Annual Report 2024
Cancer Screening Center
Nozomu Kobayashi, Yasuo Kakugawa, Masau Sekiguchi, Keiko Nakamura, Izumi Hisada, Eriko Tsuruki, Takaaki Tsuchida, Masahiko Kusumoto, Nachiko Uchiyama, Mari Kikuchi, Kimiteru Ito, Mototaka Miyake, Miwako Takahashi, Kota Yokoyama, Mitsuya Ishikawa, Masaya Uno, Yasuhito Tanase, Mayumi Kato, Kenichi Nakamura, Hiroshi Katayama, (Visiting Researcher) Takahisa Matsuda, Shuji Yamamoto, Hidetsugu Yamagishi, (Special Research Assistant) Mika Mori
Introduction
In the Cancer Screening Center (former name: Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening; RCCPS), we have provided broad opportunistic cancer screening using newly developed modalities since 2004. Most staff doctors hold two positions concurrently in both the Cancer Screening Center and their specialized department. Our department is in charge of multiphasic cancer screening using several imaging modalities to develop new cancer screening systems and to assess new screening tests.
The Team and What We Do
1. Cancer screening courses: The basic plan for males consists of screening for cancer of the lungs, esophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, kidneys, and prostate. The basic plan for females consists of screening for cancer of the breast, uterus, and ovaries, in addition to the plan for males, excluding the prostate. In addition, PET (positron emission tomography) is provided as an option. In addition to multiphasic programs, an independent cancer screening program has been prepared for cancers of the lungs and female genitalia, including cancer of the uterus, ovaries, breast, and gastrointestinal tract. Blood samples are also obtained for biochemistry and tumor markers such as CA19-9, CEA, CA125, and PSA, as well as for genetic analysis.
2. Cancer screening methods: On the first day, the multiphasic cancer screening programs (comprehensive cancer screening program) perform CT for lung cancer, abdominal US for cancer of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and kidneys, gynecological examinations with pap-smear and HPV test for uterine cancer, and MMG/tomosynthesis and US for breast cancer. On the following day, gastroscopy for cancer of the esophagus and stomach, and total colonoscopy for cancer of the colon and rectum are conducted. Moreover, from the beginning of December 2010, CT-colonography (CTC) has been provided as an option for cancer screening. FDG-PET/CT is offered on the first day as an option, if the participants wish to undergo the examination. Furthermore, FDG-PET/MRI has been provided as an optional examination since 2018.
3. Number of cancer screening participants: The number of cancer screening participants between April 2024 and March 2025 is shown in this report (Table 1). A total of 2,435 people underwent cancer screening at the Cancer Screening Center during this period. Most of the participants (2,171) chose the comprehensive cancer screening course. Regarding the cancer detection rate data in each modality, we will report them in the near future.
Table 1.Comprehensive cancer screening program: 2024/4 - 2025/3
Research Activities
1. A multicenter randomized controlled trial to assess the usefulness of computer-aided detection systems for colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening in the Asia-Pacific region (Project CAD)
A multicenter Asian randomized controlled trial evaluating the lesion detection rate (primary endpoint: ADR) between computer-aided detection (CADe)-assisted colonoscopy (experimental method) and conventional colonoscopy (standard method) in participants undergoing colorectal cancer screening. The planned enrollment of 1,400 cases has been completed, and analysis is currently underway.
2. National Cancer Center Japan-Screening Cohort (JaSCo) Study
Compilation of the 10-year follow-up questionnaire for screening participants from 2004 to 2014 encountered difficulties in database creation due to large amounts of unorganized data caused by system issues. This year, we reviewed how past data—including questionnaire responses and medical institution surveys—were stored and identified the necessary tasks going forward. Subsequently, we initiated research on screening accuracy by cross-referencing with public databases such as vital statistics and cancer registries.
Clinical Trials
We are conducting ongoing research based on the study protocol titled “Evaluation of effectiveness of cancer screening modality at the National Cancer Center”. The target modalities are as follows: 1) upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 2) lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, 3) CT colonography, 4) chest computed tomography (CT), 5) sputum cytology, 6) mammography, 7) breast ultrasonography, 8) FDG-positron emission tomography (PET), 9) abdominal ultrasonography, and 10) serum tumor markers.
