Annual Report 2024
Division of International Health Policy Research
Tomohiro Matsuda, Norie Sawada, Laureline Gatellier, Rieko Kanehara, Yumiko Nomura, Kayo Nakata, Pietro Ferrari, Kumiko Saika, Sumiyo Okawa, Hadrien Charvat, Heinz Freisling, Asako Umeda, Erica Nakao, Akane Taminaga, Kayoko Tanaka
Introduction
Viewing cancer as a global health issue to be tackled in Asia and the entire world, the division is involved in standardizing the international code or rule-setting and research methods and improving the research level of Asian countries. Through these activities, we will establish a research infrastructure of public health sciences.
The Team and What We Do
1. Research on Cancer Policies in Asian Countries and Advocacy for Common Cancer Control Measures
We operate the secretariat of the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) and are establishing an international research infrastructure with the national cancer centers of its 21 member countries.
2. Cancer Registry Development and Cancer Incidence Estimation in Asian Countries
As an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Collaborating Centre, we participate in the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry development (GICR) program, standardizing cancer registry and statistics rules.
3. Estimating the Burden of Rare Cancers in Asia and Linking with Clinical Trials
We launched the RARECAREnet Asia project with South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India to estimate the burden of rare cancers (incidence, survival and prevalence), including pediatric cancers. We also collaborate with the ATLAS project led by the Department of International Clinical Development at the National Cancer Center Hospital.
4. Population-Based Cancer Statistics as a Foundation for Clinical Research
A joint section with IARC has been established to conduct long-term follow-up studies of cancer patients based on population-based cancer statistics. Within the G7 Cancer framework, research on refractory cancers is being conducted with the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, and France.
5. Standardization of Pediatric Cancer Staging, Survival Rate Estimation, and Statistical Infrastructure Development
Using the internationally standardized Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage, we are conducting survival analysis (BENCHISTA study) in collaboration with Italy and the UK. We are also participating in the WHO's Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer and, together with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the US, are involved in developing a pediatric cancer statistical infrastructure.
6. Development of Data Sharing Methods Without Exchanging Individual Identifiable Information
We are developing a method for virtual data sharing (Vantage6) without exchanging individual identifiable information, in collaboration with IKNL.
Research Activities
Within the ANCCA framework, we conducted comparative analysis of cancer control progress across Asian countries and published a paper. In collaboration with Vital Strategies, we promoted standard rules for population-based cancer registries in Cambodia and Vietnam, achieving quality control in Vietnam and establishing a cancer registry in Cambodia. Within the G7 Cancer framework, preparations were made to co-host a symposium on poor prognosis cancers with the INCa in France. A comparative study of rare cancers in East and Southeast Asia based on international standard classifications was conducted, and a paper was published. The Japanese translation of the Toronto Pediatric Cancer Stage Guideline was implemented into the online CanStaging+ tool. Development of the Vantage6 algorithm continued.
Education
Beginning with the guidance of a researcher from Chiang Mai University in Thailand who had come to Japan the previous year as a voluntary trainee, we were involved in research guidance and thesis writing instruction for researchers primarily from Southeast Asian countries within the framework of ANCCA.
Future Prospects
We aim to pioneer model international collaborative research, demonstrate its outcomes, and leverage these to connect with larger-scale research and domestic/international projects. We also will consciously pursue cross-disciplinary collaboration with hospitals, research institutes, and external organizations from the design phase, transcending organizational boundaries.