Annual Report 2021
Division of International Health Policy Research
Tomohiro Matsuda, Norie Sawada, Laureline Gatellier, Rieko Kanehara, Rina Katayama, Kayo Nakata, Mark Gunter, Kumiko Saika, Sumiyo Okawa, Hadrien Charvat, Heinz Freisling, Asako Umeda, Erica Nakao, Wakaba Hamamatsu, Akane Taminaga
Introduction
Viewing cancer as a global health issue to be tackled by Asia and the entire world, the division is involved in standardizing the international code, rule-setting and research methods, and improving the research level of Asian countries. Through these activities, we will establish a research infrastructure for public health sciences.
The Team and What We Do
Besides establishing a research infrastructure, our objective is to connect to more large-scale research and domestic/overseas projects by starting up pioneering model research with international organizations, overseas research institutions and cancer centers, the 6NCs (the 6 National Research Centers for Advanced and Specialized Medical Care in Japan) etc., and then demonstrating research outcomes. Our research includes international comparative studies for setting standards and guidelines in cancer registration/statistics and cancer diagnosis and screening, infrastructure development such as cancer registration and proposing cancer control measures based on research on cancer policy. Furthermore, our research spans everything from basic research to clinical trials, treatment, care and survivorship for rare cancers such as pediatric cancer. We proactively work together with other departments of the National Cancer Center.
Research activities
1. Cancer Policy Research and Proposition of Common Cancer Control Measures
We jointly operate the secretariat of the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA), which serves as an international research platform for the 17 national cancer centers in the member countries, making it possible to study, compare and analyze the healthcare system and cancer control of each country. In addition to the results of the analysis, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Division of Prevention, we are moving forward with the project on an Asian Code against Cancer and aiming to establish Asian common cancer control measures based on scientific evidence.
2. Development of Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) and Estimation of Cancer Incidence in Asia
As a Collaborative Center designated by IARC, we take part in the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) to standardize cancer registration and cancer statistics. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with Vital Strategies, we disseminate the standardized rules to Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and other Asian countries. We apply statistical models to estimate cancer incidence in these areas.
3. Estimation of the Burden of Rare Cancers and Collaboration with Clinical Trials in Asia
Under the framework of Rare Cancers Asia, we worked together with South Korea, Taiwan Thailand, Malaysia and India to launch RARECAREnet Asia, which provides estimations of the burden (incidence, survival and prevalence) of rare cancers including pediatric cancers. Moreover, we are collaboratively implementing the project ATLAS for developing an infrastructure for clinical trials in Asia, led by the Division of International Clinical Development of National Cancer Center Hospital.
4. Clinical Research with Population-Based Cancer Statistics as an Entry Point
With IARC and IKNL in the Netherlands, we are implementing a long-term follow-up research project for cancer patients based on population-based cancer statistics. To conduct this research, under the initiative of the Population-based Cohort Study Section of the Division of Cohort Consortium Research, we are proceeding to establish a collaborative section with IARC.
5. Standardization of Childhood Cancer Staging, Survival Estimation, and Development of Statistical Infrastructure
Cooperating with Italy and the UK, we are conducting survival analysis (BENCHISTA Project) by applying the standard rules, the Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage Guidelines (which were proposed by a research group led by the Cancer Council Queensland of Australia), to Japanese clinical/PBCR data. We are also participating in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) promoted by the WHO, and are involved in the development of statistical infrastructure for childhood cancer together with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA.
6. Development of Data Sharing Technologies That Do Not Entail Exchanging Individual Information
In light of the strict personal information protection rules nowadays, above all in international collaborative research, we are planning to shift from constructing big-database to virtual data sharing technologies (Vantage6) that do not entail exchanging individual information, working with IKNL in the Netherlands.
Education
In the framework of the ANCCA, we were involved in research guidance and thesis writing guidance for researchers mainly in Southeast Asian countries.
Future Prospects
Pioneering the establishment of model international collaborative research, which will lead to research on a larger scale and national and international projects. Bearing in mind cross-disciplinary collaboration with hospitals, research institutes, and external organizations from the research design stage, without being bound by organizational boundaries.
