Challenges for Future Cancer Research

Abstract

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Japan since 1981. There are concerns that the number of cancer deaths will grow with the rapidly increasing number of elderly people in Japan. The 3rd-term Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control has been underway since 2004, and it is scheduled to end in March 2014. During this period, the Cancer Control Act was established, in 2006. According to the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs, which was revised in 2012, the government should set a new strategy for cancer research. An Advisory Council on Future Cancer Research has compiled a report with the slogan “Complete cure, prevention, and living with cancer - Cancer research in collaboration with patients and society.” Research issues to be addressed are as follows: 1) clarification of the true nature of cancer; 2) development of new drugs for unmet medical needs; 3) development of new patient-friendly medical technologies; 4) establishment of new standard therapy; 5) research focusing on life-stage and the characteristics of cancer such as childhood cancer, cancer in elderly, refractory cancer and rare cancer; 6) cancer prevention and/or early detection methods; 7) research aimed to establish a society in which both patients and survivors can live well with good survivorship; and 8) promotion and dissemination of cancer control activities.