Annual Report 2024
Division of Prevention
Manami Inoue, Sarah K. Abe, Mayo Hirabayashi, Yoko Yamagiwa, Marina Tanitame, Aki Otsuki, Md. Shafiur Rahman, Rokshana Parvin, Marisa Nishio, Yoko Hirose, Yasuko Iba, Yuka Kawamura, Asami Satake, Ayako Toyama
Introduction
The Division of Prevention evaluates cancer risk factors among the Japanese population using the latest scientific evidence, aiming to propose the most effective cancer prevention strategies. We are also engaged in translating epidemiological knowledge into practice and promoting international collaborative research.
The Team and What We Do
Our division focuses on lifestyle, chemoprevention, and molecular marker research to develop cancer prevention methods such as risk prediction, risk stratification models, and evidence-based cancer prevention guidelines for Japanese people.
Research Activities
1. Evaluation of cancer prevention strategies and guidelines
We evaluated and updated evidence on the association between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and cancer through systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and pooled analyses of epidemiological studies. We also updated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer risk factors in Japan.
2. Establishment of a large-scale cohort infrastructure in Asia (Asia Cohort Consortium, ACC)
The ACC is a collaborative initiative aimed at clarifying the roles of genetics, environmental exposures, and other risk factors in disease etiology by integrating and utilizing Asian cohort studies. Our department serves as the coordinating and data center of this large-scale consortium of healthy Asian individuals, promoting research collaborations and networking among researchers.
3. Development of an Asian version of cancer prevention guidelines (Asian Codes Against Cancer, ACAC)
Following the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) World Code Against Cancer Framework, we have been leading the development of region-specific cancer prevention guidelines for Asia since 2021, in collaboration with the IARC and the Asian National Cancer Center Alliance (ANCCA).
4. The effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in gastric cancer prevention
We assessed the long-term effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastric cancer risk by pooling data from multiple large-scale Japanese cohort studies with information on H. pylori infection. We also continued the Tokyo Gastric Cancer Screening Study, verifying the effects from both clinical and epidemiological perspectives.
5. National Center collaborative projects
We conducted coronavirus antibody surveys among staff of the six National Centers (6NC), evaluating infection status and vaccine responses.
Education
We supervised domestic and international master's and doctoral students. As the Coordinating Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, we accepted graduate students. In addition, we hosted visiting professors, young physicians, and researchers from Japan and overseas.
Future Prospects
We will continue to develop and evaluate effective cancer prevention strategies and further advance research that bridges epidemiological evidence with implementation. Through utilizing international collaborative platforms, we also aim to contribute to cancer prevention strategies in Asia.
List of papers published in 2024
Journal
1. Saito I, Yamagishi K, Kokubo Y, Yatsuya H, Muraki I, Iso H, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Lifetime Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Disease: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study. Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis, 32:48-57, 2025
2. Rahman MM, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Gilmour S, Haruyama R, Budukh A, Shankar A, Mishra G, Mehrotra R, Matsuda T, Inoue M, Abe SK. Regional Variations and Inequalities in Testing for Early Detection of Breast and Cervical Cancer: Evidence From a Nationally Representative Survey in India. Journal of epidemiology, 35:129-140, 2025
3. Tanitame M, Inoue M, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer in Japan: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, 34:317-323, 2025
4. Takachi R, Yamagishi M, Goto A, Inoue M, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Yamagishi K, Iso H, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Consumption of Sodium and Its Ratio to Potassium in Relation to All-Cause, Cause-Specific, and Premature Noncommunicable Disease Mortality in Middle-Aged Japanese Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Journal of nutrition, 155:945-956, 2025
5. Inoue Y, Suzuki S, Sawada N, Morisaki N, Narita Z, Yamaji T, Kokubo Y, Doi T, Nishita Y, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Mizoue T. Association between physical multimorbidity in middle adulthood and mortality: findings from two large cohort studies in Japan. BMC public health, 25:92, 2025
