Clonal Hematopoiesis: A paradigm shift in the development of blood and solid cancers

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room1

Purpose / Aim

The discovery of clonal hematopoiesis (CH) has innovated the novel scientific world in both blood and solid cancers. CH is a state in which hematopoietic stem cells acquire somatic mutations in genes involved in epigenetic pathways, splicing machineries, DNA repair, and as so forth during aging. CH serves as a predisposing state for various age-related diseases, including lifestyle diseases and cancers. Remarkably, in patients of solid and blood cancers harboring CH, the immune cells derived from CH are infiltrated into cancer tissues and serve as a niche to support cancer cells. Furthermore, CH is important in cancer management: Eventual detection of CH by panel sequencing, especially liquid biopsies may influence the choice of treatment options. CH affects side effects of immune therapies and cytotoxic drugs in cancer therapies. Paradoxically, cancer therapies shape the mutational profiles of CH, and induce secondary blood cancers originated from CH. In this symposium, we will focus on the recent progress in the roles of CH in cancer development and management, targeting both blood and solid cancers. The deeper insight into CH will lead to the better managements of cancers.

RNA Splicing as a New Hallmark of Cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room1

Purpose / Aim

Dysregulated RNA splicing is a molecular feature that characterizes almost all tumor types. Cancer-associated splicing alterations arise from both mutations affecting splice sites as cis-acting factors and recurrent mutations or altered expression of trans-acting factors governing splicing catalysis and regulation. These aberrant splicing events promote tumorigenesis via diverse mechanisms, contributing to increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, enhanced migration and metastatic potential, resistance to chemotherapy and evasion of immune surveillance. Recent studies have identified specific cancer-associated isoforms that play critical roles in cancer cell transformation and growth and demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of correcting or otherwise antagonizing such cancer-associated mRNA isoforms. In addition, clinical-grade small molecules that modulate or inhibit RNA splicing have been developed as promising anticancer therapeutics. This JCA-AACR Joint Symposium presents cutting-edge research on aberrant RNA splicing in cancer and discuss the outstanding questions and challenges that should be addressed to translate these findings into the clinic. As far as the organizers know, this will be the first big session on RNA splicing in the history of JCA annual meetings, adding RNA splicing as a new hallmark in cancer.

Young Plenary Symposium

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～15:40　Room1

Purpose / Aim

The first author (a young researcher) of an outstanding original paper will be selected by the program committee members to give an oral presentation on the paper and its subsequent development at the main venue of the conference.

Stories for cancer drug development originating from Japan

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）16:20～18:20　Room1

Symposium on Drug Seed Discovery

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～10:30　Room1

AMED Symposium:Mission of AMED Cancer Research and Future Challenges -Beyond 10 Year Strategy for Cancer Research-

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）10:30～11:30　Room1

Purpose / Aim

Based on the 10-year strategy for cancer research, AMED has supported many academic studies since its establishment.
Cancer research projects of AMED has been conducted through two core projects to advance research & development (R&D) from the early stage of actual drug development (target discovery) to the late stage (clinical development).
These projects are based on researchers' originality and ingenuity, and AMED, PS/PO, and “support organizations” work together to establish a system to manage progress and provide support according to the milestones of each research project.
In the second phase of AMED, a new project promotion system has been established based on drug discovery modalities, and R&D is proceeding toward the creation and exit phase of highly novel seeds through collaboration with or utilization of other related programs. These efforts are expected to make further progress toward the practical application of academic seeds.
In the lectures, we will introduce the research policy from the entrance to the exit of cancer research supported by AMED and the expectations for each research topics from the PS/PO of the two core projects. We hope that this symposium will lead to discussion of the cancer research issues that AMED should address in the next decade will be discussed, and that many researchers will participate in AMED projects in the future.

Woman Scientist Plenary Symposium

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～15:40　Room1

Purpose / Aim

The first author (a female researcher) of an outstanding original paper will be selected by the program committee members to give an oral presentation regarding her paper and subsequent developments of the research project. The presentation will be held at the main conference venue. We hope this symposium will encourage young women researchers.

Translational Medicine

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）7:50～8:40　Room1

Nature

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）11:50～12:40　Room1

Cancer Discover

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）7:50～8:40　Room1

Joint Symposium with Future of cancer immunology and immunotherapy

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room15

Purpose / Aim

With the successes of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy has become one of the standard strategies in cancer therapies for various types of cancer. However, the clinical efficacy is still limited, and more than half of patients failed to respond to cancer immunotherapies. Therefore, it is urgently required to identify predictive biomarkers that can stratify responders from non-responders and to develop more effective cancer immunotherapeutic strategies based on basic research. Thus, in this joint symposium of 3 academic societies (JCA, JSI, and JACI), we will address various obstacles to successful cancer immunotherapy; Understanding immunosuppressive components in the tumor microenvironment which hamper the induction of effective antitumor immunity is a key issue for the future of cancer immunotherapy tailored to each patient. We hope our discussion will help progress toward the next generation of cancer immunotherapy.

