UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Cancer will play increasingly a dominant role in the health issues of all developing countries for nearly 70% of global burden by 2020. The role of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre in the 21st century will therefore necessarily encompass a wide spectrum as an important advocate in the strategy for a cancer control programme. The experience of the Tata Memorial Centre will be highlighted as an excellent example of Private Philanthrophy and Public Support for the complete spectrum of the programme.

Methods: The decisive factors will range from prevention to early detection, diagnosis and treatment, clinical guidelines on the basis of evidence and multidisciplinary teams. Important also will be its contribution for randomized clinical trials and novel treatment mordalities and new drug technology evaluations. Improved outcome analysis of survival with a major impact on changing patterns of care, optimization of resources and efficient cost containments are other issues that will be highlighted while upholding the highest standards of excellence in the Centre. Societal initiatives in the community with Urban and Rural Outreach Programmes, Palliative House Care Services and Telemedicine and Telepathology will be presented as real time examples of reaching out to the largest number of persons struggling for their just attention.

Results: Education and Research, i.e both basic, clinical and translational research are other important pillars in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre. The systems in place to promote and monitor this will be discussed and its feasibility in a developing country projected.