Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology

Figure 1. The number of Centenarians in Japan.

Report of the 1998 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Cancer Prevention

The 5th annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Cancer Prevention was held on July 30-31, 1998, in Sendai. The meeting was organized by Dr Minro Watanabe (Iwate Prefectural University, Iwate Prefecture), and almost 140 scientists participated.

Two symposia were organized, the first concentrating attention on `Genetic susceptibility for cancer development in human and animal', chaired by Dr Toshio Kuroki (Showa University, Tokyo) and Dr Hiroyuki Tsuda (National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo). Main focuses were polymorphisms of carcinogen metabolizing enzymes such as CYP1A1 and GST (M1, P1), and HNPCC, FAP, XPA, ‘O⁶–methyltransferase’ and c–Ha–ras genes. The second symposium entitled ‘Enzymes and factors involved in cancer prevention’, was chaired by Dr Hiroshi Maeda (Kumamoto University, Kumamoto) and Dr Keiji Wakabayashi (National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo). The roles of xanthine oxidase, NADPH oxidase, NF–kB, NO synthase, cyclooxygenase, glutathione peroxidase, Mn–superoxide dismutase, glutathione S–transferase, acetyltransferase and sulfotransferase in cancer development were discussed.

In addition, there were 36 poster presentations, covering many aspects of prevention. For example, suppression of cancer development in rodents by free radical scavengers, COX–2 selective inhibitors, soybean products, cysteine derivatives, carotenoids and polyphenols were described along with data on cancer prevention mechanisms.

The number of cancer patients continues to increase in most developed countries and the search for effective cancer prevention methods is becoming more and more important. Reflecting this situation, there was a great deal of lively discussion and constructive comments, and I believe that the meeting was very successful and fruitful. We now look forward to the next meeting, which will be held on July 16-17, 1999, in Tokyo.

Keiji Wakabayashi, Ph.D.
Chief, Cancer Prevention Division
National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo
and
Tadao Kakizoe, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo

Report of the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association

The Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) held its 57th annual meeting in Yokohama, a prestigious harbor city near Tokyo, on September 30-October 2, 1998. In spite of the current severe economic recession, more than 5000 participants gathered at this big event for Japanese cancer researchers and medical doctors.

Because of the multi–disciplinary nature of cancer research, a big assembly of cancer research tends to be sectioned into individual research fields. However, led by Dr Kaoru Abe, President of the JCA and also President of the National Cancer Center, Tokyo, the 57th meeting was well harmonized under a concept of feedback between researchers and clinics, which might have stemmed from the President’s own specialty, endocrinology.

This year’s meeting was characterized by several new efforts to energize the JCA, including open lectures apt for the lay public, which were entitled ‘If you are affected with cancer’, ‘How effective are cancer therapies?’ and ‘Cancer and a human life’. I believe these lectures not only helped people understand cancer and encouraged them to live with cancer, but also forced researchers and doctors to rethink their activities from the patients’ viewpoint. Thus, the meeting also worked as a feedback loop from the public to researchers. It was also timely to make endeavors to have lay public recognize the progress in cancer management, because we owe a large sum of resources for cancer research to the governmental support, which must logically be explained to tax payers. Morning and evening sessions were also new features highlighted in this meeting and gathered many attendants.

In addition to biological aspects of cancer, social and psychological issues were discussed in many sessions. For example, Dr Iwama, Kyoundo Hospital, Sasaki Insitute, suggested a potentially beneficial psychological effect of genetic diagnosis for familial adenomatous polyposis in the symposium ‘Diagnosis of familial cancer — from basics to clinics’. According to Dr Iwama’s experiences, a patient who had been informed of his genetic status as a mutation carrier was able to confront the disease more logically than those who had not. Though anecdotal, these reports are extremely valuable in the lack of many experiences of clinically applied genetic diagnosis in Japan.

The next annual meeting is to be held in Hiroshima with the President of the JCA for 1999, Dr Eiichi Tahara, Professor of Hiroshima University School of Medicine.