Frontiers of Anticancer Drug Modality Research

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room2

Purpose / Aim

Various treatment modalities have been developed to overcome cancer. The modalities now include genetically modified T cells, oncolytic viruses, and vaccines to strengthen the immune response against cancer. This symposium is planned to introduce emerging pharmaceutical research aimed at developing novel modalities for cancer diagnosis and therapy and share the vision of future directions with the audience. Organic chemistry has advanced the creation of novel functional molecules designed as theranostic probes that aid diagnosis and therapy, and efficient delivery of treatments (small molecules and RNA/DNA) to their target cells and even intracellular target organelles (mitochondria). The presentations will also shed light on the challenges faced in investigating live bacteria as a new treatment modality and signal transduction elicited by lipid mediators in tumor immunity. The six lines of research are expected to be able to address the public’s expectations regarding new approaches to cancer therapy.

Metabolism for new understanding of cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room5

Purpose / Aim

The development of new analytical techniques has enabled comprehensive analysis of metabolites, identification of new metabolites, quantification of metabolites, and tracer analysis using stable isotopes, and metabolism research in biochemistry has been very active. While nucleic acids and proteins located upstream of the central dogma can be comprehensively investigated to some extent using certain analytical methods, metabolites at the bottom of the dogma are extremely diverse and cannot be detected unless analytical methods are tailored to the properties of individual metabolites. We believe that there are still many important metabolites that we are unaware of. We also expect that there are metabolites whose dynamics we are unaware of and which play important regulatory roles. In this symposium, up-and-coming young researchers from Japan and abroad will present their latest research results on the characteristics of cancer that have been revealed by metabolic studies and their potential therapeutic applications.

Advances in spatial analysis using cancer tissue

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room16

Purpose / Aim

This symposium, in collaboration with the Japanese Society of Pathology (JSP), focuses on the spatial analysis of cancer tissue, which has recently been introduced in the research field. To date, single-cell analysis has revealed specific cancer cell clusters, together with various cellular components comprising the microenvironment with infiltrating immune cells. In addition, techniques for spatial transcriptome analysis, including Visium, Xenium, CosMx, and MERSCOPE, have been developed, resulting in the acceleration of further understanding of cancer tissues. Thus, collaboration between pathologists with a profound understanding of cancer tissues and basic researchers actively facilitates scRNA-seq, and spatial transcriptome analysis may provide novel insights into cancer research. In this symposium, an initial overview and expectations are followed by the recent advancements in cancer research using these techniques. We hope that this collaborative symposium of the JCA-JSP will create an epoch of new cancer research for a precise understanding of the spatiotemporal construction of cancer tissues, contributing to the discovery of aspects of clonal evolution of cancers and new therapeutic targets.

Hereditary tumor syndromes and genetic counseling in the era of cancer genomic medicine

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room17

Purpose / Aim

Hereditary tumor syndromes (HTS) are also entering a new era, both in their clinical management and research, ushered mainly by the high-throughput sequencing technologies and various informational resources. Multi-gene panels have been offered increasingly in oncology clinical practice, and whole-genome analyses for cancer and intractable diseases are underway as a national project. Genetic counseling is a core of every aspect of clinical care of HTS, from diagnosis and treatment to prevention, and approach to at-risk relatives. Genetic counseling is also required to be updated and ready for the New Era with comprehensive germline genomic profiling. Even if we focus our attention on genetic diagnosis, the emerging impacts will be at least three-fold: 1) expansion of the landscape of genetic predisposition to cancer to encompass moderate risk variants, modifiers and polygenic influences, 2) increasing chance to encounter secondary findings, including non-neoplastic diseases and 3) paucity of data on genotype-phenotype relationships for variants detected in the absence of classical HTS phenotypes. The New Era demands multidisciplinary collaborations beyond the current level, and the Symposium has been organized as a joint session by 3 societies, The Japan Society of Human Genetics, The Japanese Society for Genetic Counseling and The Japanese Cancer Association. We expect and welcome active and open, inspiring discussions on genetic and genomic medicine for HTS.

Encounter of Cancer Research and Molecular Biology: Symposium in Commemoration of Professor Fumimaro Takaku

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room3

Purpose / Aim

The current cancer therapeutics rely on our comprehension of cancer at the molecular level. The breakthrough commenced in the mid-1970s, upon the discovery of oncogenes. During the 1980s, Dr. Fumimaro Takaku (1931-2022), the professor of the Third Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Tokyo, recognized the lack of molecular biology laboratories in clinical departments in Japan. Concerned that this deficiency would hinder the future provision of advanced therapies to patients, he established a laboratory (the Eighth Laboratory, Hachi-ken) to conduct research using molecular biological tools to developing new therapies for cancer. It must have been an arduous task for Prof. Takaku to establish a new laboratory with costly instruments and reagents in the 1980s when Japan was just starting to grow economically. Nevertheless, he surmounted the obstacle, and the laboratory has since produced numerous researchers who have each contributed to cancer biology. We are honored to hold this symposium in memory of Dr. Fumimaro Takaku, who passed away in 2022. We also deeply regret that Dr. Hisamaru Hirai, who strove to establish Hachi-ken as a leader and made significant contributions to leukemia research, cannot be among the speakers due to his premature death at the age of fifty-one.

