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1 July 2020

IARC and College of American Pathologists collaborate to enhance cancer reporting

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration on their respective resources that are used in cancer classification, reporting, and ultimately, patient care.

The WHO Classification of Tumours Series (also known as the “WHO Blue Books”), for the histological and molecular classification of tumours, and the CAP Cancer Protocols are essential in the classification and reporting of cancer cases in the USA.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, IARC allows the CAP to use the classification structure of the WHO Blue Books in the CAP Cancer Protocols and electronic Cancer Checklists. Timely access to this content is critical to ensure that pathologists have access to the most up-to-date content when reporting on cancer cases. The Cancer Protocols and associated electronic Cancer Checklists provide guidelines for collecting the essential data elements for complete reporting of malignant tumours and optimal patient care.

“We understand the importance of the CAP having access to the most current versions of the WHO Blue Books classification structure,” says Ian Cree, BMSc, MBChB, PhD, FRCPath, head of the WHO Classification of Tumours programme at IARC. “We are delighted to collaborate and exchange information and resources for the betterment of cancer reporting and patient care.”

In addition, the CAP and IARC will nominate representatives to each organization’s group that is responsible for maintaining and updating its resources: the CAP Cancer Committee and the WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board, respectively.

IARC has named Dr Cree as its representative to the CAP Cancer Committee. Joseph Khoury, MD, FCAP, chair of the CAP Cancer Committee, will be nominated to the WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board.

“Leveraging expertise from IARC, and conversely the CAP sharing its expertise with IARC, will be essential in strengthening the alignment in our respective publications that are critical to physicians who are diagnosing and treating cancer patients,” says Dr Khoury. “We will work closely together to share progress on timelines for new editions and updates to each organization’s publications.”

The CAP is the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and a leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programmes. The CAP serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. As a 501(c)(6) membership organization, the CAP is the only entity representing pathologists with unrestricted advocacy capability and a political action committee, PathPAC. For more information, visit yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care. Read the CAP Annual Report.

 

Publication status

Published in section: IARC News

Publication date: 1 July, 2020, 0:54

Direct link: https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-and-college-of-american-pathologists-collaborate-to-enhance-cancer-reporting/

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