6. Omura T, Goto A, Nakayama I, Saito J, Noda M, Yasuda N, Saito I, Kato T, Arima K, Kawakami F, Sakata K, Tanno K, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Yamagishi K, Iso H, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes Prevalence in the Japanese: Insights From the JPHC-NEXT Study. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 100:452-464, 2025
7. Abe SK, Inoue M, Yasuda N, Yamagishi K, Tsugane S, Sawada N. PUFA, fish intake and risk of disabling dementia in Japan: the Japan Public Health Centre Disabling Dementia Study. Public health nutrition, 28:e65, 2025
8. Ong SK, Abe SK, Gek Phua GL, Jayasekara H, Togawa K, Gatellier L, Kim J, Zhang Y, Kahan SZ, Yusof SN, Han JS, Pramesh CS, Sengar M, Shankar A, Cairo C, Sangrajran S, Nansalmaa E, Badamsuren T, Dendup T, Tshering K, He J, Werdi Nindito D RS, Ritana A, Im JS, Park EY, Huong GN, Thanh Huong TT, Biglari M, Yusuf A, Pradhananga KK, Vongdala C, Bin Jaafar MT, Ibrahim Tamin NS, Myint YY, Kaung KK, Rahman MS, Fernando E, Rath B, Sukumaran B, Hwang WY, Espina C, Schüz J, Inoue M, Matsuda T. Mapping recommendations towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC) as part of the World Code Against Cancer Framework: an Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) initiative. The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia, 24:100316, 2024
9. Nakano S, Yamaji T, Hidaka A, Shimazu T, Shiraishi K, Kuchiba A, Saito M, Kunishima F, Nakaza R, Kohno T, Sawada N, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M. Dietary vitamin D intake and risk of colorectal cancer according to vitamin D receptor expression in tumors and their surrounding stroma. Journal of gastroenterology, 59:825-835, 2024
10. Nishihara K, Nakano S, Yamaji T, Goto A, Hidaka A, Shimazu T, Kuchiba A, Saito M, Kunishima F, Nakaza R, Kato I, Sawada N, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M. Height, body mass index, physical activity, and risk of colorectal cancer in relation to expression of insulin receptor: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. International journal of cancer, 155:1751-1761, 2024
11. Yatsuya H, Yamagishi K, Li Y, Saito I, Kokubo Y, Muraki I, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Iso H, Sawada N. Risk and Population Attributable Fraction of Stroke Subtypes in Japan. Journal of epidemiology, 34:211-217, 2024
12. Nomura S, Nishio M, Abe SK, Eguchi A, Inoue M, Suzuki M, Hashizume M. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Death Locations in Japan: An Analysis of Excess Mortality Through February 2023. Journal of epidemiology, 34:349-355, 2024
13. Oze I, Ito H, Koyanagi YN, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Saito E, Gupta PC, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Shu XO, Sakata R, Malekzadeh R, Tsuji I, Kim J, Nagata C, You SL, Park SK, Yuan JM, Shin MH, Kweon SS, Pednekar MS, Tsugane S, Kimura T, Gao YT, Cai H, Pourshams A, Lu Y, Kanemura S, Wada K, Sugawara Y, Chen CJ, Chen Y, Shin A, Wang R, Ahn YO, Shin MH, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Matsuo K. Obesity is associated with biliary tract cancer mortality and incidence: A pooled analysis of 21 cohort studies in the Asia Cohort Consortium. International journal of cancer, 154:1174-1190, 2024
14. Yoshii K, Morisaki N, Piedvache A, Nakada S, Arima K, Aoyagi K, Nakashima H, Yasuda N, Muraki I, Yamagishi K, Saito I, Kato T, Tanno K, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Association Between Birth Weight and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Other Lifestyle-related Diseases Among the Japanese Population: The JPHC-NEXT Study. Journal of epidemiology, 34:307-315, 2024
15. Kihara T, Yamagishi K, Imatoh T, Ihira H, Goto A, Iso H, Sawada N, Tsugane S, Inoue M. Validity of Self-reported Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment From Questionnaire and Interview Surveys of the JPHC-NEXT Study: Comparison With Prescription History From Insurance Claims Data. Journal of epidemiology, 34:453-457, 2024
16. Kawai S, Lin Y, Tsuge H, Ito H, Matsuo K, Wada K, Nagata C, Narii N, Kitamura T, Utada M, Sakata R, Kimura T, Tamakoshi A, Sugawara Y, Tsuji I, Suzuki S, Sawada N, Tsugane S, Mizoue T, Oze I, Abe SK, Inoue M. Body mass index and lung cancer risk: Pooled analysis of 10 prospective cohort studies in Japan. Cancer science, 115:1346-1359, 2024
17. Yin X, Kishida R, Abe SK, Islam MR, Rahman MS, Saito E, Lan Q, Blechter B, Merritt M, Choi JY, Shin A, Katagiri R, Shu XO, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Koh WP, Tsuji I, Nagata C, Park SK, Kweon SS, Gao YT, Tsugane S, Kimura T, Yuan JM, Lu Y, Kanemura S, Sugawara Y, Wada K, Shin MH, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Seow WJ. Association between reproductive factors with lung cancer incidence and mortality: A pooled analysis of over 308,000 females in the Asia cohort consortium. International journal of cancer, 154:2090-2105, 2024
