The 85th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association【Kyoto】

Meeting Theme

Intellectual Challenges: Toward Conquering Cancer

The meeting aims to bring together knowledge from basic research, clinical research, epidemiology, prevention, and social medicine to address cancer as a complex and still unconquered group of diseases. By promoting collaboration across disciplines and institutions, the program seeks to advance the understanding of cancer biology and accelerate the development of new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches while supporting the next generation of cancer researchers and healthcare professionals.

Event Information

• Official Name: The 85th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association
• Japanese Name: 第85回日本癌学会学術総会
• Date: September 24 (Thu.)–26 (Sat.), 2026
• Venue: Kyoto International Conference Center
• Address: 422 Iwakura Osagicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0001, Japan
• Format: In-person meeting with selected sessions available on demand after the event
• Organizer: Japanese Cancer Association
• President: Seishi Ogawa, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

Meeting Organization

• President: Seishi Ogawa, Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
• Executive Committee Chair: Junko Takita, Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
• Treasurer: Masahiro Nakagawa, Kyoto University
• General Affairs: Motohiro Kato, The University of Tokyo
• Editorial Affairs: Mamiko Sakata-Yanagimoto, University of Tsukuba
• Scientific Program, Basic Research: Takashi Kohno, National Cancer Center and C-CAT
• Scientific Program, Clinical Research: Seiji Yano, Kanazawa University
• Management Secretariat: Convention Linkage, Inc.

Meeting Format and On-demand Access

• In-person Meeting: September 24–26, 2026
• Scheduled On-demand Period: October 20–November 19, 2026
• Live Streaming: Live streaming of the full meeting will not be provided
• On-demand Sessions: Selected lectures, symposia, and other eligible sessions are scheduled for later viewing
• Poster Presentations: Conducted at the in-person venue
• General Oral Presentations: Conducted at the in-person venue
• Viewing Access: Registered participants will use the designated participant portal or viewing website
• Printed Program: The full program book will not be mailed in advance; a simplified program is scheduled for distribution at the venue
• Electronic Abstracts: Scheduled for publication through the website and meeting application

Participant Registration

• Registration Status: Open
• Early Registration: June 11–July 27, 2026
• Late Registration: July 28–November 6, 2026
• Registration Method: Online registration through the official meeting website
• Payment Method: Credit card only
• On-site Cash Payment: Not available
• Participant Badge: A badge-issuance QR code is scheduled to become available through My Page in early September
• In-person Participants: Present the QR code at the venue to print a name badge
• On-demand Participants: A certificate of attendance can be downloaded after the on-demand period begins
• Cancellation Policy: Registration fees are non-refundable, and registration categories cannot be changed after payment

Registration Fees

• JCA Member, Regular Participant: JPY 14,000 early / JPY 20,000 late
• JCA Member, Graduate Student: JPY 3,000 early / JPY 4,000 late
• JCA Member, Undergraduate Student: Free
• Non-member, Regular Participant: JPY 30,000 early / JPY 35,000 late
• Non-member, Graduate Student: JPY 7,000 early / JPY 8,000 late
• Non-member, Undergraduate Student: Free
• Member Fees: Tax-exempt
• Non-member Fees: Include consumption tax
• First Authors and Principal Investigators: Membership in the Japanese Cancer Association and registration as a member during the early-registration period are generally required

Luncheon Seminars

• Advance Reservation Period: July 8–27, 2026
• Reservation Method: Reserve a session through the participant’s My Page after completing meeting registration
• Ticket Information: Confirmed reservations will be printed on the participant’s name badge
• Capacity: Reservations close when the available number of seats is reached
• Same-day Tickets: May be distributed only when seats remain available
• Other Sponsored Seminars: Generally available on a first-come, first-served basis without tickets
• Recommendation: Advance reservation is recommended because dining options around the venue are limited

Program Structure

• Special Symposia
• JCA–AACR Symposia
• Asia–Oceania Cancer Emerging Leaders Symposia
• Meet the Editor Sessions
• International Sessions
• Educational Lectures
• Core Symposia
• Meeting-organized Symposia
• Organ-specific Symposia
• Open-call Symposia
• General Oral and Poster Presentations
• Sponsored and Luncheon Seminars
• Corporate and Publication Exhibitions
• Programs for Early-career Researchers and Patient Engagement

