1 The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; 2 American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA
The UICC International Workshop on Facilitating Screening for Colorectal Cancer: An International Agenda was held in June 2002 in Oslo, Norway. The workshop was organized to address the global challenge of morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer, criteria for the implementation of screening, and recommendations for public education, professional education, quality assurance, evaluation and health policy.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer occurring worldwide. Colorectal cancer is more prevalent in North America, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, Japan, and Israel, and for this reason is commonly regarded as a western lifestyle disease. However, although incidence and mortality are higher in western lifestyle countries, global incidence is rising and the majority of the world's cases of colorectal cancer occur outside of countries in which traditional western lifestyles are dominant. There is good evidence demonstrating reduced morbidity and mortality associated with early detection of invasive lesions and precursor adenomatous polyps. However, most colorectal cancer in the world is diagnosed at an advanced stage.
In June, 2002, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS) organized the UICC International Workshop on Facilitating Screening for Colorectal Cancer: An International Agenda. The workshop was held in Oslo, Norway and was scheduled to coincide with the 18th UICC International Cancer Congress. The intent of the workshop was to provide a forum for interaction between researchers, clinicians, nurses, public health experts, behavioral scientists, opinion leaders and policy makers involved in community screening for colorectal cancer. The aims of the workshop were to: (i) address criteria for the introduction of screening; (ii) describe key concepts related to risk assessment and efficacy; (iii) raise awareness of the value of colorectal cancer screening at the political, medical and general population levels; (iv) emphasize the importance of the entire process of screening, i.e. a system of interrelated and interdependent elements, rather than just the technological elements; and (v) learn about the experience of screening programs in a variety of locales.
International experts from Europe, the USA, Asia, and Australia were organized into five workgroups focused on (i) criteria for screening; (ii) the screening process; (iii) quality assurance and program evaluation; (iv) public education; and (v) professional evaluation. The five separate workgroup reports are published in this issue of the Annals of Oncology. We hope that the conclusions reached by the distinguished workgroup participants will hasten implementation of screening for colorectal cancer in the many countries in which colorectal cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.