To address the spatial constrain of the outpatient clinic, remodeling of the clinic is being carried out and is expected to be completed at the end of fiscal year 2009. In 2007, the Department of Outpatient Cancer Treatment was established. This newly established department engages in various activities such as outpatient chemotherapy and supportive activities including palliative, psychological and nutritional care, and socioeconomic support. The organization of the new division is being fortified in terms of number of people and operation system. As a loosely associated organization affiliated with the department, the Comprehensive Support Center for Cancer Patients and Families was established in close proximity to a train station under a grant support for The Strategic Outcome Research Program for Cancer Control, MHLW-Commission through the project Outcome Palliative care Trial Integrated regional Model (OPTIM). This new support center shows resemblance to the famous Maggie’s Home in England. Under the OPTIM program, a trial was conducted to establish close cooperation between the National Cancer Center Hospital East and many nearby clinics and hospitals in supporting patients and their families during cancer treatment, especially in terms of palliative care, in collaboration with the Kashiwa Health Office and physician’s associations of three cities around Kashiwa. This project will be continued for another two years, after which the direction by which these activities will progress after the OPTIM program will be elaborted.
After enforcement of a new two-year obligatory postgraduate training for medical doctors in 2004, a deficiency in the number of medical doctors became evident in many medical fields including basic research and clinical medicine. The unavailability of anesthesiologists is a representative example. The effect of this situation became evident in the National Cancer Center in 2007 in the form of a decrease in the number of residency applicants. In 2008, the situation improved partly because of our various endeavors to overcome the problems. The number of residents and senior residents was adequate in 2008 and is expected to become sufficient in 2009.
Smooth application of the outcome of basic research into clinical use is strongly desired worldwide. Our Research Center for Innovative Oncology was established to facilitate research studies in this field. The development of a micelle drug delivery system and its introduction to a clinical trial, a new cancer peptide vaccine clinical trial are representative outputs. Antibody therapy and a new drug of natural product are on their way for a clinical trial. In addition, we have attempted to establish a support system for clinical trials by training research nurses, pharmacists and data managers who can conduct even international clinical trials. Management of investigator initiated clinical trials, which was started in our hospital, is another milestone for fortifying the support system of clinical trials. We have also established the Clinical Investigation Section in the Research Center for Innovative Oncology composed of medical oncologists, pharmacists, and clinical research coordinators. Research nurses and medical statisticians are strongly desired to join the section.
Our innovative oncology project at National Cancer Center Hospital East to develop innovative anticancer drugs and diagnostic equipment was adopted in a Super Special Consortia for supporting the development of cutting-edge medical care. Under this Super Special Consortia, two National Cancer Hospitals and the Cancer Institute Hospital have agreed to collaborate regarding the conduct of very early clinical trials for developing innovative medicine and equipment. The consortium includes the National Cancer Center, Cancer Institute, Riken, Keio University, Kyoto University, Institute of Microbial Chemistry and several major pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries. A few firstin-human trials are expected to be conducted under this consortium in 2009.
Finally, taking advantage of this occasion, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the members of our hospital and the Research Center for Innovative Oncology who are working very hard to produce innovative novel cancer treatments (care systems) under extremely difficult situations. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all staff of the National Cancer Center (Tsukiji campus) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare who strongly supported our activities and who continue to be our partners.
Hiroyasu Esumi, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Center Hospital East
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