Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your continuous cooperation to ACTA 2021 TOKYO.

Last year, 7th Asian Conference on Tumor Ablation, which was scheduled to be held as ACTA 2020 TOKYO, had to be cancelled due to the spread of the COVID-19.

With the approval of the ACTA Director Members, ACTA 2021 TOKYO will be held as a hybrid conference from October 15 (Fri) to 17 (Sun), 2021, at the Kioi Conference (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and it is my great honor to be serving as the Chairman.

ACTA is an annual forum for ablation specialists in Asia aimed at updating their knowledge and sharing experiences on all ablation techniques such as radiofrequency, microwave, and cryoablation. It also aims at discussing their indications not only for the liver but also for the lung, thyroid, kidney, bone, soft tissue, and all other organs.

Asia is the region with the world’s largest population which has the highest prevalence of liver cancer. For that reason, there are highest number of doctors who perform ablation procedure which led to world’s largest market. Asia is the birthplace of ablation such as ethanol injection and microwave ablation, and it has been leading the world in terms of techniques and experience. We believe that we have the responsibility of leading the world into a new stage of ablation.

Ablation is used to treat many patients, especially those with cancer. Minimally invasive yet curative and cost-effective ablation will be required to play an even greater role in the health care of our aging societies.

The theme for ACTA 2021 TOKYO is “Lead the World.” We hope it will remind all participants of ACTA’s position in the international community as well as of the role of ablation in medical care going forward. We will invite numerous specialists from Japan and abroad to present their clinical experience and research outcomes, engage in debates, and contribute to our drive to “Lead the World.”

We look forward to having you join us at ACTA 2021 TOKYO.

Shuichiro Shiina, M.D., Ph.D.
Chairman
Professor of Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University

Dear colleagues,

Hope you doing well in the COVID-19 endemicity!

As the situation regarding the new coronavirus (COVID-19) infection continues to be uncertain worldwide, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who carefully considered the format of ACTA 2021 TOKYO after the decision to cancel ACTA 2020 TOKYO and were able to make it possible to hold the event this year.

Tumor ablation is a non-invasive treatment modality for not only liver but also thyroid, kidney, lung, bone and etc. It has been worldwide used, especially in the Asia. The associated fields of tumor ablations are rapid developing, such as ablation apparatus, guidance technology, treatment indications and clinic experience. Therefore, continuous education, communications and collaboration are very important. ACTA is the best platform. Owing to continuous collaboration of all members, Asian Society of Tumor Ablation (ASTA) is getting well organized. Its annual meeting, Asian Conference on Tumor Ablation (ACTA), is the most important activity of ASTA. In the first round, ACTA have been held in Taipei, Fukuoka, Seoul, Guangzhou and Chennai. In 2019, We achieved our task to host the 1st 2nd round ACTA in Chiayi. ACTA is also getting better in these 6 years, including increasing number of participants and experts, enhancing contents of programs, expending fields involved, living demonstration in pre-congress workshops.

I would like to congratulate Prof. Shiina successfully organized this 7th ACTA in Tokyo. And looking forward to your participant.

Sheng-Nan Lu, MD, MPH, PhD
Co-Chair (Immediate Past Hosting Chair)
Deputy Superintendent and
Professor of Hepato-Gastroenterology
Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Dear colleagues,

It is my greatest honor and pleasure indeed to be elected as the hosting chair of ACTA 2021 TOKYO.

I would like to thank Professor Shuichiro Shiina and the members of organizing committee for their tremendous efforts in organizing ACTA 2021 TOKYO meeting in Japan. I hope ASTA (Asian Society of Tumor Ablation) leads the cutting-edge opinions in minimally invasive treatment for tumors. Moreover, ASTA will support education for all Asian doctors in providing the best care for their patients in a form of minimally invasive treatment.

As we know, ASTA has successfully held previous annual meetings, but unfortunately it was postponed because of COVID 19. I believe that we will ride out this pandemic crisis and move forward further. I hope that we contribute to continuous education and development of guidelines through ACTA 2021 TOKYO.

I am certain that ACTA will continue to grow into one of the leading organizations for minimally invasive treatment world-wide.

I have no doubts that ACTA 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, will be a great success.

Regards,

Jung Hwan Baek, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-chair (Elected Hosting Chair)
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology,
University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center