Cancer genomic medicine in Japan and the roles of pharmacists

Abstract

Cancer genomic medicine (CGM) is a medical service that provides optimized treatment for each patient based on genes, biomarkers, environment, and lifestyle. In Japan, the approval of designed core hospitals for CGM started in 2017. In June 2019, two types of cancer gene panel tests became available in the national health insurance system, and CGM was socially implemented. While CGM is still in its infancy and there are some issues that need to be resolved, there are cases where the treatment has shown dramatic results. The present review highlights the CGM system in Japan, the issues it faces, and the role of pharmacists in this system.