Future Prospects
We are currently evaluating the possibility of expanding access to health checkups through revisions to the examination menu. This evaluation is based on cancer screening data, including examination results, findings from medical institutions, follow-up data, and lifestyle questionnaire surveys conducted over a 10-year period. The assessment is being carried out with the support of the National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund.
List of papers published in 2024
Journal
1. Sekiguchi M, Kawamura T, Horiguchi G, Mizuguchi Y, Takamaru H, Toyoizumi H, Kato M, Kobayashi K, Sada M, Oda Y, Yokoyama A, Utsumi T, Tsuji Y, Ohki D, Takeuchi Y, Shichijo S, Ikematsu H, Matsuda K, Teramukai S, Kobayashi N, Matsuda T, Saito Y, Tanaka K. Colorectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Detection Rate During Colonoscopy: Results From Large-Scale Data of Colonoscopies in Japan. The American journal of gastroenterology, 120:473-477, 2025
2. Hirai Y, Toyoshima N, Takamaru H, Sekiguchi M, Yamada M, Kobayashi N, Sekine S, Saito Y. Procedural outcomes of a novel underwater injection endoscopic mucosal resection technique for colorectal polyps ≧10 mm. Endoscopy, 57:494-499, 2025
3. Ohmiya N, Araki A, Tsuboi A, Nakamura K, Ito K, Hotta N, Kakugawa Y, Oka S, Saito Y, Kato T, Tanaka S. Multicenter prospective feasibility study on compliance, safety, and acceptance of small bowel and colon capsule endoscopy in the out-of-clinic setting in Japan. Digestive endoscopy, 37:680-694, 2025
4. Sekiguchi M, Westerberg M, Löwbeer C, Forsberg A. Endoscopist adenoma detection rate associated with neoplasia detection during subsequent-round colonoscopy in fecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer screening: cross-sectional analysis of the SCREESCO randomized controlled trial. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, S0016-5107(25)00067-7, 2025
5. Sekiguchi M, Shinmura K, Sumiyama K, Matsuda T, Han KS, Kim HS, Chiu HM, Chang CY, Lee WJJ, Khor CJL, Lau LH, Pattarajierapan S, Khomvilai S, Miyata A, Shibata T, Saito Y. Protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial to assess the usefulness of computer-aided detection systems for colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening in the Asia-Pacific region (project CAD/NCCH2217). Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 2025
6. Toyoshima N, Mizuguchi Y, Takamaru H, Nakamura K, Kakugawa Y, Sakamoto T, Shiroyama M, Kawagoe R, Tsuchiya K, Shinmura K, Ikematsu H, Inaba A, Minakata N, Hotta K, Imai K, Takada K, Ito S, Misawa M, Wakamura K, Kudo SE, Tamai N, Sumiyama K, Ito M, Uraoka T, Tomaru S, Matsuda T, Fujimoto A, Shibata T, Saito Y. The Efficacy of Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging Observation in the Detection of Colorectal Lesions: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial (deTXIon Study). Gastroenterology, 2025
7. Sekiguchi M, Matsuda T, Saito Y. Treatment strategy and post-treatment management of colorectal neuroendocrine tumor. DEN open, 4:e254, 2024
8. Ito S, Hotta K, Sekiguchi M, Takeuchi Y, Oka S, Yamamoto H, Shinmura K, Harada K, Uraoka T, Hisabe T, Sano Y, Kondo H, Horimatsu T, Kikuchi H, Kawamura T, Nagata S, Yamamoto K, Tajika M, Tsuji S, Kusaka T, Okuyama Y, Yoshida N, Moriyama T, Hasebe A, So S, Saito Y, Nakahira H, Ishikawa H, Matsuda T. Short-term outcomes of endoscopic resection for colorectal neuroendocrine tumors: Japanese multicenter prospective C-NET STUDY. Digestive endoscopy, 36:942-951, 2024
9. Tanaka H, Uraoka T, Kobayashi N, Ohata K, Takeuchi Y, Chino A, Yamada M, Tsuji Y, Hotta K, Harada K, Ikematsu H, Murakami T, Tsuji S, Katagiri A, Hori S, Michida T, Suzuki T, Fukuzawa M, Kiriyama S, Fukase K, Murakami Y, Ishikawa H, Nagahara A, Saito Y. Short-term and long-term outcomes of submucosal dissection for residual or recurrent colorectal tumors after endoscopic resection: Analysis of a multicenter prospective study. Digestive endoscopy, 36:1003-1011, 2024
