Highlights for ESMO 40: celebration review for lifetime achievement awards

Abstract

My work, my crucial achievement, has been in the management of the transition of the conduct of cancer research/management from basic researchers/surgeons to medical oncologists (figure 1). Figure 1 The Flower of Hope—the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award. This transition can be divided into four categories: 1. The development, progression and consolidation of global Medical Oncology in Asian countries, especially in Japan. 2. Building a close collaboration with European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and receiving strong support from ESMO, through (A) Adaptation of the ESMO/ASCO Core Curriculum in Medical Oncology,1 (B) Mutual ESMO/ Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) joint symposia during their respective meetings, (C) making Annals of Oncology JSMO's official scientific publication,2 along with (D) my own work as an Associate Editor of Annals of Oncology (2011–2014), (E) my work as ESMO's National/Regional Representative and Membership Committee member (2005–2011). 3. Leadership of clinical research in Japan as a key opinion leader and primary investigator in IND (investigational new drug) trials and a chairman of the Japanese Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG; 2000–2009), organising a governmental clinical trial group; and the development of new gold standards in the treatment of malignant diseases, especially in thoracic malignancy by investigator-initiated randomised controlled clinical trials. 4. Encouraging translational research and the publication of numerous articles, especially in the area of the identification of molecular targets for anticancer drugs, as Chief of the Pharmacology Division in the National Cancer Center Research Institute. When I began my training in Medical Oncology, cancer research, including translational research, was conducted by basic researchers, and cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, was conducted by surgeons. There was no place for medical oncologists to play an active part in cancer research and treatment. ESMO was established 40 years ago and now has more than 10 000 professionals as members, and medical oncology has been recognised as …