Featured Programs

• CiRA Joint Symposium: A program with Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application exploring developments in iPS cells, immune cells, and cancer research
• Women Scientists in Cancer Research: A symposium addressing scientific careers, research environments, and diversity in cancer research
• JCA–AACR Symposia: International sessions addressing clonal hematopoiesis, solid tumors, and cancer immunity
• Asia–Oceania Cancer Emerging Leaders Symposia: International presentations by emerging cancer researchers from the Asia–Oceania region
• Cancer Genomic Medicine: Joint sessions with clinical oncology and cancer-therapy societies addressing biological understanding, clinical implementation, and international collaboration
• Cancer Population Sciences: Programs integrating population science with tumor biology
• Hereditary Tumors: International discussions covering disease mechanisms and clinical implementation
• Oncolytic Virus Therapy: A joint symposium with the Japanese Society of Oncolytic Virus Therapy
• Organ-specific Cancer Research: Integrated basic and clinical programs on breast cancer, urothelial cancer, brain tumors, hematologic malignancies, and other tumor types

Emerging Research Topics

• Extrachromosomal DNA and cancer
• Next-generation proteomics for understanding cancer dynamics
• Epigenomic reprogramming and abnormal enhancer regulation
• Ubiquitination, deubiquitination, and therapeutic targets
• Immune-cell therapies for treatment-resistant cancers
• Clonal hematopoiesis and solid tumors
• The tumor immune microenvironment and immune evasion
• Cancer genomic medicine and precision oncology
• Spatial analysis, single-cell analysis, and multi-omics
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science
• Organoids, patient-derived models, and biomimetic systems
• Cell and gene therapies, nucleic-acid therapeutics, and emerging modalities
• Treatment resistance, residual disease, recurrence, and metastasis
• Liquid biopsy, digital pathology, imaging, and molecular diagnostics

Abstract Submission

• Open-call Symposium Submission: Closed
• General Abstract Submission: Closed
• Final General Abstract Deadline: April 28, 2026, at 17:00 JST
• Acceptance Notification: Scheduled for late July 2026
• Presentation Formats: Oral or poster presentation
• Presentation Location: Domestic and international presenters are expected to present at the in-person venue
• Presentation Language: Japanese or English
• Abstract Language: English
• Title Limit: Up to 120 English characters or 60 Japanese characters
• Abstract Body: Up to 1,200 English characters
• Figures and Tables: Not permitted in abstracts
• First Author and Principal Investigator: Generally required to be members of the Japanese Cancer Association
• Undergraduate First Authors: Society membership is not required, and the registration fee is waived

Major Abstract Categories

• Information science, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning
• Cancer prevention, epidemiology, and cancer registries
• Carcinogenesis, aging, somatic mosaicism, infection, and inflammation
• Cancer genomics, epigenomics, DNA damage, and genomic instability
• Cell cycle, signaling, oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes
• Cell death, senescence, metabolism, cancer stem cells, and tumor heterogeneity
• Invasion, metastasis, circulating tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment
• Cancer immunity, tumor antigens, immune suppression, and immune evasion
• Antibody therapeutics, immune checkpoints, cell therapy, and gene therapy
• Drug-delivery systems, radiation therapy, surgery, and treatment resistance
• Clinical trials, translational research, and regulatory science
• Pathology, digital pathology, imaging, and genomic diagnostics
• Patient and public involvement, survivorship, cancer education, and policy
• Organ-specific tumors involving the brain, gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary and pancreatic system, lung, breast, gynecologic organs, urinary system, and hematopoietic system

Third JCA Early-career Researcher Meet Up 2026

This residential networking program is designed primarily for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, assistant professors, and other early-career professionals who will shape the future of cancer research and care. Discussions across institutions and specialist fields are intended to build research networks and generate new collaborative projects.

• Program Name: Oncology Young Network
• Date: September 23–24, 2026
• Venue: Moriyama Park at Lake Sagawa
• Format: In-person only
• Language: Japanese
• Application Deadline: July 27, 2026, at 12:00 noon JST
• Capacity: Approximately 70 participants
• Participation Fee: JPY 8,000
• Participants: Primarily graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, assistant professors, early-career researchers, and healthcare professionals
• Program: Special lectures, group discussions, and networking sessions with the Meeting President
• Requirement: Registration for the 85th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association is required

Survivor–Scientist Program

The Survivor–Scientist Program promotes communication between cancer researchers and representatives of organizations supporting patients and their families. It aims to develop research advocates who can contribute patient and family perspectives to cancer research and advance patient-engaged research.