Innovative Clinical Trials

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room4

A Brand-new World of Cancer Medicine Brought about by Liquid Biopsy

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room16

Purpose / Aim

Liquid biopsy (LB) is a method to acquire clinical information by detecting cfDNA, ctDNA, miRNA, exosomes, etc. in blood or urine. In unresectable advanced cancer, LB has already been clinically applied and reported to provide real-time information that cannot be obtained from the primary tumor tissue, enabling rapid drug selection. In addition to this, clinical development in the fields of cancer screening diagnosis (e.g., MCED) and recurrence diagnosis (MRD) is currently in progress, and future technological innovation has the potential to even make it possible to diagnose all aspects of cancer. We would like to discuss the status of these developments and future prospects from the basic to the clinical level.

Onco-Cardiology: Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities in a New Interdisciplinary Research Field

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room17

Purpose / Aim

Onco-Cardiology is a novel interdisciplinary field aimed at addressing the emerging cardiovascular pathologies resulting from cancer treatment advancements and enhancing cancer treatment outcomes. Cardiotoxicity resulting from anthracyclines and radiotherapy has been known as cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). However, new pathologies such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, arrhythmia, thromboembolism, pericardial disease, and peripheral vascular disease have emerged due to molecularly targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, urgent research is needed to address these new cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicities (CTR-CVT) in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Recently, the development of interdisciplinary practice guidelines has highlighted the unmet medical needs and evidence gaps in this field, driving the need for increased collaboration between the oncology and cardiology to support translational research. At this joint symposium of the Japanese Onco-Cardiology Society (JOCS) and the Japanese Cancer Association (JCA), we will discuss the current status and future challenges of Onco-Cardiology, exploring the opportunities for basic, clinical, and epidemiological research.

New trends in the control of senescent cells and SASP in cancer therapy

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room3

Purpose / Aim

In recent years, it has been reported that chemotherapy drugs such as CDK4/6 inhibitors and radiotherapy induce cellular senescence in cancer and stromal cells, which contributes to cancer treatment resistance and recurrence. Furthermore, senescent cells are involved in the development and malignancy of various cancers via senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Therefore, understanding the roles of senescent cells and SASP in the cancer microenvironment is expected to lead to control of the increase in cancer incidence with aging and the malignancy of cancer. Development of senolytic drugs targeting senescent cells and senomorphic drugs regulating SASP derived from senescent cells is actively underway for cancer prevention and treatment. In this session, we will discuss novel cancer treatment strategies targeting senescent cells and SASP in the cancer microenvironment.

Dynamic gene regulation program in mediating adaptation and plasticity of cancers establishing tissue heterogeneity

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room5

Purpose / Aim

Recent studies showed that gene expression is regulated by multiple layers of a dynamic coordination of regulatory factors at certain genomic loci. In many types of cancers, genetic alterations are found in such factors, especially epigenetic regulators, RNA splicing factors, and RNA binding proteins, indicating the crucial properties of these factors during carcinogenesis. Epigenetic regulators and other associated proteins in many important nuclear processes was shown to engage in multilayer cooperative interactions that dynamically regulate not only cancer cells but also the cells composing tumor microenvironment including different types of immune cells. These findings may raise a possibility of novel drug targets for cancer treatment. In this session, researchers from Asian counties discuss an emerging perspective of gene regulatory network, which contributes to establish tumor cells and their microenvironmental heterogeneity.

The comprehensive understanding of cancer genome by integrated whole genome sequencing and epigenome analyses using new technologies

Live/On Demand9月21日（木）13:40～16:10　Room8

Purpose / Aim

The Whole Cancer Genome Sequencing Project initiated in Japan has led to the accumulation of large-scale whole-genome data. However, to elucidate mutations and structural abnormalities in non-coding regions, which are expected to be newly discovered by whole-genome analysis, it is essential to understand functional genomic regions such as enhancers, transcriptional regulators, and long non-coding RNAs. Methods such as ChIP-seq and ATACseq, which assess chromatin status, have been incorporated into clinical samples, and the epigenomic status of the entire cancer genome is being clarified through allele-specific methylation analysis by long-read analysis and full-length transcriptome sequencing. In this session, we will focus on new research areas that integrate epigenomic and whole-genome analysis technologies, which are currently advancing rapidly, and invite international researchers, including young scientists, to present their latest research results and discuss the prospects for new cancer genome research starting from whole-genome data.

Advances in Cancer Epidemiology from Molecular Aspects

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room2

Purpose / Aim

It has been a long time since “molecular epidemiology” was introduced into the field of cancer epidemiology. Initially, hypothesis-based research using functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was mainly conducted but various approaches using a SNP-chip along with advance in genotyping technic have emerged such as whole-genome association analysis, mendelian randomization analysis, and development of polygenic risk score. Although primary aim of epidemiology is to prevent cancer, application to preventive measures has been challenge due to limited evidence considering environmental factors in many large-scale studies. Against this background, the aim of this session is to present the latest approaches in molecular epidemiology of cancer by researchers representing the Asian region, and to promote future collaboration in molecular epidemiology of cancer in Asia.

