title: Current status and future perspectives of cooperative study groups for lung cancer in Japan.
abstract: The performance of scientifically and ethically valid prospective clinical trials is the only means by which to obtain reliable clinical evidence that can improve clinical practice and thus the outcome of patients with lung cancer. The efficacy of treatment for advanced lung cancer remains limited; many cooperative study groups for lung cancer have been established in Japan since 1990s, and they have completed several landmark investigator-initiated clinical trials. This review highlights eight active Japanese cooperative study groups for lung cancer and summarizes their achievements made through clinical trials. In addition to their benefits, the existence of multiple study groups for a single disease such as lung cancer presents several challenges including the provision of infrastructure to ensure the scientific integrity of trial results, the unnecessary duplication of effort and the wasting of limited resources, and the accrual and completion of large-scale phase III trials in the shortest possible time. Collaboration among Japanese cooperative groups has recently increased in order to overcome these challenges. Although institutional barriers to the performance of such large intergroup trials remain, further harmonization and collaboration among cooperative groups will be vital in allowing Japanese investigators to make further important contributions for the development of new lung cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Japan. Electronic address: yukokawa@kokyu.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Japan. Electronic address: okamotoi@kokyu.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center, Multi-institutional Clinical Trial Support Center, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Electronic address: hrfukuda@ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), Japan. Electronic address: yohe@ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohe
authors.affiliation: West Japan Oncology Group Data Center, 1-5-7-304 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-0016, Japan. Electronic address: nakamura.coo@wjog.jp.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan. Electronic address: nakagawa@med.kindai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group (OLCSG), Japan. Electronic address: khotta@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group (OLCSG), Japan. Electronic address: kkiura@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Tokyo Cooperative Oncology Group (TCOG), Japan; Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), Japan; North East Japan Study Group (NEJSG), Japan. Electronic address: takiguchi@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization, Nagoya Medical Center, 4-1-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0001, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Central Japan Lung Study Group (CJLSG), Japan. Electronic address: saka@hosp.go.jp.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Medical Oncology, Yokohama Municipal Citizen׳s Hospital, 56 Okazawa-cho, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8555, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), Japan. Electronic address: hi01-okamoto@city.yokohama.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Japan. Electronic address: koichi-t@kokyu.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Disease, Kumamoto Regional Medical Center, 5-16-10 Honjyo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Japan. Electronic address: semba@krmc.or.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Semba
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1298, Japan; Tokyo Cooperative Oncology Group (TCOG), Japan; North East Japan Study Group (NEJSG), Japan. Electronic address: kobakuni@saitama-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007, Shimonagakubo, Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan. Electronic address: h.kenmotsu@scchr.jp.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kenmotsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), Japan. Electronic address: mtsuboi@za2.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan; Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan. Electronic address: nbyamamo@wakayama-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: South Miyagi Medical Center, 38-1 Aza-Nishi, Ogawara, Shibata-gun, Miyagi 989-1253, Japan; Tokyo Cooperative Oncology Group (TCOG), Japan; North East Japan Study Group (NEJSG), Japan. Electronic address: toshinkw47@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nukiwa
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG), Japan; Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK), Japan. Electronic address: yoichi@kokyu.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*
keywords: Clinical trial; Cooperative group; Intergroup trial; Lung cancer