The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) unites and supports the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to ensure that cancer control continues to be a priority in the world health and development agenda.
The World Cancer Leaders Summit in November 2013 launched the refreshed World Cancer Declaration. Embodied in target 6 and a foundation of cancer management, is accurate diagnosis. Knowing what cancer type and stage the patient has is vital for improving patient outcomes.
“UICC has been the custodian of the TNM classification of malignant tumours consensus process for over 70 years. We are happy to endorse the ICCR and join the steering committee, to maximise synergies and build the capacity of pathologists and cancer teams worldwide to respond to the growing need for their services”
Jim Brierley, co-chair of the UICC TNM Core Committee.
Efficiently and consistently reporting of these data according to international standards is fundamental for optimal cancer planning, monitoring and evaluation as well as the ability for policy makers to respond to emerging trends and have a more accurate picture of the national cancer control burden. As part of our commitment to target 2 UICC is partnering with the Global Initiative on Cancer Registration development (GICR). We strongly believe integration of International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) with TNM and GICR advocacy will optimise opportunities for success at country level and create synergies in shaping policies that are supportive for this vital work.
“UICCs purpose is to unite the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda. The ICCR embodies this spirit – we welcome the collaboration”
Mary Gospodarowicz, Past President of UICC and co-chair of the UICC TNM Core Committee.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its mission is to co-ordinate and conduct cancer research. IARC has the objectives of promoting international collaborative research on cancer, in order to provide a scientific basis for the adoption of effective strategies for cancer prevention and control. A key activity of IARC is the development and publication of the WHO Classification of Tumours series (‘WHO Blue Books’) that are a vital resource for worldwide pathology reporting of cancer.
The identification and classification of tumour types based on the WHO Classification of Tumours is essential to the pathology reporting of cancer and is a feature of all ICCR datasets. Its importance to ICCR datasets is reflected in the ICCR development schedule which is synchronised with the WHO Classification of Tumours production schedule. IARC and ICCR have bilateral representation on their Steering Committees, as well as an agreement on the cooperative utilisation of international cancer pathology expertise.
The International Society of Gynecological Pathology (ISGyP) is a world-wide community of pathologists and other physicians with a common interest in the pathology of the female reproductive system. The Society was founded in 1976 to facilitate exchange of knowledge about gynaecological disease and to be a forum for dissemination of new information in this area.
With its wide international membership and focus on advancing gynaecological pathology, ISGyP is an ideal collaborator on ICCR gynaecological datasets. ISGyP members on the Dataset Authoring Committees ensure the latest information and access to the ISGyP membership during the public consultation period provides very broad international review by pathologists with an interest in gynaecological pathology.
The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) was founded in 1992. It conducts a scientific meeting annually as part of the United States, Canadian Academy of Pathology at which over 500 delegates may attend and it regularly convenes companion meetings at the Congress of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP), the international meeting of the UICC, the Australasian Division of the IAP and the European Society of Pathology.
With its wide international membership and focus on advancing urological pathology, ISUP is an ideal collaborator on ICCR genitourinary datasets. ISUP members on the Dataset Authoring Committees ensures the latest information is available during dataset development, and access to the ISUP membership during the public consultation period provides for very broad international review by pathologists with an interest in urological pathology.
In 2014, twenty-seven professionals with a common interest in increasing and improving access to diagnostic pathology and laboratory medicine in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) formed African Strategies for Advancing Pathology (ASAP). This organisation is composed of individuals with expertise and interest in histopathology, cytopathology, medical microbiology, infectious disease pathology, information management, public health advocacy and policy, health systems, laboratory management, and process improvement. Their common goal is to increase and improve access to diagnostic pathology and laboratory services in low and middle income countries (LMICs).
The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) unites cancer clinical research experts to define better treatments for cancer patients to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Both international and multidisciplinary, EORTC’s member network comprises over 4,600 collaborators involved in cancer treatment and research in more than 800 hospitals across 35 countries.
Through translational and clinical research, EORTC offers an integrated approach to therapeutic strategies, drug evaluation programs, survivorship issues, and quality of life.
EORTC Headquarters, a unique international clinical research infrastructure, is based in Brussels, Belgium, from where its various activities are coordinated and run.
The European Journal of Cancer is the official journal of the EORTC.
The Massachusetts General Hospital Pathology Service, a comprehensive academic pathology department, delivers subspecialty clinical services, hosts robust training and education programs, and performs cutting-edge research.
The goal of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP) is to identify, manage diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions and investigate the causes processes and effects of these diseases.
Oral and maxillofacial pathology is the specialty of dentistry and pathology which deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes, processes and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology includes research, diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical or other examinations, and management of patients.
The North American Society of Head and Neck Pathology (NASHNP) was founded in 1997 as a non-profit organisation to promote, exchange and disseminate information about the anatomy, physiology, pathology and basic science and clinical management of diseases involving the head and neck.
The British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (BSOMP) was founded over fifty years ago and promotes research into and histopathological diagnosis of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial complex and other regions of the head and neck. It has members from across the UK as well as overseas. Members come from all areas of practice including the National Health Service and academic university departments. The Society organises an annual scientific meeting and also manages the National Quality Assurance Scheme of the Royal College of Pathologists for the diagnosis of head and neck pathology.
The International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists (IAOP) was established in 1976. Its’ primary objectives are the development and promotion of the practice and science of oral pathology, the advancement of under and postgraduate education, and to further the knowledge of clinical aspects, laboratory diagnosis and applied and translational research in the speciality field of oral pathology. The IAOP aims to encourage communication between individuals of all nations in pursuance of these objectives.
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is a not-for-profit institution providing affordable specialist care for patients and training for doctors and other healthcare professionals. SGH seeks to bring its patients new and better care and therapies through research.
The International Society of Breast Pathology (ISBP) is a professional organisation whose purpose is to encourage communication and exchange of new knowledge, develop strategies to better understand the biology of breast disease, promote standardisation of diagnostic and prognostic criteria, provide leadership in breast cancer research and education, foster an improvement of training programs in breast pathology and to encourage professional advancement of the members.
The International Academy of Cytology is a scientific, non-profit organization of cytopathologists, cytotechnologists and other professionals concerned with research in and practice of clinical cytology. It was founded in 1957 in Brussels, Belgium.
Bowel Cancer UK is a charity aimed at saving lives and improving the quality of life of people affected by bowel cancer in the UK. They provide information and support to patients and their families; campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care; support and fund bowel cancer research; and educate the public and healthcare professionals about the disease.
ICCR would like to thank Keystone Corporate Positioning for their ongoing pro bono support in the areas of branding, marketing, and fundraising strategy.