New perspectives on genomic instability in cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room5

Purpose / Aim

Large-scale genomic analyses of cancer have shown that genomic instability is closely linked to cancer initiation, progression and drug resistance. It is also becoming clear how genomic instability arises at the cellular level and how it affects the properties of cancer cells. Furthermore, there is a growing trend to view genomic instability as a weakness of cancer cells and as a new therapeutic target. This International Session will discuss the latest findings on genomic instability in cancer at the cellular level, which complement large-scale genomic analyses of cancer and may lead to new therapeutic opportunities.

Challenges in developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer using novel animal models

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room8

Purpose / Aim

Advances in cancer research and in vivo model engineering are intricately linked and have grown hand in hand. The contribution of current models in the discovery of the new diagnostics and therapeutics is noteworthy. However, there exist large discrepancies between the actual clinical pathology and existing animal models, and new models that address these differences will further advance this field. Recent novel technological development enables researchers and clinicians not only to engineer new animal models, but also to re-purpose/re-engineer existing animal models such as zebrafish or fruit flies that have been utilized for a longtime. Due to limitations of existing animal models and increasing ethical regulations, the usage of these lower organism models will play important roles in both understanding of pathophysiological elucidation and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this session, we aim to discuss various emerging animal models that is likely to have a profound impact in the years to come.

Genomic/Epigenomic Adaptation in Life Cycle of Cancer Cells

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room15

Purpose / Aim

As represented by cancer genome therapy, comprehensive omics analysis and its medical application have been remarkably conducted and tried in cancer field. Many issues are, however, yet to be solved such as development of accurate cancer risk prediction and prevention, detailed stratification of treatment and recurrence prediction, and novel therapeutic agents for recurrent and refractory tumors. While cells are exposed to various carcinogenic factors and microenvironments, they adapt and evolve their genome structures and epigenome modifications in various ways from precancerous stages accumulating cancer risks to development of cancer, during progression and metastasis, or acquiring resistance to treatment during recurrence. Through various analytic approaches such as three-dimensional chromatin structure, spatial transcriptome, and single-cell analysis, elucidation of such genome/epigenome adaptation of cancer cells in their lifetime and development of medical strategies are comprehensively conducted in Japan and Asia. We will discuss on frontier studies in this field and disseminate cutting-edge information in this session.

New horizons in tumor microenvironment biology for cancer therapy

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room16

Purpose / Aim

Dynamic interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment consisting of stromal cells and extracellular matrix components play important roles in the evolution of cancer cells. Components of tumor stroma, including tumor vessels, cancer associate fibroblasts and immune cells, are also affected by cancer cells and communicate with them. Increasing lines of evidence have suggested that these mutual interaction between cancer cells and tumor stroma alter the tumor microenvironment, which leads to cancer progression and metastasis. Therefore, understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms governing these interactions can be used as a novel strategy to disrupt cancer cell interplay and contribute to the development of efficient therapeutic strategies to fight cancer. In this symposium, leading scientists in the field of tumor microenvironment will introduce the recent progress in their fields, and discuss how to develop effective and safe cancer therapies by targeting the tumor microenvironment.

UICC

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room8

New trends in radiation therapy and radiobiology

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room15

Purpose / Aim

The focus of this session is to create a forum on new trends in radiation therapy and radiobiology in cancer researcher’s community. Radiation therapy has been established as a standard therapy against cancer and widely applied to treatment for various cancers. Recently, new radiation therapies have emerged; proton beam therapy, heavy ion therapy, boron neutron capture therapy, targeted alpha therapy and so on. These radiotherapeutic modalities impact on oncology not only in Europe and the United States, but also in Asia and Oceania. In order to accelerate these trends and further develop next generation radiation therapy, the contribution of radiobiology is fully expected. Radiobiology has so far made a great contribution not only to radiation oncology but also life sciences including cancer research. However, there are many challenging issues to be addressed, especially the biological or biophysical effects on living body after irradiation. New findings and technical advances in radiobiology will lead to the innovation of radiation therapy. In this session, we will invite cutting-edge researchers and radiation oncologists in Asia and Oceania to share our future on radiation therapy and radiobiology.

Evolutionary Biology of Tumor Initiation and Progression

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room16

Purpose / Aim

On one hand, multistep carcinogenesis bears a high degree of similarity to Darwin's definition of evolution because it is characterized by heterogeneous cells with the ability to self-renew and by selection pressure from the microenvironment. On the other hand, it clearly differs from biological evolution in that cancer evolution is initiated by a genome that is already complex from the start, and epigenetic effects promote cancer evolution. Indeed, some tumors develop with minimal genetic changes, while cellular plasticity contributes to both tumor development and progression. However, an evolutionary theory capable of explaining these features of the carcinogenic process has not yet been established. Therefore, in this session, we call for theoretical and experimental studies to understand cancer evolution and to enable evolutionary-based cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. Specifically, this includes single-cell analysis of cancer tissue, spontaneous carcinogenesis from non-human species, and studies focusing on the contribution of cell lineage-specific genes to carcinogenesis. In addition, proposals for new theories specific to cancer evolution and research on therapeutic strategies based on cancer evolutionary theory are also welcome.

