Abstract
Alliance Against Cancer (ACC) was established in Rome in 2002 as a consortium of six Italian comprehensive cancer centers (Founders). The aims of ACC were to promote a network among Italian oncologic institutions in order to develop specific, advanced projects in clinical and translational research. During the following years, many additional full and associate members joined ACC, that presently includes the National Institute of Health, 17 research-oriented hospitals, scientific and patient organizations. Furthermore, in the last three years ACC underwent a reorganization process that redesigned the structure, governance and major activities. The present goal of ACC is to achieve high standards of care across Italy, to implement and harmonize principles of modern personalized and precision medicine, by developing cost effective processes and to provide tailored information to cancer patients. We herein summarize some of the major initiatives that ACC is currently developing to reach its goal, including tumor genetic screening programs, establishment of clinical trial programs for cancer patients treated in Italian cancer centers, facilitate their access to innovative drugs under development, improve quality through an European accreditation process (European Organization of Cancer Institutes), and develop international partnerships. In conclusion, ACC is a growing organization, trying to respond to the need of networking in Italy and may contribute significantly to improve the way we face cancer in Europe.
Highlights
Cancer care is a major health problem worldwide
De Paoli et al J Transl Med (2015) 13:360 patient advocacy groups coming together from four different continents [4]. This consortium offers an opportunity to make an impact on personalized cancer therapy across the globe by increasing the number of patients, whose malignant cells have been profiled with cutting edge genomic and transcriptomic technologies, to be recruited to innovative clinical trials and treatment with the latest innovative drugs [5]
We present the approach that is being undertaken in Italy by Against Cancer (ACC) to build up a virtual cancer institute spanning across the whole country with the intent to achieve high and uniform standards of cancer research and care, with particular emphasis on personalized cancer therapy based on genomic profiling and on innovative clinical trials
Summary
Alliance Against Cancer, the network of Italian cancer centers bridging research and care. Paolo De Paoli1*†, Gennaro Ciliberto2†, Manlio Ferrarini, PierGiuseppe Pelicci, Paolo Dellabona, Francesco De Lorenzo, Alberto Mantovani, Pellegrino Musto, Giuseppe Opocher, Piero Picci, Walter Ricciardi and Ruggero De Maria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
