Mid-West Japan Hereditary Tumor Cohort
中央西日本遺伝性腫瘍コホート
A prospective cohort study aimed at preventing hereditary tumors through collaboration across a broad medical region (51 institutions participating as of November 2024)
- This multi-center collaboration focuses on hereditary tumors.
- The study is designed to build evidence for optimal care by creating a system that provides detailed and careful support over time.
- The project aims to establish hereditary tumor care as regional medicine.
Approximately 10% of cancers are known to be caused by genetic factors, generally referred to as
hereditary tumors. While research into the causative genes for hereditary tumors may lead to cancer
prevention in some cases, data on the Japanese population is still insufficient.
In December 2020, 16 institutions, mainly in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions including Okayama
University Hospital, launched the Mid-West Japan Hereditary Tumor Cohort Study*1. This initiative
aims to contribute to public health management by providing evidence for cancer prevention in Japan.
Genetic information is your valuable data, but it's not yours alone. It's shared with blood
relatives and within your community.
Proper testing of genetic information that indicates a predisposition to cancer (variants*2 of hereditary tumor-related genes) can enable cancer prevention not only for you but also for your blood relatives. Hereditary tumor care can be considered the ultimate form of regional and family medicine.
Research Overview
The research group will conduct studies in individuals with hereditary tumors and their families,
including assessments of related tumor incidence rates, survival rates, management, quality of life
after risk reducing surgery, and genomic epidemiologic analyses.
Participants will be followed annually for clinical information such as disease incidence and blood test results. Blood and tissue samples will be stored in the OKADAI BIOBANK*3 for future research and development.
By accumulating basic data on hereditary tumors in Japan, this research will make it possible to
clarify strategies for clinical practice.
Glossary
1. Cohort study: A cohort refers to a group. In a cohort study, a group of research subjects is observed and followed over time to determine whether the presence or absence of certain factors is associated with the development or prevention of disease.
2. Variant: A characteristic of a gene. Genetic testing aims to identify alterations (characteristics) in the DNA nucleotide sequences or structures by comparing the genes of the person being tested with representative genes. These alterations (characteristics) are called variants. Some variants can cause disease, while others fall within the range of individual differences.
3. OKADAI BIOBANK: Okayama University Hospital has established the OKADAI BIOBANK (https://biobank.ccsv.okayama-u.ac.jp/) to manage and utilize patients' biological samples and medical information with the aim of providing advanced medical care.
We are seeking research collaborators, please contact us at the address below for inquiries.
Contact Information
Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Professor Akira Hirasawa
MAIL ／ cgm@okayama-u.ac.jp (Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University)