18. Shin A, Cho S, Abe SK, Islam MR, Rahman MS, Saito E, Kazmi SZ, Katagiri R, Merritt M, Choi JY, Shu XO, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Koh WP, Sakata R, Hozawa A, Kim J, Park SK, Kweon SS, Wen W, Tsugane S, Kimura T, Yuan JM, Kanemura S, Sugawara Y, Shin MH, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D. Association of female reproductive and hormonal factors with gallbladder cancer risk in Asia: A pooled analysis of the Asia Cohort Consortium. International journal of cancer, 155:240-250, 2024
19. Kishida R, Yamagishi K, Iso H, Ishihara J, Yasuda N, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Risk of Disabling Dementia: Japan Public Health Center Disabling Dementia Study. The Journal of nutrition, 154:1842-1852, 2024
20. Wada K, Nagata C, Utada M, Sakata R, Kimura T, Tamakoshi A, Sugawara Y, Tsuji I, Sato R, Sawada N, Tsugane S, Oze I, Ito H, Kitamura T, Koyanagi YN, Lin Y, Matsuo K, Abe SK, Inoue M. Active and passive smoking and breast cancer in Japan: a pooled analysis of nine population-based cohort studies. International journal of epidemiology, 53:dyae047, 2024
21. Huang D, Song M, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Saito E, De la Torre K, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Shu XO, Cai H, Hozawa A, Kanemura S, Kim J, Chen Y, Ito H, Sugawara Y, Park SK, Shin MH, Hirabayashi M, Kimura T, Gao YT, Wen W, Oze I, Shin A, Ahn YO, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D. Family history and gastric cancer incidence and mortality in Asia: a pooled analysis of more than half a million participants. Gastric cancer, 27:701-713, 2024
22. Ho NT, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Islam R, Saito E, Gupta PC, Pednekar MS, Sawada N, Tsugane S, Tamakoshi A, Kimura T, Shu XO, Gao YT, Koh WP, Cai H, Wen W, Sakata R, Tsuji I, Malekzadeh R, Pourshams A, Kanemura S, Kim J, Chen Y, Ito H, Oze I, Nagata C, Wada K, Sugawara Y, Park SK, Shin A, Yuan JM, Wang R, Kweon SS, Shin MH, Poustchi H, Vardanjani HM, Ahsan H, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Boffetta P. Diabetes is associated with increased liver cancer incidence and mortality in adults: A report from Asia Cohort Consortium. International journal of cancer, 155:854-870, 2024
23. Narita Z, Hidese S, Kanehara R, Tachimori H, Hori H, Kim Y, Kunugi H, Arima K, Mizukami S, Tanno K, Takanashi N, Yamagishi K, Muraki I, Yasuda N, Saito I, Maruyama K, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Association of sugary drinks, carbonated beverages, vegetable and fruit juices, sweetened and black coffee, and green tea with subsequent depression: A five-year cohort study. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 43:1395-1404, 2024
24. Hirabayashi M, Wilunda C, Murai U, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Association between fish and shellfish consumption, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and gastric cancer risk: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. European journal of nutrition, 63:1529-1544, 2024
25. Funakoshi Y, Maruyama K, Kato T, Saito I, Takanashi N, Tanno K, Yamagishi K, Muraki I, Yasuda N, Arima K, Nakashima H, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Association of depressive symptoms with incident fractures: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation (JPHC-NEXT). Osteoporosis international, 35:1261-1271, 2024
26. De la Torre K, Song M, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Saito E, Min S, Huang D, Chen Y, Gupta PC, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Shu XO, Wen W, Sakata R, Kim J, Nagata C, Ito H, Park SK, Shin MH, Pednekar MS, Tsugane S, Kimura T, Gao YT, Cai H, Wada K, Oze I, Shin A, Ahn YO, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D. Diabetes and gastric cancer incidence and mortality in the Asia Cohort Consortium: A pooled analysis of more than a half million participants. Journal of diabetes, 16:e13561, 2024
27. Islam MR, Rahman MM, Rahman MS, Abe SK, Akmatov MK, Hashizume M. Trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination coverage in 41 low- and middle- income countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2030. Frontiers in public health, 12:1371258, 2024
28. Kanehara R, Park SY, Okada Y, Iwasaki M, Tsugane S, Sawada N, Inoue M, Haiman CA, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L. Intake of Sugar and Food Sources of Sugar and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. The Journal of nutrition, 154:2481-2492, 2024
