Translational study in cancer research.

Recent progress in molecular biology has led to the identification of numerous molecular targets of cancer chemotherapy, and the strategies for new drug discovery have concentrated on target-based screening. In the development of target-based drugs, translational research is considered to be essential. In this review, the definition of translational research is clearly explained, and the points of misunderstanding of Japanese researchers are discussed and resolved. The primary goal of translational research is to integrate the advanced informations of molecular biology in moving forward from phase I and II trials to phase III trials of target-based drugs.