Annual Report 2019
Preface
One of the original units of the National Cancer Center, the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) has led the nation’s cancer care and research since its establishment in 1962, upholding its mission of ‘providing the best medicine to all citizens, and working with the public.’ Today, one in two citizens develops cancer, and it is a challenging illness to overcome. We shall continue to serve the high demand for first-rate treatment, for cancers of all organs.
Our clinical research support office was strengthened in 2019 to conduct clinical research under the Clinical Trials Act. This year, five investigator-initiated registered trials started. We supported 19 investigator-initiated registered trials that were ongoing or in preparation up to the end of March 2020. We also started two important clinical trials regarding advanced medical care and a patient-requested treatment system, respectively. The latter, “A prospective trial of patient-proposed healthcare services with a multiple targeted agent based on the results of gene profiling by a multigene panel test,” was important for serving unmet medical needs emerging as a result of the gene panel test. As a result, we conducted more than 200 academia-initiated clinical studies in addition to the above-mentioned industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated registered trials. In particular, we focused on the development of treatment for rare and refractory cancers, regarding which there are many unmet medical needs.
We have evaluated the feasibility and utility of the NCC Oncopanel test, which has been developed through the TOP-GEAR projects of the NCCH. The advanced medical care B, a clinical study to test the Oncopanel, started in early 2018 and was completed within the same fiscal year. The NCC Oncopanel test was developed jointly by the National Cancer Center and Sysmex Corporation as a type of gene panel designed specifically for Japanese cancer genome mutations. The OncoGuideTM NCC Oncopanel System costs have been covered by national health insurance since June 2019.
In drug development, we are now conducting the MASTER KEY project, a registry study of rare cancer and rare fractions, combining basket and umbrella trials based on biomarkers. In 2019, 453 patients were enrolled and the cumulative registrations reached 1013 patients.
A Phase I clinical trial of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (“BNCT”) for malignant melanoma and angiosarcoma, using the CICS-1 accelerator-based neutron capture therapy device with lithium targets developed by CICS, and the SPM-011 boron compound for use in BNCT developed by STELLA PHARMA, was set up in November 2019. This world-first trial was conducted at the NCCH.
In rare cancers, we disseminated information through our website as well as through Meet-the-Expert information sessions, and conducted phone consultations (Rare Cancer Hotline) for patients and their caregivers and for healthcare providers, as a National Institute for Rare Cancers. The number of new consultations exceeded 11,000 patients in 2019.
In addition, we have been promoting the development of medical techniques and devices required for minimally invasive therapy including robotic surgery, endoscopic surgery, endoscopic treatment, and interventional radiology treatment, and have built up a track record in minimally invasive therapy. We started the MIRAI project (Minimally Invasive Revolutionary treatments with Advanced Intelligence) in 2019.
During the year, the NCCH has launched several projects to realize our vision. We offer this report on fiscal year 2019 with gratitude for your understanding and support.
National Cancer Center Hospital
The Director, Kazuaki Shimada