Proteogenomics Analysis Opens New Cancer Treatment and Diagnostic Strategies

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room5

Purpose / Aim

With the development of various omics analysis technologies in recent years, multi-omics analysis research is being actively conducted around the world, which can further develop the results of mature cancer genomics research.
In particular, in the field of proteogenomics analysis research that integrates genomics and proteomics, The International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium (ICPC), in which 14 countries participate, was established in 2016 under the leadership of the Cancer Moonshot Project in the United States.
In this framework, many important findings have been reported, including new cancer stratification and discovery of therapeutic targets based on proteogenomics. Moreover, further important discoveries are expected to be made in this field, from basic cancer biology to findings that will lead to clinical applications under global research collaborations and AI-assisted big data infrastructure.
In this session, we would like to provide an opportunity to learn about the new possibilities offered by proteogenomics analysis by inviting researchers with distinguished achievements and leadership in Asian countries.

AI opens up a new era of cancer research

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room2

Purpose / Aim

Expectations for artificial intelligence (AI) are rising with rapid advances in machine learning technology, particularly deep learning. AI is currently being introduced in various areas of society, and the medical field is no exception, with AI-based medical devices already in use not only at the research level but also in clinical practice. In cancer research, AI is beginning to be actively utilized in a wide range of fields, including analysis of medical images such as endoscopic images, pathological images, and radiological images, omics analysis, and drug discovery. In particular, recent cancer research requires analysis of large-scale data such as whole genome data and multimodal analysis of data from various modalities, and AI-based cancer research is expected to become increasingly important in the future. Therefore, this symposium will be held to present the latest results of AI-based cancer research and to help participants understand the current status of AI-based cancer research.

New waves in cancer germ line genomics anlaysis

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room4

Purpose / Aim

Both somatic and germline mutations play essential roles in cancer genomics. While our knowledge on somatic mutation spectra in cancers have developed in the last decade, we still do not know well how germline mutations affect carcinogenesis. To date, biological and clinical interaction between somatic and germline mutations is still elusive. Recent development of high throughput sequencing technology and the national biobank resources have elucidated that rare, low frequency, common, and genome-wide polygenic germline mutations synergically affect susceptibility and/or prognosis of a wide range of human cancers. Bioinformatics and machine learning methodologies to integrate such germline mutations and multi-layer human omics information becomes important. Contribution of the environmental factors, namely gene environmental interaction, is another important modality to understand cancer germline mutation pathogenesis. In this session, we have a series of the invited talks and panel discussions focusing on the latest updates of the cancer germline mutations towards personalized medicine.

Cutting-edge Genome Informatics: Unraveling the Mystery of Dark Matter Regions of a Human Genome

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room5

Revisiting epigenetics in cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room8

Purpose / Aim

Recent advances in molecular biology and functional genomics have enabled the identification of epigenetic alterations in specific genes and pathways that contribute to tumorigenesis. In addition, the use of epigenetic therapies, such as DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors, has shown promise in the treatment of certain types of cancer. However, many challenges still remain in the field of cancer epigenetics to fully understand the mechanisms of cancer development and maintenance. In this symposium, we will discuss the recent efforts to fully understand the complex interplay between genetics and epigenetics in tumorigenesis. We will also talk about emerging concepts of epigenetics related to the aging process, a major risk factor for various cancers. Furthermore, we will introduce an array of new and disruptive technologies to reveal new aspects of cancer epigenomics. These technologies include functional genomics tools that allow detailed studies of cancer epigenomics at high genomic resolution, as well as spatial epigenomic profiling methods at the single-cell level. This symposium aims to provide a forum for a lively discussion of new biology and technologies that will open up new directions in cancer epigenetics research.

New era in cancer biology to understand complex metastasis

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room16

Purpose / Aim

Most of cancer-related death is caused by metastasis, thus it is important to understand the molecular mechanism of metastasis to develop novel therapeutic strategy. Recent genome analysis demonstrated that accumulation of driver mutations is confirmed in the primary cancer tissues, and the metastasis-specific genetic alterations are rarely found. On the other hand, there have been shown to be novel biological mechanisms that include extracellular vesicle-led premetastatic niche generation, education of tumor-promoting stromal cells for survival of disseminated tumor cells, cell cluster migration and polyclonal metastasis, and stemness-regulated dormancy of the drug-resistant cells, etc. In this symposium, we would like to discuss about such novel biological mechanisms to expand our knowledge about metastasis development.

