Record of the 19th National Oncology Conference and the 2nd Special Session on Oncologists and Big Data

On September 22, 2016, the 19th National Oncology Conference opened at the Xiamen International Conference Center. The Second Special Session on Oncologists and Big Data was successfully held at 2:30 p.m.

Academician Sun Yan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering served as Chair of the conference, while Shi Yuankai, Deputy Director of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Gu Jin, Deputy Director of Beijing Cancer Hospital, served as Moderators. Numerous oncology experts from China and abroad delivered outstanding special reports centered on the conference theme. Over the course of nearly three hours, the speakers and attending experts engaged in lively discussions on the topic of “oncology big data.”

At the opening of the conference, Academician Sun Yan delivered a vivid address, in which he articulated his understanding of big data and emphasized the critical importance of data quality. Reflecting on the losses incurred by the nation due to clinical trials that were wasted in recent years because of poor data quality, he stated, “Big data must be genuine and reliable to effectively serve the cause of human health. Ultimately, big data should serve precision medicine, and precise treatment relies on accurate diagnosis. Therefore, we must maintain an attitude that is both progressive and highly humble when addressing this academic issue.”

Opening Remarks by Academician Sun Yan

Subsequently, Professor Wu Yilong, Chairman of the CSCO Conference, and Mr. Wang Xuexing, Founder of Xinyu Information, took the stage to jointly unveil the CSCO Clinical Data Expert Committee. The inauguration ceremony of the CSCO Clinical Data Expert Committee under the Precision Medicine Alliance propelled the conference to a new climax. In his address, Professor Wu Yilong stated that following the establishment of the Driver Gene Alliance, CSCO has also decided to form a Big Data Working Group. This group will leverage database systems to collect more real-world clinical data from within the industry. By progressively enhancing the database, it aims to provide real-world data research and application scenarios for clinical oncology in China.

Currently, the alliance database is freely accessible to industry professionals. As more colleagues from the field join, we will establish and gradually refine relevant data-sharing mechanisms. Building on a substantial foundation of real-world data, we aim to integrate this database with the next-generation sequencing (NGS) database of the Driver Gene Alliance. In the future, the alliance will also draw on the experience of ASCO’s CancerLinQ in the United States to develop a clinical oncology research system tailored specifically for the Chinese population.

Professor Wu Yilong, Conference Chair, and Wang Xuexing, Founder of Xinyu Information, jointly unveiled the ceremony.

Finally, during the roundtable discussion, experts engaged in a lively debate on topics such as “The Relationship Between Oncologists and Big Data” and “What Benefits Can Big Data Bring to Oncologists, and How Should We Respond?” Each professor offered insightful perspectives, and the session was filled with witty remarks.

This conference has brought together numerous experts and scholars from both China and abroad for collaborative discussions. Through the exchange of perspectives and the clash of ideas, it is believed that the development of precision medicine and oncology diagnosis and treatment in China will be significantly advanced.