List of papers published in 2021
Journal
1. Sawada N, Nakaya T, Kashima S, Yorifuji T, Hanibuchi T, Charvat H, Yamaji T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Iso H, Tsugane S. Long-term exposure to fine particle matter and all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in Japan: the JPHC Study. BMC public health, 22:466, 2022
2. Ma E, Shimazu T, Song M, Charvat H, Sawada N, Yamaji T, Inoue M, Camargo MC, Kemp TJ, Pfeiffer RM, Pinto LA, Rabkin CS, Tsugane S. Circulating Inflammation Markers and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Prospective Case-Cohort Study in Japan. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention: a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 31:236-241, 2022
3. Charvat H, Freisling H, Noh H, Gaudet MM, Gunter MJ, Cross AJ, Tsilidis KK, Tjonneland A, Katzke V, Bergmann M, Agnoli C, Rylander C, Skeie G, Jakszyn P, Rosendahl AH, Sund M, Severi G, Tsugane S, Sawada N, Brenner H, Adami HO, Weiderpass E, Soerjomataram I, Arnold M . Excess Body Fatness during Early to Mid-Adulthood and Survival from Colorectal and Breast Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of Five International Cohort Studies. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention: a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 31:325-333, 2022
4. Ihira H, Sawada N, Inoue M, Yasuda N, Yamagishi K, Charvat H, Iwasaki M, Tsugane S. Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Disabling Dementia in Japan. JAMA network open, 5:e224590, 2022
5. Nakata K, Gatellier L. International variations in leukaemia incidence in children and adolescents. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 52:288-290, 2022
6. Gatellier L, Matsuda T. International variations in central nervous system incidence in children and adolescents. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 52:509-511, 2022
7. Pilleron S, Alqurini N, Ferlay J, Haase KR, Hannan M, Janssen-Heijnen M, Kantilal K, Katanoda K, Kenis C, Lu-Yao G, Matsuda T, Navarrete E, Nikita N, Puts M, Strohschein FJ, Morris EJA. International trends in cancer incidence in middle-aged and older adults in 44 countries. Journal of geriatric oncology, 13:346-355, 2022
8. Gatellier L, Shankar A, Dewi LKM, Hussain QM, Dendup Wangdi T, Sukumaran DB, Sari NK, Tavakkoli Shiraji S, Biglari M, Tahmasebi M, Iwata S, Suzuki T, Myung SK, Chun JY, Han JS, Lau FN, Yusak S, Bayarsaikhan L, Mu KT, Pradhananga KK, Yusuf A, Lin CH, Chiang RC, Sangrajran S, Nguyen QT, Huong GN, Soe AN, Sharma DN, Sengar M, Pramesh CS, Matsuda T, Jarrahi AM, Hwang W. The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care in the Post Pandemic World: Five Major Lessons Learnt from Challenges and Countermeasures of Major Asian Cancer Centres. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 22:681-690, 2021
9. Stacchiotti S, Frezza AM, Blay JY, Baldini EH, Bonvalot S, Bovée JVMG, Callegaro D, Casali PG, Chiang RC, Demetri GD, Demicco EG, Desai J, Eriksson M, Gelderblom H, George S, Gounder MM, Gronchi A, Gupta A, Haas RL, Hayes-Jardon A, Hohenberger P, Jones KB, Jones RL, Kasper B, Kawai A, Kirsch DG, Kleinerman ES, Le Cesne A, Lim J, Chirlaque López MD, Maestro R, Marcos-Gragera R, Martin Broto J, Matsuda T, Mir O, Patel SR, Raut CP, Razak ARA, Reed DR, Rutkowski P, Sanfilippo RG, Sbaraglia M, Schaefer IM, Strauss DC, Sundby Hall K, Tap WD, Thomas DM, van der Graaf WTA, van Houdt WJ, Visser O, von Mehren M, Wagner AJ, Wilky BA, Won YJ, Fletcher CDM, Dei Tos AP, Trama A . Ultra-rare sarcomas: A consensus paper from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society community of experts on the incidence threshold and the list of entities. Cancer, 127:2934-2942, 2021
10. Matsuda T, Matsuo K, Sawada N, Inoue M. International strategy in cancer epidemiology: Japan's involvement in global projects and future role. Global health & medicine, 3:187-195, 2021
11. Katanoda K, Hori M, Saito E, Shibata A, Ito Y, Minami T, Ikeda S, Suzuki T, Matsuda T. Updated Trends in Cancer in Japan: Incidence in 1985-2015 and Mortality in 1958-2018-A Sign of Decrease in Cancer Incidence. Journal of epidemiology, 31:426-450, 2021
12. Nozue M, Shimazu T, Charvat H, Mori N, Mutoh M, Sawada N, Iwasaki M, Yamaji T, Inoue M, Kokubo Y, Yamagishi K, Iso H, Tsugane S. Fermented soy products intake and risk of cardiovascular disease and total cancer incidence: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective study. European journal of clinical nutrition, 75:954-968, 2021
13. Camargo MC, Song M, Sawada N, Inoue M, Shimazu T, Charvat H, Pfeiffer RM, Yamaji T, Tsugane S, Rabkin CS. Prediagnostic circulating inflammation-related biomarkers and gastric cancer: A case-cohort study in Japan. Cytokine, 144:155558, 2021
14. Charvat H, Saito E. Age-specific larynx cancer incidence rate in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:1181-1182, 2021