Frontiers in proteomics - from elucidation of molecular dynamics to　clinical application -

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room14

Purpose / Aim

Understanding cancer and developing treatments requires analyses not only genetic mutations but also the quantity and activity of proteins that regulate functions. With the advances of technologies such as next-generation DNA sequencing and RNA sequencing, genomic analysis in cancer has contributed to the identification of driver mutations and the development of targeted therapies. Although proteomics has lagged somewhat behind genomics, recent advances in proteomics technology over the past years have enabled direct, in depth, and quantitative analysis of the abundances of various cancer-related proteins, as well as their cancer specific amino acid alterations and post-transrational modifications in clinical samples. Deep proteomic profiling provides clinically useful information in various aspects, such as understanding the mechanisms of cancer physiology, and also discovering targets for diagnosis and anti-cancer agents. In this symposium, the cutting-edge proteomics technologies will be presented to provide an understanding of the current status of the latest clinical proteomics. Various topics will be covered, including the challenge of single-cell proteomics and integration with genomics. We hope to increase understanding of the potential and utility of different types of state-of-the-art proteomics platforms, and to promote collaborative research and clinical applications in the future.

New Research Initiatives to Make Cancer Epidemiological Research a Science

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room15

Evolving Technologies of Genetic Screening

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room16

Purpose / Aim

Recent studies have made remarkable strides in elucidating the pathogenesis of cancer. Specifically, determining the key signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis has been pivotal in understanding the mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression. Moreover, the identification of novel therapeutic targets has significantly promoted the development of anti-cancer drugs. In these studies, various screening technologies have contributed to delineating previously unappreciated genes governing cancers. For example, genome-wide genetic approaches in organoids and whole animals have unveiled essential genes implicated in cancer development, progression, and therapy resistance. This symposium invites six speakers who will present their cutting-edge achievements in various domains, including cancer initiation and progression. Sharing and discussing the latest methodologies and findings should open up new avenues for accelerating cancer research.

Analysis of cancer pathology due to the circular modulation of a neuronal network for comprehensive palliative care medicine

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room17

Purpose / Aim

The cancer immune response is not determined solely by the number and nature of cancer cells themselves, but rather is tightly regulated by the tumor microenvironment based on the association between cancer cells and heterologous cells, as well as by circulating endotoxins, cytokines, hormones, exosomes, immune cell responses, and even brain-peripheral nerve linkages. The "negative cancer-immune chain" is thought to involve a circular network of brain-based afferent and efferent nerves, which is significant for elucidating their structure and function. A growing body of clinical evidence suggests that residual pain significantly worsens the prognosis of various diseases including cancer. Thus, excessive pain signals can alter immune cell responses through systemic neural networks including sensory neurons, and weaken the organism. The importance of "mental care" in the treatment of pain is evident because patients with cancer pain often exhibit psychiatric issues. Therefore, we propose that an integrated understanding of the "comprehensive cancer pathophysiology" that includes bio-sensory and systemic neural networks, including dispersive local interactions between heterologous cells in the cancer microenvironment, is required. In this symposium, we focus on the effects of changes in peripheral-brain neural networks on cancer pathophysiology.

The Nexus of RNA Dysregulation in Cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room3

Purpose / Aim

Gene regulation is fundamental to cell activity and malignant transformation, in which a manifestation of changes in gene expression facilitate the growth and spread of cancer cells into foreign niches. Recent advances in cancer research have highlighted that alterations in multiple layers of RNA regulation, including transcription, RNA splicing, RNA editing and modification, RNA 3’-end processing, non-coding RNA regulation, and biomolecular condensate regulation, are widespread in cancer cells beyond genomic alterations, contributing to cancer hallmarks and cancer diversity, and further opening a new avenue for cancer treatment. As understanding of the basic mechanisms of RNA regulation has continued to grow in recent years, the spectrum of RNA dysregulation also interplays with genetic, epigenetic, and translational mechanisms to shape altered gene expression programs in cancer. In addition, technological advances in RNA biology, such as bioinformatics, next-generation sequencing, genome/RNA engineering, and single cell analysis, have elaborated system-level understanding of RNA dysregulation in cancer and identified novel targets for therapeutic development. This symposium will connect domestic and foreign researchers and discuss the cutting edge and future of RNA research in cancer biology.

Understanding cancer biology with diverse cancer models

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room4

Purpose / Aim

Due to the inability to model cancer in a living human body, researchers have developed various cancer models to simulate and investigate aspects of cancer in the laboratory, including mechanisms of cancer development, progression and drug sensitivity. Such models now encompass a panoply of in vitro, in vivo and computational models, with each model having its own strength and weakness. Although these model systems have provided significant insights into cancer biology, each model is in part self-contained and perhaps being used in its own research culture and community, hampering translational and transinstitutional effort toward the same goal of understanding cancer for human well-being. The use of cancer models that involve human tissues requires an adjustment of ethical issues, which also should not be overlooked. In this symposium, we would like to share our exciting insights obtained from a variety of cutting-edge cancer models. Through active discussion, we aspire not only to deepen our fundamental understanding of cancer biology but also to facilitate collaborative research through mutual recognition of each model and expertise.

