Shigetoyo SAJI, M.D.,Ph.D

As the president of the Asian Clinical Oncology Society (ACOS), I would like to say thank you for your kind access to our ACOS home page and cordially welcome your visiting. By the way, on August 24, 2010, the Board of Council Meeting of 9th ACOS held in Gifu Japan, bestowed upon me the great honor to become the fourth President of this estimated organization and on June 14, 2012, that of 10thACOS held in Seoul Korea, I was elected again.

Our Society was founded in 1991, the inaugural meeting was held in Osaka, Japan on October 16, 1991, and was chaired by Dr. Tetsuo Taguchi, Emeritus Professor of Osaka University, current Honorary President of ACOS. Since then, we have successfully organized the ten meetings in Osaka Japan, Bangkok Thailand, Kunming China, Bali Indonesia, Taipei Taiwan, Seoul Korea, Beijing China, Manila Philippines, Gifu Japan and Seoul, Korea. And next 11thACOS will held at the Taipei International Convention Center, on May 2,3,4 2014. Our ACOS consisted of 19 participant countries from Asian region. Current members are Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lank, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam.

According to the constitution of our society, the main purpose should be to bring together on a common platform, clinical oncologists from Asian countries for a free exchange of ideas on this problems, challenges and methods of cancer management in this region etc. Also, recent advancement on the translational research from bench to bed consideration, it should be very important to study and to educate about cancer therapy and cancer research, and achieving practical management and getting efficient results for the Asian cancer patients. Therefore, our organization has to work hard to improve cancer treatment and cancer research by every two years meeting and also will be issuing publications or web site, News letter, etc.

Now, we believe and consider that cancer treatments and researches are in a new era of rapid with significant development not only in Western countries but also in Asian countries in this global era. We too have access to many high technological diagnostic tools, the late new anticancer drugs, molecular targeting chemotherapy, less invasive therapy and more as multidisciplinary forms of therapy. Therefore it is very important for young doctors throughout Asia to communicate with foreign opinion leaders, investigators or medical and surgical oncologists through our ACOS Meeting with the support and collaboration from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), etc.

As our mission, we must clarify the current condition of cancer statistics of Asian countries relating to cancer prevention and early diagnosis, treatment , patient education and management with oncology specialists as team oncology. Also we, ACOS, are considering setting our mission statement as the follows; 1) to make a difference in Asian oncology through translational research and expert techniques; 2) to rethink cancer therapy from palliative to curative; 3) to highly motivate both of doctors and patients; 4) to identify the best practices and do it at good timing; 5) to develop less invasive and less expensive therapies; and 6) to bolster cancer prevention through education and early diagnosis. I strongly believe the ACOS will be able to demonstrate substantial progress towards these goals and will continue its work into the future through the support and kind cooperation of our members. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.