10. Sekiguchi M, Suzuki H, Takizawa K, Hirasawa T, Takeuchi Y, Ishido K, Hoteya S, Yano T, Tanaka S, Toya Y, Nakagawa M, Toyonaga T, Takemura K, Hirasawa K, Matsuda M, Yamamoto H, Tsuji Y, Hashimoto S, Maeda Y, Oyama T, Takenaka R, Yamamoto Y, Shimazu T, Ono H, Tanabe S, Kondo H, Iishi H, Ninomiya M, Oda I. Potential for expanding indications and curability criteria of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer in elderly patients: results from a Japanese multicenter prospective cohort study. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 100:438-448.e1, 2024
11. Oka S, Tanaka S, Kajiwara Y, Saito S, Fukunaga Y, Takamatsu M, Kawachi H, Hotta K, Ikematsu H, Kojima M, Saito Y, Yamada M, Kanemitsu Y, Sekine S, Nagata S, Yamada K, Kobayashi N, Ishihara S, Saitoh Y, Matsuda K, Togashi K, Komori K, Ishiguro M, Kuwai T, Okuyama T, Ohuchi A, Ohnuma S, Sakamoto K, Sugai T, Katsumata K, Matsushita HO, Yamano HO, Eda H, Uraoka T, Akimoto N, Kobayashi H, Sugihara K, Ueno H. Treatment Decision for Locally Resected T1 Colorectal Carcinoma-Verification of the Japanese Guideline Criteria for Additional Surgery Based on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes. The American journal of gastroenterology, 119:2019-2027, 2024
12. Sekiguchi M, Kishida Y, Ikematsu H, Konno M, Mizuguchi Y, Hotta K, Imai K, Ito S, Takada K, Shiomi A, Yasui H, Tsukamoto S, Hirano H, Kobayashi N, Saito Y, Inaba A, Shinmura K, Konishi J, Ozawa H, Fujita S, Murakami Y, Matsuda T. Proportions and characteristics of interval cancer in annual fecal immunochemical test screening and postcolonoscopy colorectal cancer: Results from a Japanese multicenter prospective study using questionnaires, the C-DETECT study. Digestive endoscopy, 36:1140-1151, 2024
13. Matsuda T, Sekiguchi M, Kobayashi N. [Current status and issues of colorectal cancer screening - toward the introduction of colonoscopy into the population-based screening program]. Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai zasshi = The Japanese journal of gastro-enterology, 121:177-185, 2024
14. Igarashi M, Iwasaki M, Katagiri R, Tsugane S, Kobayashi N, Yamaji T. Sex difference in the association of dietary fiber intake with visceral fat volume in Japanese adults. European journal of nutrition, 63:1973-1981, 2024
15. Nakamura K, Kakukgawa Y, Sekiguchi M, Tsuruki ES, Matsumoto M, Hisada I, Mizuguchi Y, Takamaru H, Sakamoto T, Saito Y, Kobayashi N, Matsuda T. Chronological Trend of Opportunistic Endoscopic Screening for Gastric Cancer and Atrophic Gastritis. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 25:1247-1255, 2024
16. Uozumi T, Abe S, Mizuguchi Y, Sekiguchi M, Toyoshima N, Takamaru H, Yamada M, Kobayashi N, Sadachi R, Ito S, Takada K, Kishida Y, Imai K, Hotta K, Ono H, Saito Y. Endoscopic hand suturing using a modified through-the-scope needle holder for mucosal closure after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: Prospective multicenter study (with video). Digestive endoscopy, 36:1245-1252, 2024
17. Tsuji S, Doyama H, Kobayashi N, Ohata K, Takeuchi Y, Chino A, Takamaru H, Tsuji Y, Hotta K, Harada K, Ikematsu H, Uraoka T, Murakami T, Katagiri A, Hori S, Michida T, Suzuki T, Fukuzawa M, Kiriyama S, Fukase K, Murakami Y, Ishikawa H, Saito Y. Outcomes of noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection for T1 colorectal cancer: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study in Japan. Digestive endoscopy, 36:1369-1379, 2024
18. Esaki M, Igarashi A, Tsukamoto S, Sugawara S, Sekiguchi M, Fujinaga A. [Health Economic Evaluation of Surgical Treatment for Cancer]. Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy, 51:795-800, 2024