The Japanese Association for Metastasis Research

President address

Dear Colleagues,

It is my great honor to serve as chairperson of the 35th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Cancer Metastasis, to be held on July 30 (Thu) and 31 (Fri), 2026, at Yamagata Terrsa. The meeting is organized by the Department of Pathology, Yamagata University School of Medicine.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “New Strategies to Conquer Refractory Cancers through Regulation of the Tumor Microenvironment.” While the title may sound ambitious, our annual gathering is in fact a lively, human, and sometimes even chaotic event ― in many ways a reflection of the tumor microenvironment (TME) itself. Just as tumor cells cannot survive in isolation but rely on interactions with fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells, our academic community flourishes through collaboration. Basic researchers probe molecular mechanisms, clinical researchers view the patient as a whole, young investigators provide momentum, and senior colleagues create stability. It is this diversity that drives progress, often in unexpected directions. One of the traditions of our society is its vigorous and engaging discussions. Questions fly like cytokines, and presenters must respond as though navigating a signaling cascade. When the exchange is productive, it becomes “successful signal transduction”; when not, it turns into “noise.” Occasionally, the debate escalates into a “cytokine storm” ― but even this is part of our culture, leaving behind a memorable “immune response” for all involved.
On the conference floor, the audience ― our stromal cells ― actively interact with the presenters, our tumor cells. Some participants behave like CAFs, organizing the discussion, while others resemble macrophages, igniting heated debate. Poster sessions resemble a stroma crowded with diverse cell types. Coffee breaks provide essential survival signals, while at the social gatherings we may be exchanging not only exosomes, but perhaps even “metabolites.”
In the TME, it is well established that sustained tumor–stroma interactions gradually increase heterogeneity. Likewise, through continuous exchange among researchers from different backgrounds, our meetings develop into something richer than a collection of individuals, fostering true academic diversity.
This year, we are pleased to strengthen collaboration with the Metastasis Research Society (MRS). A joint session with MRS will provide an excellent opportunity to deepen discussion across the boundaries of basic and clinical research, between junior and senior colleagues, and across international borders.
Allow me to stress the importance of being present on site. As you know, most cytokines act locally rather than over long distances. It is only by sharing the same space ― engaging in direct, sometimes even noisy exchanges ― that true interactions emerge. Attending the meeting in person, immersing oneself in this “tumor microenvironment,” will itself foster the seeds of new strategies.
The Japanese Association for Cancer Metastasis is not merely a forum for information exchange, but a community united in the challenge of overcoming refractory cancers. I firmly believe that the discussions and encounters at this meeting will lead to innovative strategies for controlling the tumor microenvironment, and ultimately to new hope for patients.
I sincerely hope that the 35th Annual Meeting will provide all participants with a stimulating yet welcoming “microenvironment,” where dynamic interactions generate the power to shape the future. As chairperson, I am fully committed to ensuring the success of this meeting, and I warmly invite you all to join us in Yamagata.