ASCO Issues Progress Report on Blueprint for Cancer Research

ASCO has released a Progress Report on the gains made toward achieving goals set forth in its landmark 2011 report, Blueprint for Transforming Clinical and Translational Cancer Research. The ASCO Blueprint laid out an innovative roadmap for the clinical research system to capitalize on the new understanding of cancer biology.

Examples of Progress

Since issuing the Blueprint report, ASCO and other major partners have made important strides in achieving the Blueprint’s vision. Examples include:

• ASCO has initiated efforts to develop recommendations on clinically meaningful outcomes for clinical trials to ensure that new cancer therapies offer meaningful improvements in patient survival and quality of life
• FDA has adopted its breakthrough therapy initiative to prioritize and streamline development of highly promising new therapies
• NCI took actions to strengthen the Cooperative Group Program, which will revitalize federally-funded clinical research
• ASCO completed the CancerLinQ prototype, the first step toward fulfilling the Society’s commitment to develop a “rapid learning system” for cancer care

The Blueprint and Progress Reports can be downloaded at www.cancerprogress.net/blueprint.html.

Be Counted in Oncology Practice Census

ASCO is continuing its efforts to assess and monitor the state of oncology practices and respond to its rapidly changing environment. The ASCO National Oncology Census will help the Society maintain its full picture of the oncology landscape for 2013.

More than 600 U.S. oncology practices representing more than 5,000 individual oncologists participated in the 2012 census, the preliminary results of which were published in the Journal of Oncology Practice.¹

In 2013, ASCO is seeking full participation to ensure that the collected data is representative of the entire oncology community in the United States across the spectrum of practice settings—community practices, hospitals, government, and academic institutions. The survey instrument has been significantly streamlined minimizing the time required to answer the survey questions.

To learn more about the 2013 ASCO National Oncology Census, visit www.asco.org/census. To take the survey now, visit www.asco.org/2013-asco-national-oncology-census. (Survey respondents may use their ASCO ID or log in as a guest.) ■

Reference

1. Forte GJ, Hanley A, Hagerty K, et al: American Society of Clinical Oncology National Census of Oncology Practices: Preliminary report. J Oncol Pract 9:9-19, 2013.