Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure and honor to be able to welcome you to Japan again for the 4th International CNS Germ Cell Tumor Symposium. In 2003, Professor Masao Matsutani organized the 1st Symposium in traditional Kyoto in Japan. In 2005, Professor Jonathan Finlay organized the 2nd Symposium at the happy Universal Studio, Los Angeles. Then Professor James Nicholson organized the 3rd Symposium in academic Cambridge, UK, two years ago. There are several reasons to organize the 4th Symposium in Japan only two years from the successful 3rd Symposium in Cambridge.

 

• Genome analyses were done in USA and Japan in 2014 and their results will be presented. This will be the beginning of a new era for this interesting tumor.
• Consensus statement for the management of CNS germ cell tumors will be discussed and declared.
• Long-term follow-up of the seminal Japanese study will be published and presented.

The 4th meeting will be in Tokyo. I am afraid mid April will be a little late for cherry blossoms, but April is a beautiful season in Japan. We look forward to seeing you again in modern Tokyo!