SC15.04 The Japanese Perspective

Abstract

In Japan, several cooperative study groups, such as Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), North East Japan Study Group (NEJ), Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), Tokyo Cooperative Oncology Group (TCOG), Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group (OLCSG) and so on are conducting investigator initiated cooperative clinical studies for lung cancer. Phase 3 studies are mainly conducted by JCOG, WJOG and NEJ. JCOG and WJOG are conducting intergroup phase 3 studies for lung cancer. More recently, multi-group phase 3 studies are also started. JCOG is a multicenter clinical study group for cancer treatment fully funded by the national research grants in Japan. The goal of the JCOG is to establish effective standard treatments for various types of malignant tumors by conducting nationwide multicenter clinical trials, and to improve the quality and outcome of the management of cancer patients. JCOG consists of 16 subgroups and JCOG Lung Cancer Study Group (JCOG-LCSG) consists of 44 institutions, was established in 1982. JCOG also have JCOG Lung Cancer Surgical Study Group (JCOG-LCSSG) established in 1986. Only JCOG is supported by no industries but National Cancer Center and grants of Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Thus, JCOG studies are conducting completely independent from pharmaceutical companies. Other groups are supported by mainly pharmaceutical companies and grants of AMED. JCOG-LCSG has been conducting many randomized trials for small cell lung cancer and elderly non-small cell lung cancer. In case of JCOG-LCSG, protocol concepts are discussing in the group meeting held every 3 months. The protocol concept agreed in the group meeting will discuss in JCOG Protocol Review Committee and finally approved by JCOG Steering Committee. Kawano Y, Okamoto I, Fukuda H, et al. Current status and future perspectives of cooperative study groups for lung cancer in Japan. Respir Investig 52: 339-347, 2014. Japan Clinical Oncology Group, West Japan Oncology Group, Investigator initiated multicenter clinical study