Annual Report 2018
Preface
Under the vision of providing the best possible cancer treatment and care through a committed partnership with the community, the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) has functioned as a hub hospital for cancer therapy in Japan, has been providing the best medical treatment for each cancer patient, and has undertaken high-quality clinical research to discover more effective, safer, brand-new medicines since its establishment in 1962.
One of our main objectives in 2018 included implementation of cancer genomic medicine in clinical practice. We have evaluated the feasibility and utility of the NCC Oncopanel test, which has been developed in the TOP-GEAR projects of the NCCH. The advanced medical care B, a clinical study, to test the Oncopanel was started in early 2018 and completed within the same fiscal year. The OncoGuide® NCC oncopanel system was finally approved as a medical device simultaneously with the FoundationOne® CDx in December 2018.
To provide precision medicine for cancer patients, the NCCH has regularly held the multidisciplinary molecular tumor board (called the expert panel) as one of the Designated Core Hospitals for Cancer Genomic Medicine and Clinical Trials Core Hospitals. The expert panel discusses the genetic alterations found in the oncopanel systems and suggests recommended medicines according to the Clinical Practice Guidance for Next Generation Sequencing in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. The final reports are explained to patients by medical oncologists, and patients can receive recommended therapy after informed consent if available. Based on our results, however, only 10% to 20% of patients could receive targeted therapy according to their gene alterations although more than 50% of patients, who obtain gene profiling data, harbor actionable gene alterations. We, NCCH, have greatly increased registered clinical trials including investigator-initiated registered trials to provide treatment opportunities for as many cancer patients as possible. To increase the number of early clinical trials and to become a global trilateral clinical development center, we have created the early clinical trial consortium, the AsiaOne (Asian Oncology Early Phase I Consortium), and have conducted academia-initiated international clinical studies, such as the PATHWAY study. We have joined the CRIGH (Clinical Research Initiative for Global Health) and independently lead one of its important projects, the Research Ethic.
Our clinical research support office has been reinforced to conduct clinical research under the Clinical Trials Act that came into effect in April 2018. As a result, in 2018, we conducted more than 200 academiainitiated clinical studies in addition to the above-mentioned sponsor- and investigator-initiated registered trials. In particular, we have focused on the medical development of rare cancer and refractory cancer, which have many unmet medical needs. In rare cancer, we have provided information on rare cancers through HP as well as Meet-the-Expert (MtE) sessions, and host a telephone consultation system (Rare Cancer Hotline) for patients and relatives, and for general health care providers, as a National Institute for Rare Cancers . In medical development, we are now conducting the MATER KEY project, a registry study of rare cancer and rare fractions combined with basket and umbrella trials based on biomarkers. In addition, we have been promoting the development of medical techniques and devices required for minimally invasive therapy including robotic surgery, endoscopic surgery, endoscopic treatment, and IVR treatment, and have achieved a track record in minimally invasive therapy.
During the year, the NCCH has launched several projects to realize our vision. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
National Cancer Center Hospital
The Director, Toshirou Nishida