• Abbreviation: SSP
• Date: September 24–26, 2026
• In-person Venue: Kyoto International Conference Center
• Remote Participation: An online viewing option is planned
• Participation Fee: Free
• Travel Support: Travel and transportation assistance is available for selected in-person participants
• Activities: Educational programs, attendance at scientific sessions, poster viewing, and presentations on designated topics
• Objective: To improve cancer research and care through collaboration among patients, families, advocates, and researchers

Run & Walk in Kyoto 2026

Researchers, cancer survivors, patients, and family members will run or walk together in Takaragaike Park to encourage communication across professional and personal perspectives and strengthen dialogue toward conquering cancer.

• Date: September 25, 2026
• Meeting Time: 6:30
• Scheduled Activity: 7:00–8:30
• Venue: Takaragaike Park
• Expected Participants: Approximately 50 patients and family members and 50 researchers
• Course: Participants select a planned distance of one to four laps
• Rest and Early Finish: Permitted
• Participation Fee: Under preparation
• Participant Item: An original event T-shirt is scheduled to be provided

Childcare Service

• Location: Kyoto International Conference Center
• Eligibility: Children aged six months through preschool age
• Capacity: Approximately five children per day
• Fee: Free
• September 24: 9:00–19:00
• September 25: 7:30–19:00
• September 26: 7:30–18:00
• Application Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 17:00 JST
• Reservation: Advance reservation is required
• Capacity Limit: Applications close when the daily capacity is reached

Who Should Attend

• Researchers in basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, and social cancer research
• Physicians in medical oncology, surgery, pathology, radiology, hematology, pediatrics, and related specialties
• Specialists in cancer genomics, molecular pathology, bioinformatics, and data science
• Research and development professionals working in immunotherapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy
• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic, and medical-device companies
• CRO, CDMO, contract-analysis, and drug-discovery support organizations
• Companies providing research instruments, reagents, antibodies, imaging systems, and analytical software
• Students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career investigators from universities, research institutions, and hospitals
• Professionals involved in cancer prevention, epidemiology, policy, survivorship, and patient support
• Patient organizations, research advocates, cancer survivors, and family members

Japanese Cancer Association

The Japanese Cancer Association is an academic organization dedicated to advancing cancer research across basic science, clinical research, epidemiology, prevention, and social medicine. Approximately 14,000 researchers and healthcare professionals from universities, research institutes, hospitals, and companies participate in the association. Through its annual meeting, academic journals, research support, international collaboration, early-career development, and patient and public involvement, the association contributes to conquering cancer and improving cancer care.

Overview

Cancer is a complex group of diseases influenced by genetic mutations, epigenomic abnormalities, cellular interactions, immune responses, metabolism, aging, infection, and environmental factors. The meeting will present research using genomic and multi-omic analysis, spatial and single-cell technologies, pathology and imaging, patient-derived models, artificial intelligence, and drug-discovery platforms to clarify cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, treatment resistance, and recurrence. It will also promote discussion on translating basic discoveries into diagnostics, personalized medicine, clinical trials, new therapies, prevention, policy, and patient support.

Publication Status

• Meeting Overview: Published
• President’s Message: Published
• Organizing Committee: Published
• Scientific Program: Published and being updated
• Session Titles: Some titles remain provisional as of July 2026
• Participant Registration: Open
• Luncheon Seminar Reservations: Open
• General and Open-call Abstract Submission: Closed
• Abstract Acceptance Notification: Scheduled for late July 2026
• Early-career Researcher Meet Up: Applications open
• Childcare Applications: Open
• Accommodation Information: Published and reservations available
• Detailed Participant Information: Under preparation
• Information for Chairs and Presenters: Under preparation
• Online Abstracts: Under preparation
• On-demand Details: Subject to additions and changes

Access to the Venue

• Kyoto Municipal Subway: Kokusaikaikan Station on the Karasuma Line is the nearest station
• From Kokusaikaikan Station: Approximately five minutes on foot
• Recommended Exit: Use underground passage Exit 4-2
• From Kyoto Station: Approximately 20 minutes directly on the Karasuma Line
• From Kyoto Station by Taxi: Approximately 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions
• Rainy Weather: A covered walkway from Exit 4-2 provides access toward the venue’s main entrance
• Address: 422 Iwakura Osagicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0001, Japan
• Travel Times: All travel times are approximate and may vary depending on traffic and congestion

Official Links