The international collaboration on cancer reporting (ICCR): development of evidence-based core data sets for pathology cancer reporting

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Global collaboration and standardisation of Cancer Pathology Datasets (CPDS) is essential for international benchmarking and epidemiological research in cancer and to reduce the burden of dataset production but has not been previously attempted. <h3>Design</h3> The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR), including Pathology Colleges and Associations of the USA, UK, Canada and Australia, was established in 2011 to develop internationally agreed and evidence-based CPDS. The ICCR initially established four international review panels (RP) to develop CPDS for prostate, lung, endometrial carcinoma and melanoma, each comprising an ICCR pathology lead and two international experts from each country. Each chair facilitated an evidence-based review and harmonisation of the core (required) data elements, permitted responses, non-core (recommended) elements and terminology. Core elements included stage, tumour type and predictive or prognostic data for which there was Level III-2 evidence to support inclusion.¹ <h3>Results</h3> The RPs for each cancer successfully developed CPDS with fewer core elements than existing national datasets. Definitions and permitted responses for all data elements were agreed. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This ICCR pilot study demonstrated that internationally standardised and evidence-based CPDS can be produced efficiently with significant improvements in content, including harmonised terminology, definitions and required responses.