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UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Bridging the Gap: Transforming Knowledge into Action

July 8-12, 2006, Washington, DC, USA

Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 2:30 PM
13-5

UICC TNM Project Global Advisory Group: progress and continued expansion

Eng-Siew Koh, MD, FRANZCR1, Mary K. Gospodarowicz, MD, FRCPC, FRCR1, Brian O'Sullivan, MB, FRCPC1, Ellen Benhamou, MD2, James D. Brierley, MBBS, FRCR, FRCP1, Louis Denis, Professor3, Frederick Greene, MD, FACS4, Patti Groome, PhD5, Hextan YS Ngan, MD6, Christian Wittekind, PhD7, Susumu Yamasaki, MD8, and Leslie H. Sobin, MD9. (1) Radiation Medicine Program, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G2M9, Canada, (2) Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Rue Camille Desmoulins, Paris, France, (3) Oncology Centre Antwerp, Lange Gasthuisstraat 35-37, Antwerp, Belgium, (4) Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., MEB 6th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28203, (5) Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, 10 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada, (6) Division of Gynecology Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China, (7) Director of the Institute of Pathology, University Clinic of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 26, Leipzig, Germany, (8) Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, National Tochigi Hospital, University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan, (9) Department of Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 6825 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20306

Objective: The UICC TNM Project Global Advisory Group aims to enhance international collaboration in securing the TNM staging classification as a standard for describing anatomic disease extent. Its immediate goal is to continue expansion by tripling its existing global membership.

Methods: A new process was introduced to facilitate open-ended participation in international cancer staging efforts. The initiative to create new national committees in as many continents as possible with multidisciplinary representation by medical, radiation and surgical oncologists, pathologists, clinical epidemiologists, cancer registries, and statisticians. The goals of new national committees include: disseminating information regarding TNM; proactively promoting its use in their country/region; stimulating awareness, building knowledge and facilitating the implementation of universal recording of stage; providing evidence-based expert opinion on the enhancement of staging and prognostic factors; representing the organization on national and international cancer staging committees; and acting as a conduit for proposals for changes to TNM.

Results: Since May 2003, new national committees have been created in Australia, Brazil, Poland, Singapore, and Spain; bringing the total to 13. Efforts to extend the network to Argentina, Netherlands, Ireland, Hungary, and India are ongoing. Initial engagement in collaboration is high. Committees are actively developing membership and terms of reference; they send an Annual Report to the UICC. Internet based support and mentorship is provided to members.

Benefits of this expanded UICC TNM Global Advisory Group include the potential for: rapid dissemination of information regarding cancer staging, translation of TNM to more languages, and the worldwide expansion of local expertise.


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