Cancer Statistics Digest Liver Cancer Mortality in Japan Trends in age-specific death rates from malignant neoplasms of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts in Japan are shown by sex for the years 1980 to 1995. Due to the change in classification criteria for this disease, the death rates before 1980 cannot be directly compared with the recent data. The death rates for males are about twice those for females, although both males and females show similar increasing trends. In contrast to the steadily increasing trends in age groups older than 60, younger age groups do not show increasing trends. S. Yamamoto and N. Yamaguchi Cancer Information and Epidemiology Division National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo    Source: Statistics and Information Department, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan

Viewing the News from Abroad

New Pap test technologies hit heavy sea but sales keep flying

Pap smears have been a standard procedure for cervical cancer screening, but they have been suffering from negative publicity and lawsuits against laboratories over false negative tests. Although screening tests are never 100% accurate, the general population expects this accuracy from the Pap smear (JNCI 1998;90:1327-9).

To increase the accuracy of the Pap smear, high–tech tools have been introduced to the market, a slide preparation technique and two automated slide readers. The former can prepare a thin layer of cells on the slide, so that the cytotechnologists and cytopathologists can see the cells better than conventionally prepared cell smears. This reduced the number of uncertain diagnosis, known as ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), by as much as 50%. Gynecologists prefer this type of preparation because they receive more definitive answers on which to base decisions about care and follow–up. Automated slide readers pick up abnormal cells and present them for the review by cytotechnologists and cytopathologists. These machines have been increasingly utilized mostly for rescreening slides previously examined by humans.

There is some criticism about these machines. A report from the Technical Evaluation Center of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, a major health insurance provider, regarded them as ‘not cost effective’ and that they provided ‘minimal advancement’. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued an opinion acknowledging that the technologies were more sensitive than the conventional Pap smear but they could not be considered a standard of care because of the lack of data on incidence and survival rates. Incorporation of these high–tech machines is aimed at improving the accuracy of the Pap test and their efficacy has been substantiated by increasing usage.

Despite the negative publicity and its high cost, some insurance companies and health maintenance organizations have now recognized their usefulness and have started to reimburse the costs. With technological advancement, the cost may come down. Increased competition from new companies may also contribute to a cost reduction. Since the major concern of the physicians is focused on the better care of the patients, the use of these machines is expected to increase.

New computer program assesses a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer

Last April, researchers announced evidence that tamoxifen reduces the incidence of breast cancer in high–risk women. The six–year trial showed a ~45% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer for high–risk US women who took Tamoxifen. Therefore, it became necessary to identify women who qualify as ‘high risk’.

To address this need, the NCI developed a computer program called the ‘Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool’ (JNCI 1998;90:1332). Calculation of risk may be complex but this program fits on a floppy disk and takes only a few minutes to use. Users must answer seven questions regarding risk factors such as age at first childbirth and family history of breast cancer. The program then calculates an individual risk of developing breast cancer over the next five years and of developing the cancer before age 90. The disk also contains details of the benefits and risks of tamoxifen. This program may be obtained from the NCI.

Announcements

Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XVI Innovative Cancer Therapy for Tomorrow

Date: November 11-13, 1998
Location: Sheraton Hotel, New York City, USA
Sponsors: The Page & William Black Post–Graduate School of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Chairperson: Ezra M. Greenspan, Clinical Professor of Medicine (Oncology) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Further information: Jaclyn Silverman, Conference Coordinator
Division of Neoplastic Diseases
Box 1178, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
Tel: +1-212-241-6772
Fax: +1-212-996-5787
E-mail: J_silverman{at}smtplink.msmm.edu

VII International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma

Date: June 2-5, 1999
Location: Palazzo dei Congressi, Lugano, Switzerland
Deadlines:
Submission of Abstracts — January 31, 1999
Early Registration — March 31, 1999
Closing Date Registration — May 20, 1999
Further information: Mrs Olga Jackson (Conference Secretariat)
via Fusoni 4, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Tel: +41-91921-45-61
Fax: +41-91921-45-63
E-mail: lymphcon{at}dial.eunet.ch

Pan-Pacific Lymphoma Conference

Date: July 20-23, 1999
Location: The Hyatt Regency Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Sponsor: The University of Nebraska Medical Center
Further information: Center for Continuing Education
University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985651
Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198–5651, USA
Tel: +1-402-559-4152
Fax: +1-402-559-5915
E-mail: conteduc{at}unmc.edu

To include information of upcoming cancer-related events in the News Section, please send details, including the title, date, place, organization, contact name, address (fax number and e-mail address if any) to the news department of the editorial office of JJCO who also welcome suggestions for news stories. Items in this section are selected for publication and edited by the editorial office at their discretion.

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