15. Miranda-Filho A, Charvat H, Bray F, Migowski A, Cheung LC, Vaccarella S, Johansson M, Carvalho AL, Robbins HA. A modeling analysis to compare eligibility strategies for lung cancer screening in Brazil. EClinicalMedicine, 42:101176, 2021
16. Rumgay H, Shield K, Charvat H, Ferrari P, Sornpaisarn B, Obot I, Islami F, Lemmens VEPP, Rehm J, Soerjomataram I . Global burden of cancer in 2020 attributable to alcohol consumption: a population-based study. The Lancet. Oncology, 22:1071-1080, 2021
17. Charvat H, Belot A . mexhaz: An R Package for Fitting Flexible Hazard-Based Regression Models for Overall and Excess Mortality with a Random Effect. J Stat Softw, 98:1-36, 2021
18. Marant Micallef C, Charvat H, Houot MT, Vignat J, Straif K, Paul A, El Yamani M, Pilorget C, Soerjomataram I . Estimated number of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France in 2017: an update using a new method for improved estimates. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2021
19. Matsuda T, Charvat H. Age-specific testis cancer incidence rate in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:1019-1020, 2021
20. Pilleron S, Maringe C, Charvat H, Atkinson J, Morris E, Sarfati D. Age disparities in lung cancer survival in New Zealand: The role of patient and clinical factors. Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 157:92-99, 2021
21. Bonjour M, Charvat H, Franco EL, Piñeros M, Clifford GM, Bray F, Baussano I . Global estimates of expected and preventable cervical cancers among girls born between 2005 and 2014: a birth cohort analysis. The Lancet. Public health, 6:e510-e521, 2021
22. Pilleron S, Maringe C, Charvat H, Atkinson J, Morris EJA, Sarfati D. The impact of timely cancer diagnosis on age disparities in colon cancer survival. Journal of geriatric oncology, 12:1044-1051, 2021
23. Marant Micallef C, Paul A, Charvat H, Vignat J, Houot M, Pilorget C, Straif K, El Yamani M, Soerjomataram I . An innovative method to estimate lifetime prevalence of carcinogenic occupational circumstances: the example of painters and workers of the rubber manufacturing industry in France. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 31:769-776, 2021
24. Pilleron S, Charvat H, Araghi M, Arnold M, Fidler-Benaoudia MM, Bardot A, Grønlie Guren M, Tervonen H, Little A, O’Connell DL, Gavin A, De P, Aagard Thomsen L, Møller B, Jackson C, Bucher O, Walsh PM, Vernon S, Bray F, Soerjomataram I . Age disparities in stage-specific colon cancer survival across seven countries: An International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership SURVMARK-2 population-based study. International journal of cancer, 148:1575-1585, 2021
25. Gatellier L, Ong SK, Matsuda T, Ramlee N, Lau FN, Yusak S, Werdi Nintindo D HRS, Jayusman AM, Syarif AH, Pradhananga KK, Yusuf A, Huong GN, Sengar M, Pramesh CS, Mosavi Jarrahi A, Suzuki T, Hwang WY. Preparing for the Next Pandemic: An Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) Initiative. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 22:2945-2950, 2021
26. Gatellier L, Matsuda T. Age-specific incidence rate of brain and nervous system malignancy in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 2021
27. Saika K, Gatellier L. Age-specific lymphoma incidence rate in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:1599-1600, 2021
28. Gatellier L, Moue Y, Matsuda T. NQPC-10 (Rare) Cancer patients’ unmet needs (patient-focused healthcare needs) survey. Neurooncol Adv, 3:vi22, 2021
29. Nomur K, Gatellier L, Yamaguchi S, Kato S,Tagawa H. COT-29 The Japan Brain Tumor Alliance: Achievements in 2020?2021: highlights for neuro-oncologists and healthcare professionals. Neurooncol Adv, 3:vi31, 2021
30. Gatellier L. Rare cancers and brain tumors in Japan and Asia. Cancer Research, 81:615, 2021
31. Niino M, Matsuda T. Age-specific skin cancer incidence rate in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:848-849, 2021
32. Matsuda T. Moving from collective to distributed epidemiological cancer research. The Lancet. Respiratory medicine, 9:945-947, 2021
33. Matsuda T. Lecture No. 3 Current status and future outlook for collection of cancer-related data in Asia. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:i14-i16, 2021
34. Lombe D, Sullivan R, Caduff C, Ali Z, Bhoo-Pathy N, Cleary J, Jalink M, Matsuda T, Mukherji D, Sarfati D, Vanderpuye V, Yusuf A, Booth C. Silver linings: a qualitative study of desirable changes to cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecancermedicalscience, 15:1202, 2021
35. Harashima S, Fujimori M, Akechi T, Matsuda T, Saika K, Hasegawa T, Inoue K, Yoshiuchi K, Miyashiro I, Uchitomi Y, J Matsuoka Y. Death by suicide, other externally caused injuries and cardiovascular diseases within 6 months of cancer diagnosis (J-SUPPORT 1902). Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:744-752, 2021
36. Matsuda T, Charvat H. Age-specific testis cancer incidence rate in the world. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 51:1019-1020, 2021