Revolutionary development of immune cell-based therapeutics

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room15

Purpose / Aim

Cancer immunotherapy has been established as an effective therapeutic option for various types of cancer. Especially, adoptive immunotherapy is emerging as a potentially curative approach as represented by recent success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cell therapy against hematologic malignancies. However, multiple challenges still exist for this therapy, including poor efficacy against solid tumors, the development of serious immune-related side effects, huge economic costs required for the preparation of individual infusion products. Intensive efforts are currently in progress to further improve efficacy, safety, and versatility of this therapy. Since cell therapy is a “living drug”, we can modify and craft cells and their derivatives in a synthetic biology approach. In this symposium, we will introduce recent topics on basic, translational, and clinical research in cell-based immunotherapy. We will also discuss potential issues to accelerate clinical development of cell products from the standpoint of regulatory science.

Current Status of the Cancer Whole Genome Project and the Future of Cancer Medicine

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room2

Purpose / Aim

Cancer genomic medicine in Japan began in earnest with the implementation of gene panel testing covered by national health insurance in June 2019. However, the information obtained from this testing is limited to less than 0.1% of the entire genome. To enhance the effectiveness of therapy, understand the intricate biology of cancer, and develop new therapeutic drugs, it has become essential to promote the analysis of the whole genome, including the exploration and clarification of unknown regions. In December 2019, an action plan for whole genome analysis was formulated, and in April 2021, the project for the full-scale operation of cancer whole genome analysis was launched. With major technical and scientific advances in genome analysis, such as long-read analysis, the human full-length genome sequence was read in 2022, further boosting cancer whole genome analysis. Our symposium aims to discuss the current status of the cancer whole genome project and its future prospects for cancer medicine from a multifaceted perspective.

Clonal evolution in normal tissues

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room3

Purpose / Aim

Almost all cancers are caused by somatic mutations, which accumulate in normal tissues by aging and exposures to environmental factors, such as smoking and alcohol drinking. Recent reports have revealed the early clonal expansion caused by cancer driver mutations in normal tissues of various organs and subsequent development of precancerous lesions. In addition, clonal evolution characterized by driver mutations, which follow a different pattern from that in cancers in corresponding tissues, were identified in healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory diseases, suggesting different roles of positively selected clones in normal aging and non-neoplastic diseases. Moreover, early acquisition of somatic mutations and clonal evolution have been shown in tissues of patients with some cancer predisposition syndromes.
In this symposium, six speakers will present their recent works on somatic mutations and clonal evolution in normal tissues and their relationships with cancer and other diseases, which would provide us the opportunity to better understand the early carcinogenesis.

New-generation imaging technologies

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room4

Purpose / Aim

To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of cancer, it is extremely important to precisely image intracellular signal transduction, molecular interactions, and intercellular networks, as well as their disruption during cellular oncogenesis. To realize precise visualization and diagnosis of cancer as a clinical technology, it is essential to develop multimodal imaging technology that enables visualization and analysis of multiple targets in a multicellular environment. In this symposium, we will introduce the development of various state-of-the-art imaging probes and devices ranging from single molecule and super-resolution observation in cells to multicellular imaging and in vivo cancer imaging in individuals. The latest research on cancer cell biology and the creation of clinical medical technologies using these probes and devices, as well as the future prospects will be showcased.

Life-work balance for Scientists to the New Era ～Aiming for Well-being together～

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）13:40～16:10　Room17

Purpose / Aim

This special program will be held to illuminate the future of cancer research by promoting interaction among all participants, including speakers and audiences. From the 81th JCA meeting, this symposium was planned to be held with participation of scientists from a wide range of backgrounds. This year, we entitle this symposium as "Life-work balance for Scientists to the New Era ～Aiming for Well-being together～". The purposes of this program are (1) to share the know-how to maintain the healthy Life-work balance, (2) to discuss how to improve the Life-work balance as a SCIENTIST and (3) to create together the COMPASS by which scientists can reach “Well-being” life. To achieve these goals, we will invite scientists who have different backgrounds and are currently trying toward their own goals. We do believe that this symposium will be a precious opportunity to share new insights to brighten your own research life.

Immunological Characteristics of the Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Immunotherapies

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room5

Purpose / Aim

Cancer immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 have been approved in the treatment for various types of cancer, leading to a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. However, their efficacies are unsatisfactory as monotherapies. It is essential to understand the mechanisms of treatment sensitivity and resistance in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to increase efficacy. Various novel technologies including single-cell sequencing and imaging system have made it possible for us to elucidate the TME in detail. In addition, new insights into the tumor metabolic environment, the molecular mechanisms of immune checkpoints, and the balance between immunogenicity and oncogenic function of gene mutations have been uncovered. In this symposium, six presenters will show novel insights about the TME based on their latest findings.