29. Ihira H, Nakano S, Yamaji T, Katagiri R, Sawada N, Inoue M, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M. Plasma albumin, bilirubin, and uric acid and the subsequent risk of cancer: a case-cohort study in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. American journal of epidemiology, 193:1460-1469, 2024
30. Rahman MS, Rahman MM, Acharya K, Haruyama R, Shah R, Matsuda T, Inoue M, Abe SK. Disparities and Determinants of Testing for Early Detection of Cervical Cancer among Nepalese Women: Evidence from a Population-Based Survey. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, 33:1046-1056, 2024
31. Downward GS, Hystad P, Tasmin S, Abe SK, Saito E, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Gupta PC, Sawada N, Malekzadeh R, You SL, Ahsan H, Park SK, Pednekar MS, Tsugane S, Etemadi A, Chen CJ, Shin A, Chen Y, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Lan Q, Vermeulen RCH. Long-term exposure to particulate matter and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in an analysis of multiple Asian cohorts. Environment international, 189:108803, 2024
32. Ho DSM, Zaitsu T, Ihira H, Iwasaki M, Yoshihara A, Suzuki S, Inoue M, Yamagishi K, Yasuda N, Aida J, Shinozaki T, Goto A, Tsugane S, Sawada N. Association Between Oral Malodor and Dementia: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study in Japan. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports, 8:805-816, 2024
33. Paragomi P, Zhang Z, Abe SK, Islam MR, Rahman MS, Saito E, Shu XO, Dabo B, Pham YT, Chen Y, Gao YT, Koh WP, Sawada N, Malekzadeh R, Sakata R, Hozawa A, Kim J, Kanemura S, Nagata C, You SL, Ito H, Park SK, Yuan JM, Pan WH, Wen W, Wang R, Cai H, Tsugane S, Pourshams A, Sugawara Y, Wada K, Chen CJ, Oze I, Shin A, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Luu HN. Body Mass Index and Risk of Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Asia. JAMA network open, 7:e2429494, 2024
34. Inoue M. Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer-Changing Trends and Global Disparities. Cancers, 16:2948, 2024
35. Abe SK, Nishio M, Huang HL, Leung CY, Islam MR, Rahman MS, Saito E, Shin A, Merritt MA, Choi JY, Katagiri R, Mohammadi Z, Shu XO, Wakai K, Sawada N, Ideno Y, Tamakoshi A, Seow WJ, Koh WP, Sakata R, Hozawa A, Kim J, Nagata C, Sugawara Y, Park SK, Kweon SS, Azizi F, Malekzadeh R, Moy FM, Pourfarzi F, Gao YT, Kubo Y, Hirabayashi M, Nagai K, Kimura T, Yuan JM, Kanemura S, Wada K, Kang D, Shin MH, Khalili D, Poustchi H, Rezaianzadeh A, Mansour-Ghanaei F, Najafi F, Mohebbi I, Boffetta P, Lee JE, Matsuo K, Rothman N, Qiao YL, Zheng W, Inoue M. Age at menarche by birth cohort: A pooled analysis of half a million women in Asia. Public health, 237:130-134, 2024
36. K C Bhandari A, Htay ZW, Parvin R, Murakami M, Abe SK. Prevalence of Breast Cancer Screening in Asia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention, 25:3379-3391, 2024
37. Tajima T, Kanehara R, Fujii M, Tanaka S, Umezawa J, Ohno Y, Inoue M. Trajectory Patterns of Three Lifestyle Behaviors and Subsequent Health Conditions in Japanese Adults: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study Using a Health Checkup Database. JMA journal, 7:506-517, 2024
38. Wada K, Kuboyama K, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Islam MR, Saito E, Nagata C, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Shu XO, Sakata R, Hozawa A, Kanemura S, Ito H, Sugawara Y, Park SK, Kweon SS, Ono A, Kimura T, Wen W, Oze I, Shin MH, Shin A, Kim J, Lee JE, Matsuo K, Rothman N, Qiao YL, Zheng W, Boffetta P, Inoue M. Body mass index and breast cancer risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal East Asian women: a pooled analysis of 13 cohort studies. Breast cancer research, 26:158, 2024
39. Shimizu Y, Yamaji T, Inoue M, Yasuda N, Yamagishi K, Sawada N, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M. Plasma uric acid levels and risk of dementia in a population-based cohort study. Journal of the neurological sciences, 467:123323, 2024
40. Merritt MA, Abe SK, Islam MR, Rahman MS, Saito E, Katagiri R, Shin A, Choi JY, Le Marchand L, Killeen JL, Gao YT, Tamakoshi A, Koh WP, Sakata R, Sawada N, Tsuji I, Sugawara Y, Kim J, Park SK, Kweon SS, Shu XO, Kimura T, Yuan JM, Tsugane S, Kanemura S, Lu Y, Shin MH, Wen W, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Rothman N, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D. Reproductive factors and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: results from the Asia Cohort Consortium. Br J Cancer, 132:361-370, 2025
41. Kishida R, Yin X, Abe SK, Rahman MS, Saito E, Islam MR, Lan Q, Blechter B, Rothman N, Sawada N, Tamakoshi A, Shu XO, Hozawa A, Kanemura S, Kim J, Sugawara Y, Park SK, Kweon SS, Ahsan H, Boffetta P, Chia KS, Matsuo K, Qiao YL, Zheng W, Inoue M, Kang D, Seow WJ. Association between family history with lung cancer incidence and mortality risk in the Asia Cohort Consortium. Int J Cancer, 156:723-733, 2025