The Rise of Precision Oncology
Advances in genomic technologies are transforming cancer treatment through precision medicine tailored to each patient’s unique genomic profile.
At the same time, identifying patients with rare genomic alterations and connecting them to appropriate treatments and clinical trials remains a major challenge.
To address this challenge, LC-SCRUM was established at the National Cancer Center Hospital East as a large-scale clinical research platform.
Leveraging our experience in building and operating clinical research infrastructure, we support the advancement of precision oncology research and drug development.
Advances in genome analysis are driving cancer treatment into an era of "personalization."
Over the past two decades, advances in genomic technologies have transformed cancer treatment. Since the early 2000s, breakthroughs in genomic analysis have enabled a deeper understanding of genetic alterations in cancer cells, making precision medicine a reality.
Rapid technological progress and declining sequencing costs have accelerated the adoption of genomic testing in clinical practice. What was once limited to specialized research environments is now widely integrated into routine cancer care. Globally, precision medicine has also become a major healthcare initiative, highlighted by programs such as the U.S. Precision Medicine Initiative.
In parallel, the development of gene panel testing and molecularly targeted therapies has significantly expanded treatment options for cancer patients. Today, treatment strategies are increasingly determined not only by tumor type, but also by each patient’s genomic profile.
At the same time, precision oncology presents new challenges. Many genomic alterations are rare, making it difficult to identify eligible patients and connect them to appropriate clinical trials. Addressing this challenge requires large-scale clinical and genomic data, as well as robust research infrastructure capable of supporting data-driven clinical development.
To address these needs, the National Cancer Center Hospital East established LC-SCRUM, one of Japan’s largest clinical genomic screening platforms in lung cancer. Through collaboration with medical institutions across Japan and Asia, LC-SCRUM supports genomic screening and patient matching for clinical trials, contributing to the development of targeted therapies for rare genomic alterations.
Our team has extensive experience in building and operating clinical research and data infrastructure through these initiatives. Leveraging this expertise, we support clinical research, genomic data operations, and the advancement of precision oncology.
Today, this research network continues to expand beyond Japan into the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to international collaborative research and global clinical development.
As precision medicine continues to evolve, the need for scalable clinical research infrastructure will continue to grow. We remain committed to supporting the future of precision oncology through data-driven clinical research infrastructure and collaboration.