ETIOLOGY PROGRAM AREA

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

The year 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985 is the first of the third 5-year program of the US-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program. The aim of the Etiology Program Area is to clarify the causes of human cancers and to determine the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. It has been envisioned that cancer prevention may be achieved eventually through progress in the science of cancer etiology.
During this period two seminars were held in the United States. One seminar concerned new approaches for immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of gastrointestinal tract cancers.
The second seminar focused on molecular mechanisms underlying the development of cancer, with the primary goal being to exchange information on the role of oncogenes in carcinogenesis.
Rapid progress in the use of tumor-associated antigens of digestive organs for diagnosis and monoclonal antibodies for therapy, and in studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying the developments of cancer, made these two seminars timely and beneficial to scientists of the United States and Japan.
Five scientists came to the United States from Japan as exchange scientists, three conducting collaborative research in the area of viral oncology and two in the area of chemical carcinogenesis. Three scientists came to Japan from the United States as exchange scientists and carried out collaborative research in the areas of viral oncology and chemical carcinogenesis. Although the exchange visits were relatively short, this program was effective in supporting research of mutual interest and helped to initiate new collaborative research which will further promote future exchanges under this program.