To patients, families, and medical professionals

Why are we conducting the MASTER KEY ASIA project?

QWhy are pathological tests important for patients especially with rare cancers?

A Rare cancers have a small population of patients, and therefore are often difficult to diagnose. If there is an incorrect diagnosis, then appropriate treatment cannot be given. Accurate pathological diagnosis is crucial for adequate treatment.

QWhy do we perform pathological tests again in Japan?

A As mentioned above, diagnosis of rare cancers is complicated. The National Cancer Center Hospital Japan has a lot of experience indiagnosing and treating rare cancers. By performing pathological examinations at our hospital, it might be possible to confirm the diagnosis and make more accurate diagnosis.

QHow will the data be utilized after the pathological diagnosis?

AThe data of pathological findings of rare cancers are further integrated with other examination findings and clinical progress information and stored. This makes it possible to centralize the data. We aim to use this data to develop better diagnosis and treatment methods.

Why do we conduct research on rare cancer patients in Asia?

QWhat is a rare cancer?

ARare cancers are rare cancers with less than six cases per 100,000 people. It refers to cancers that present greater challenges in medical treatment than other types of major cancer due to the small population of patients.
Source : Explanation of various rare cancers | Rare Cancer Center (ncc.go.jp) Another window

QHow are rare cancers diagnosed and treated in Japan?

A Diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers are still difficult because there are few specialists in the field. We are working to centralize treatment facilities and have established a Rare Cancer Center at our hospital. We are providing better medical care to patients and their families with rare cancers. We are also integrating our findings to develop new treatment methods.

Q Why the development of treatments for rare cancers will be progress by cooperating with Asian country?

AIt is difficult to properly confirm the effectiveness of drugs and treatment methods in clinical trials for rare cancers, unlike other cancer types where there are many patients in Japan alone. However, through joint research with multiple countries, we are able to collect more patient data. This can overcome the problem of development not progressing due to the small number of patients.

About the gene analysis

QWhat is a genetic panel testing?

AA genetic panel testing is examining multiple cancer genes that are thought to be involved in the development, growth, and metastasis of cancer. The test is performed using tumor tissue taken from surgery or biopsy and blood tests. If alteration is detected it may lead to a more accurate diagnosis, and it may also provide information that leads to treatments and drugs that are expected to be effective, introducing “Personalized medicine”.

QWill the genomic panel test help me find the best treatment?

AGenetic panel testing do not always find gene alterations. Even if a genetic mutation is detected, there may be cases where drug that can be expected to be effective has not yet been developed, or it may not be available in clinical practice. It is said that only about 10% of patients were able to have access to the treatment based on their genetic alteration through genomic panel tenting.

QWhy are we doing genetomic panel testing in this study?

AThis MASTERKEYAsia study targets rare cancers. There are still very few studies of NGS focusing on rare cancers, and genetic characteristics of each rare cancer remains unclear. In addition, since most of the studies to date have been conducted mainly in Europe and the United States, there are few data focusing on Asia. Therefore, we will conduct geneticic panel testing for rare cancers in Asia to accumulate data on genetic alterations in each cancer, which we expect to lead to the development of treatments.