title: Japan Pancreatic Cancer Registry; 30th year anniversary: Japan Pancreas Society.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since 1981, the Japan Pancreas Society has been hosting a nationwide pancreatic cancer registry. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, we review its history and latest achievement.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 3 decades, more than 350 leading institutions in Japan contributed voluntarily to register and periodic follow-up. The registry was modified to protect privacy by encrypting and hash algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1981 to 2007, 32,619 cumulative records were analyzed. The overall survival of invasive cancer was improved significantly. More patients with earlier stage or with intraductal and cystic neoplasms underwent resection. The strongest prognostic factor of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage IIA and IIB tubular adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic head was histological grade, followed by tumor size, extent of lymph node dissection, and postoperative chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate of Union for International Cancer Control stage 0 reached 85%. The improvement of survival of patients with invasive cancer in Japan can be attributed to the introduction of effective chemotherapies, regionalization, and the earlier diagnosis and treatment. Simple definition of "early pancreatic cancer" is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the 30th year anniversary, the Japan Pancreas Society nationwide pancreatic cancer registry is more shining than ever for current perspectives and for future diagnostic and treatment tactics.
authors: Committee for Pancreatic Cancer Registry of Japan Pancreas Society, Fukuoka, Japan. egawas@surg1.med.tohoku.ac.jp
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Egawa
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Toma
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Ohigashi
authors: Takuji
authors: T
authors: Okusaka
authors: Akimasa
authors: A
authors: Nakao
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Hatori
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Maguchi
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Yanagisawa
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history; D015996:Survival Rate