The methodology of clinical research in supportive and palliative care is different from that in the field of medical oncology in terms of the style of multidisciplinary approaches, study design, and endpoints. In Japan there are serious problems in the system of clinical research especially in supportive and palliative care. Although several small study groups in Japan try to conduct prospective studies in the field of supportive and palliative care, it is difficult to develop their exploratory researches to multi-center confirmatory studies.
To provide a useful system for researchers, the Japan Supportive, Palliative and Psychosocial Oncology Group (J-SUPPORT) was established in 2016. J-SUPPORT is a multicenter collaborative clinical research group from the National Cancer Center Hospital. Its missions are called ABCD missions:
A: all Japan; beyond an existing organization, mobilize all Japan’s resources
B: bridging and optimization; optimized by bridging small studies at an early stage
C: cooperation; cooperation with existing research groups as a hub
D: dialogue and diversity; respect differences in communities, groups, and facilities; dialogue between the parties; and strive to develop supportive care
As of April 2018, 5 confirmatory trials (3 supportive care for anti-cancer treatment, 1 palliative care, 1 psychosocial oncology) are underway in J-SUPPORT. We seek to cooperate with not only study groups in Japan, but also study groups in the EU, USA and Australia. In the future, we hope that new evidence based on J-SUPPORT trials will emerge and change clinical practices.
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