[Clinical Oncology Groups in Japan: experience of the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group (JALSG)].

Although Grants-in-Aid of the Ministry of Health and Welfare support a considerable number of clinical cancer studies in Japan, there is no established clinical oncology group in Japan which is supported by the government or public grants. The Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group is a voluntary clinical oncology group, established in 1987; it started with 14 institutions and had 45 institutions as of 1993. Operating funds are donated from each participating institution with some help from a Grant-in-Aid of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. Establishment of government-supported nation-wide clinical oncology groups is urgently needed for further development of high quality clinical cancer studies in Japan.