Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Japan since 1981 and remains a serious issue threatening both the lives and health of the population. Thanks to progress in cancer control, mortality rates for gastric and cervical cancer have significantly decreased, and mortality and incidence rates of many other types of cancer that had previously been increasing have plateaued. On the other hand, mortality and incidence rates for breast and prostate cancer continue to rise, and due to the aging population, the number of cancer deaths and cases are increasing for many types of cancer. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of innovative cancer treatments and the establishment of a system that would ensure nationwide access to standard cancer care.