In the forefront of basic and translational cancer research: Seventh Joint Conference of the American Association for Cancer Research and the Japanese Cancer Association.

The Seventh Joint Conference of the American Association of Cancer Research and the Japanese Cancer Association, ‘‘In the Forefront of Basic and Translational Cancer Research,’’ held in Waikoloa, HI, on January 21 to 25, 2007, was designed to showcase the latest advances in all major areas of cancer research and show their translation for clinical benefit. Major advances in technology, paired with significant biological insights, have dramatically accelerated the pace of translational research in recent years. This meeting report describes the highlights of the meeting, stressing technological advances in genomics, proteomics, genetics, and epigenetics; new insights into oncogenic pathways, DNA repair, stem cells, metabolism, and the tumor microenvironment; advances in animal and quantitative models of cancer; novel approaches to cancer prevention and therapy; and progress in individualizing cancer treatment. The conference was remarkably international, and participants gained a global perspective on the cutting edges of cancer research. [Cancer Res 2007;67(10):4556–9]