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9-10 March 2004, Pompe van Meerdervoort Hall, Nagasaki
University School of Medicine Our workshop intended to establish an international consortium centered at Nagasaki University that connected efficiently leading universities and institutes holding high reputations and high levels of research and medical care activity in the fields of the late effects of radiation on human body, epidemiological studies, molecular analysis and international medical care of radiation exposed people (Hibakusha). Here we overviewed and discussed our current problems from basic to clinical research on radiation-associated thyroid and breast cancers. Little has been elucidated especially regarding the effects of low-dose or low dose-rate radiation exposure to even these representative radiation-associated cancers. In particular, the unsolved problem of low-dose effects of radiation on human body was the main focus of the research conducted by this workshop. Most importantly, the issue of cancer induction by the low-dose exposure and exposure-age dependency including the issue of sex difference and latency of cancer occurrence must be intensively studied at the cellular as well as molecular level based on the clinical and epidemiological evidence. Secondary cancers induced by radiation therapy are also involved in our joint studies. This will allow development of methods and modalities for prophylaxis, early diagnosis, early treatment of cancers and even palliative cancer therapy. With the aim of promoting the international joint research projects on radiation effects on human health, we will focus on a clarification of the cause-and-effect relationship between external/internal radiation exposure and thyroid and breast cancers. To achieve this, we will at first establish and maintain the data bank of biomaterials related to radiation-exposed human cohorts around radio-contaminated areas on the basis of our sister university relationship. The Chernobyl Tissue Bank, one of the international collaborative research models, will be continuously supported by Nagasaki University. To overcome the difficulties of joint research with the former USSR, we will introduce the new approaches of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology by cooperation of epidemiologists, pathologists, molecular biologists and clinical researchers. In conclusion, here we will set up the International Consortium for Radiation Medicine and Molecular Cancer Epidemiology centered at Nagasaki University which is mainly based on the close relationship with universities and institutes in the fields of radiation exposure around Chernobyl and also Semipalatinsk areas. Exchange of academic information and presentation of our research progress will be made on the occasions of an international symposium or workshop to be held every year in Nagasaki. The consortium will especially provide young investigators and graduate students from the former Soviet Union countries as well as academic collaboration centers of the EU/US universities or institutes to attend such 21st COE symposium or workshop organized in Nagasaki. March 10, 2004 Drafted by Shunichi Yamashita and Yoshisada Shibata |