesh, T. Matsuda, A.M. Jarrahi, and W. Hwang, The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care in the Post Pandemic World: Five Major Lessons Learnt from Challenges and Countermeasures of Major Asian Cancer Centres. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2021. 22(3): p. 681-690.
  14. Pilleron S, Charvat H, Araghi M, Arnold M, Fidler-Benaoudia MM, Bardot A, Guren MG, Tervonen H, Little A, O’Connell DL, Gavin A, De P, Aagaard Thomsen L, Moller B, Jackson C, Bucher O, Walsh PM, Vernon S, Bray F, Soerjomataram I. Age disparities in stage-specific colon cancer survival across seven countries: an ICBP SURVMARK-2 population-based study. Int J Cancer 2021;148(7):1575-1585 (doi: 10.1002/ijc.33326).
  15. Miranda-Filho A, Bray F, Charvat H, Rajaraman S, Soerjomataram I. The world cancer patient population (WCPP): an updated standard for international comparisons of population-based survival. Cancer Epidemiol 2020;69:101802 (doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101802).
  16. Charvat H, Shimazu T, Inoue M, Iwasaki M, Sawada N, Yamaji T, Tsugane S; JPHC Study Group. Estimation of the performance of a risk prediction model for gastric cancer occurrence in Japan: evidence from a small external population. Cancer Epidemiol 2020;67:101766 (doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101766).
  17. Wei, W., H. Zeng, R. Zheng, S. Zhang, L. An, R. Chen, S. Wang, K. Sun, T. Matsuda, F. Bray, and J. He, Cancer registration in China and its role in cancer prevention and control. Lancet Oncol, 2020. 21(7): p. e342-e349.
  18. Matsuda, T., Y.J. Won, R. Chun-Ju Chiang, J. Lim, K. Saika, K. Fukui, W.C. Lee, L. Botta, A. Bernasconi, and A. Trama, Rare cancers are not rare in Asia as well: The rare cancer burden in East Asia. Cancer Epidemiol, 2020. 67: p. 101702.
  19. Gatellier, L., T. Matsuda, K. Sabapathy, M. Dai, L.K.M. Dewi, T.T. Huong, K. Kardinah, T.V. Thuan, J.B. Park, J. He, E. Nansalmaa, B. Luvsandorj, W.Y.K. Hwang, M. Sengar, C.S. Pramesh, and T. Suzuki, An Asian Body to Tackle Cancers in Asia - The Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2020. 21(5): p. 1207-1212.
  20. Matsuda, T. and M. Inoue, Moving towards tailored, region-specific cancer-control measures in China. Lancet Glob Health, 2019. 7(2): p. e175-e176.
  21. Nakata, K., Y. Ito, W. Magadi, A. Bonaventure, C.A. Stiller, K. Katanoda, T. Matsuda, I. Miyashiro, K. Pritchard-Jones, and B. Rachet, Childhood cancer incidence and survival in Japan and England: A population-based study (1993-2010). Cancer Sci, 2018. 109(2): p. 422-434.
  22. Allemani, C., T. Matsuda, V. Di Carlo, R. Harewood, M. Matz, M. Niksic, A. Bonaventure, M. Valkov, C.J. Johnson, J. Esteve, O.J. Ogunbiyi, E.S.G. Azevedo, W.Q. Chen, S. Eser, G. Engholm, C.A. Stiller, A. Monnereau, R.R. Woods, O. Visser, G.H. Lim, J. Aitken, H.K. Weir, M.P. Coleman, and C.W. Group, Global surveillance of trends in cancer survival 2000-14 (CONCORD-3): analysis of individual records for 37 513 025 patients diagnosed with one of 18 cancers from 322 population-based registries in 71 countries. Lancet, 2018. 391(10125): p. 1023-1075.
  23. Nakata, K., Y. Ito, W. Magadi, A. Bonaventure, C.A. Stiller, K. Katanoda, T. Matsuda, I. Miyashiro, K. Pritchard-Jones, and B. Rachet, Childhood cancer incidence and survival in Japan and England: A population-based study (1993-2010). Cancer Sci, 2017.