Chromosomal integrity and its disruption

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）9:00～11:30　Room17

Purpose / Aim

Genomic DNA in the nucleus is not randomly positioned, but constitutes chromosomes containing supra-molecular complexes of chromatin fibers and highly folded into three-dimensional (3D) structures. Higher-order chromatin structures include chromosome territories, active A- and inactive B- compartments, topologically associating domains (TADs), and chromatin loops. They are based on linear genome (nucleotide sequence itself) and epigenome (modification on genome) information, including DNA and histone modifications, and nuclear structures. 3D genome structures like A/B-compartments and the local interactions between promoter and regulatory elements vary depending on developmental or differentiation stages, and alter in response to environmental stresses and in diseases. Chromatin looping brings the gene and regulatory elements in close proximity for interactions, where gene expression is tightly regulated in each cellular state. Chromatin conformation capture techniques such as Hi-C, multiplexed super-resolution microscopy with sequential FISH and sequential immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging, and intensive computational analyses have contributed understanding of integrated spatial genomics and multi-omics in diverse biological phenomena. In this symposium, frontier studies driven by cutting-edge technologies will be presented by outstanding young researchers. We will discuss on the integrity of chromosome and chromatin structure in cells and its disruption leading to cancer development and progression.

Commensal bacteria and tumor immunity

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room3

Purpose / Aim

Recently, emerging evidences suggest that certain commensal bacteria are associated with cancers. Abnormal bacteria and their metabolites affect eithersystemic or local immune responses, which contribute to cancer progression and therapeutic outcomes. Consequently, new approaches that target gut microbiota have been clinically applied to cancer detection and treatment. In this syposium, we will primarily discuss the mechanism how microbiota modulates tumor immunity. We will also discuss recent advances and challenges using microbiota-modulating therapies such as fecal transplantation, prebiotics, or probiotics. We encourage the application and participation of young researchers.

Future of drug development for rare cancers

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room14

New approaches to overcome drug resistance

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room15

Cutting edge of pediatric cancer research

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）9:00～11:30　Room3

Purpose / Aim

Recent advances in treatment strategies have enabled many patients with pediatric cancers to overcome their disease. However, there are still issues to be resolved, such as intractable disease and late complications in patients who are successfully cured. In other to explore the genetic and epigenetic basis of pediatric cancers and to develop more specific and successful treatment strategies, many researchers have conducted extensive studies on the molecular mechanisms of intractable pediatric malignancies, including leukemia, brain tumors, and neuroblastoma. Throughout these transrational researches in pediatric cancers have led to a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the disease and the development of new diagnostic methods and treatment strategies. In this symposium, cutting-age researches in the field of pediatric cancers will present the latest advances in basic and clinical research directly related to the new therapeutic strategies of pediatric cancers.

Development of novel therapeutics for lung cancer based on basic and translational research

Live/On DemandSeptember 21（Thu）13:40～16:10　Room4

On the frontline of research for hematologic malignancies

Live/On DemandSeptember 22（Fri）9:00～11:30　Room8

Purpose / Aim

Hematologic malignancies represent a large group of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. This is an exciting time in the research of hematologic malignancies, marked by enormous advances in clinical, translational, and basic science. In basic research, a better understanding of the genetic alterations and tumor immune microenvironment has opened new paradigms of elucidating disease pathogenesis and has led to precision oncology in the clinical setting. For example, mapping of clonal heterogeneity of preneoplastic and neoplastic states, including clonal hematopoiesis, has reconstructed the oncogenic trajectories of clonal evolution. The rapid expansion of cutting-edge technologies, such as CRISPRCas9-mediated gene editing, next-generation sequencing, and multimodal single-cell platforms, has largely fueled these advances. These promising advances have inspired not only studies on hematologic malignancies but also research for other cancer types. Indeed, research on hematologic malignancies has pioneered treatments that have been widely adopted, such as targeted therapies, engineered T-cell therapy, and other immunotherapies. In this symposium, we will discuss the recent progress of research on hematologic malignancies, which will lead to a further understanding of cancer biology and genetics, and the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in blood cancers.

Frontiers of Breast and Ovarian Cancers

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room2

Purpose / Aim

Although recent breakthroughs in cancer treatment have improved the prognosis for breast cancer patients, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the risk of recurrence remains more than 10 years after radical surgery. On the other hands, ovarian cancer is the most lethal cancer of the female reproductive organs, because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage mainly due to peritoneal dissemination.This symposium will present and discuss the latest research on the development, pathogenesis and treatment strategies of these malignancies. We hope that this symposium will help to improve the prognosis of patients with these cancers.

Collaboration between basic and clinical research on hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room4

Advances in basic and translational research in brain tumors

Live/On DemandSeptember 23（Sat）13:30～16:00　Room8

Purpose / Aim

Malignant brain tumors are highly lethal. Despite recent advances in basic research and clinical management, its prognosis still remains dismal, requiring further comprehensive understanding of this type of disease using multi-layered approaches. Besides, due to a huge inter-tumoral heterogeneity, the personalized medicine is being anticipated based on individual tumor characteristics. Thus, this session focuses on current advances in technologies/platforms for basic and translational research of malignant brain tumors, leading to synergistic acceleration toward establishment of new therapeutic avenues across tumor entities.
Key topic areas that will be addressed include 1) Whole-genome and multi-omics sequencing analysis, 2) Challenges of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity 3) identification of novel and effective biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring prognosis and treatments and 4) innovative preclinical modeling. The program welcomes early-career investigators and graduate students and calls for abstracts from younger researchers and clinicians.