Research

History of Research

From April 2004 to September 2008, we conducted the “Randomized Phase II/III Study of ACNU Alone versus Procarbazine + ACNU Combination as Chemoradiation Therapy for Astrocytoma Grades 3 and 4 (JCOG0305)” in patients with astrocytoma grade 3 or 4 ( (Principal Investigator: Soichiro Shibui, National Cancer Center). This trial was closed to enrollment at the phase II stage and the results of the analysis negated the survival benefit of the procarbazine combination.

From April 2010 to January 2014, we conducted the “Randomized Phase II Study of Interferon-beta plus Temozolomide Chemoradiotherapy for Primary Glioblastoma (JCOG0911)” (Principal Investigator: Toshihiko Wakabayashi, Nagoya University) to evaluate the add-on effect of adding interferon-beta to radiation therapy with temozolomide. “The final analysis in June 2014 ruled out a survival benefit of the interferon-beta combination. In May 2014, a study in glioma grade 3, “Postoperative nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) chemoradiation for primary anaplastic glioma followed by temozolomide chemotherapy at recurrence, was initiated. A randomized phase III trial comparing temozolomide chemoradiation with postoperative nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) chemoradiation prior to recurrence for first-epithelial anaplastic glioma (JCOG1016) (Principal Investigator: Yoshihiro Muragaki, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)” and “A randomized phase III trial comparing radiation alone with temozolomide chemoradiation for WHO Grade II astrocytoma with residual tumor after surgery (JCOG1016) (JCOG1303) (Principal Investigator: Yoshitaka Narita, National Cancer Center)” for grade 2 astrocytoma from July 2014, “A multicenter randomized phase III trial comparing radiation alone versus temozolomide combined with bevacizumab for recurrent glioma grade 4” from July 2016, and “A multicenter randomized phase III trial comparing dose-intensified temozolomide plus sequential bevacizumab with bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma grade 4″ from July 2016. A Multicenter Randomized Phase III Trial (JCOG1308C) (Principal Investigator: Motoo Nagane, Kyorin University)”, a trial for glioma grade 4 from June 2019, a trial for glioblastoma grade 4 “Randomized chemoradiotherapy with curative resection + carmustine intracerebroventricular implantation + temozolomide versus curative resection + temozolomide for first glioblastoma A randomized phase III trial of chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide (JCOG1703) (Principal Investigator: Toshihiro Kumabe, Kitasato University)”, a trial of glioma grade 4 in the elderly “A randomized controlled phase III trial of oligofractionated radiotherapy with temozolomide for primary glioblastoma in the elderly (JCOG 1910) (Principal Investigator: Yoshiteru Arakawa, Kyoto University).

For metastatic brain tumors, we conducted the “Randomized Comparison of Tumor Resection + Whole Brain Irradiation versus Tumor Resection + Salvage Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Brain Tumors (JCOG 0504) (Research Representative: Takamasa Kayama, Yamagata University)” from January 2006 to June 2015. This is a randomized controlled trial. In the final analysis in December 2015, non-inferiority was proven. The final analysis in December 2015 proved non-inferiority. The final analysis in December 2015 proved non-inferiority. In other words, it is not necessary to perform whole-brain irradiation immediately after surgery for metastatic brain tumors, and it may prevent the occurrence of higher brain dysfunction, which is a problem after whole-brain irradiation.

Since September 2014, we have been working on the development of new treatments for malignant lymphoma of the central nervous system, one of the malignant brain tumors that has been on the rise in recent years. In June 2020, we announced at the ASCO Annual Meeting that the results of the interim analysis showed that the survival benefit of concomitant use of temozolomide was negated. The results of the interim analysis were presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting in June 2020.

Future Prospects

Recently, it has become clear that in glioma, molecular classification based on genetic mutations reflects prognosis. In other words, a group of tumors that were thought to be the same by histopathological diagnosis had different prognoses due to different genetic mutations. In the future, it will be necessary to develop treatments based on molecular classification. Therefore, the JCOG Brain Tumor Group is planning a new clinical trial for glioma based on molecular classification. The JCOG Brain Tumor Group will continue to conduct clinical trials to establish internationally recognized standard therapies and to develop more effective new therapies for brain tumors, which are rare and intractable diseases. We will continue to conduct clinical trials to establish internationally recognized standard treatments and to develop more effective new treatments for brain tumors, which are rare and intractable diseases. We will continue to promote research as a group, and ask for your support in this endeavor.

The introduction of the group’s activities was updated in January 2021.