Annual Report 2024
Development Division of Supportive and Palliative Care
Hiromichi Matsuoka, Maiko Fujimori, Sadamoto Zenda, Eriko Satomi, Ayumu Matsuoka, Masako Okamura, Takuhiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Kawaguchi, Miyuki Kurosaki, Tomoe Mashiko
Introduction
The Japan Supportive, Palliative, and Psychosocial Oncology Group (J-SUPPORT) was established in February 2016 as an organization with a hub to promote and support multicenter collaborative clinical trials on palliative, supportive, and psychosocial care, that is, an area of high unmet need (Figure 1).
Figure 1. J-SUPPORT organization chart
The Team and What We Do
J-SUPPORT has established a Stakeholder Coordination Center (SCC) to promote patient-public involvement (PPI) in the area of palliative and supportive care research. This collaborative effort involves the PPI Committee of the National Federation of Cancer Patient Organizations (ZENGANREN), and PPI has been incorporated into the review board for all approved research. By FY2024, PPI was included in nine out of the 21 approved proposals from the research plan formulation stage.
To invigorate the operation of the SCC, we convened a review meeting with 14 diverse stakeholders involved in cancer care, including patient advisors, frontline advisors, and nationwide stakeholders. In the meeting, discussions were held on the future direction of research support by J-SUPPORT, based on real consultation cases, which led to a revision of the research support framework. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Japan Cancer Coalition (Zen-Gan-Ren), we organized a Research Results Meeting. In FY2024, the program included presentations on J-SUPPORT–approved studies, patient and bereaved family testimonials, and a panel discussion with patient representatives on the theme, “Developing Supportive, Palliative, and Psychosocial Care in Partnership with Patients and Citizens.” The event was attended by 230 participants, and lively discussions were held.
In FY2024, 15 new research consultations were initiated, and a total of 55 studies (including ongoing projects) were supported. In addition, one new interventional trial was approved as a clinical study. As of FY2024, the total number of approved studies reached 21: 10 completed, 8 under manuscript preparation, 1 in active enrollment, and 2 in preparation (Table 1). A total of 202 participants were enrolled in FY2024. Of the 10 studies completed, two publications (J-SUPPORT 2001 and 1603) were released in FY2024.
Table 1. List of Research Projects (2016 - 2024.3)
As part of policy development for supportive and palliative care research, we advanced work on the following: “Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Methods in Informed Consent,” “Cancer Pain,” and “Guidance for Complex Intervention Studies.” Among these, the “Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Methods in Informed Consent ver.1.0” was finalized and made publicly available in June 2024.
At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), J-SUPPORT 2101 was selected for a symposium, J-SUPPORT 2102 for a poster presentation, and J-SUPPORT 2104 for an oral presentation.
Completed studies: J-SUPPORT 1601–1605, 1702, 1703, 1901, 1902, 2001
Education
We advanced the enhancement of the National Cancer Center Community Health Research Network (N-COMMUNITY), a collaborative system with other research support organizations aimed at mutual support of research and educational resources, and established a network of 14 organizations by adding one new member organization.
Starting in FY2024, we also began distributing video content for J-SUPPORT members. Under the title J-SUPPORT TALK, five sessions were delivered, featuring overviews of J-SUPPORT–approved studies, explanations of trial results, and other content to support research activities.
Furthermore, to enhance skills in palliative treatment and palliative care intervention research, we held a two-day residential clinical research workshop with 20 participants. In addition to lectures, the workshop included hands-on exercises in which participants developed their research ideas into full research proposals.
Future Prospects
The J-SUPPORT will make effort sustainably to support the clinical trials and studies for cancer supportive palliative, and psychosocial care, as well as PPI.