Annual Report 2024
Preface
The year 2024 marked a significant turning point for EPOC. Dr. Toshihiko Doi, former Director of EPOC, was appointed Director of the National Cancer Center Hospital East, and effective June 1, Dr. Katsuya Tsuchihara assumed the position of the new EPOC Director. Under the new leadership, EPOC continued to prioritize the “Near-Clinical” research domain and advanced its activities based on three core concepts:
1. Strategic Convergence of Foundational Technologies (Convergence Research)
2. Driving Innovation from the Clinical Frontline
3. Building a Co-Creation Community Leveraging the Unique Environment of Kashiwa-no-ha
Through these guiding principles, EPOC collaborated across research areas to further promote translational research and development.
1. Strategic Convergence of Foundational Technologies
EPOC strengthened its research infrastructure through new personnel appointments. Dr. Hiroto Kato was appointed Head of the Division of Pathology, leading pathology research utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell analysis. Dr. Kota Itahashi was promoted to Head of the Division of Cancer Immunology, where he is driving research and development based on immune profiling at the Kashiwa campus. Their expertise and leadership are expected to further accelerate the integration of core technologies and foster the advancement of next-generation cancer research.
2. Driving Innovation from the Clinical Frontline
Through collaborative research with PeptiDream Inc. and PDR Pharma, EPOC prepared the investigational radiodiagnostic agent 64Cu-PD-32766, which targets CA9, and conducted a First-in-Human clinical study in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma at the Hospital East as a specified clinical study. This initiative represents a concrete realization of EPOC’s mission in translational research and holds great significance as a tangible outcome that accelerates the Near-Clinical phase from basic discovery to clinical application.
3. Building a Co-Creation Community Leveraging the Unique Environment of Kashiwa-no-ha
Patient and public engagement advanced steadily during the year. In August, under the leadership of Dr. Tetsuya Nakatsura in the Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, a gathering titled “Celebrating 10 Years Since the GPC3 Peptide Vaccine Trial” was held, bringing together childhood cancer survivors and their families who had participated in the clinical study. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on research progress and reaffirm long-standing bonds with patients and families. In September, Dr. Masahiro Yasunaga of the Division of Developmental Therapeutics received a citizen-participation research grant funded through a crowdfunding initiative by the Japan IDDM Network, a patient advocacy organization. On October 5, EPOC hosted an Open Campus event featuring public lectures, laboratory tours, and exhibition booths, attracting 353 visitors—a 1.5-fold increase over the previous year—demonstrating the growing connection between researchers and the public.
Furthermore, on November 29, the 30th Anniversary Ceremony of Basic and Translational Research at the Kashiwa Campus was held, welcoming numerous researchers, healthcare professionals, industry and government representatives, and alumni. The event provided an opportunity to look back on 30 years of achievements and share a collective vision for the future of cancer medicine and research.
EPOC’s ongoing efforts to bridge basic and clinical research and to shape the future of medicine together with society are steadily bearing fruit.
Looking ahead, the key challenge will be to establish a more agile and adaptive organizational structure capable of responding effectively to the rapidly evolving research and development environment.
Katsuya Tsuchihara
Director,
Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center