Greetings

We are honored to welcome you to the 44th Sapporo International Cancer Symposium.

The theme for this 44th symposium is "Cancer Epigenome: Toward Next-Generation Diagnosis and Therapeutics." Epigenetic modifications are known to be deeply involved in carcinogenesis, and many efforts have been made to develop inhibitors targeting epigenetic regulators. Some drugs, such as DNA demethylating agents, HDAC inhibitors, and EZH1/2 inhibitors, are already used in cancer treatment, including those developed in Japan. Applications in cancer diagnosis are also progressing. Epigenomic alterations that arise in tissues long before cancer development are being utilized for ultra-early cancer detection. At the same time, single-cell analyses are increasingly revealing epigenomic alterations within the tumor microenvironment, and their potential as therapeutic targets is being actively explored.

Based on these research backgrounds, this symposium will bring together leading experts from around the world for in-depth discussion. Through these discussions, we aim to accelerate the clinical application of epigenomic diagnostics and therapies, identify new challenges emerging from these advances, and promote the utilization of novel targets within the tumor microenvironment. We also aim to cultivate the next generation of scientific leaders by fostering opportunities for early-career researchers to engage with and be exposed to research at the international forefront.