Strategy Groups are disease-specific committees comprised of investigators from developing countries. They are responsible for developing, in conjunction with INCTR staff and advisors, specific research projects encompassing prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer or groups of closely related cancers. Strategy Group members are also the responsible investigators for these research projects. They ensure that each study, after INCTR scientific and ethical approval, undergoes ethical review at the local level and that patient treatment, if part of a project, and data collected in the course of the project, are of the highest possible quality. It is anticipated that Strategy Group members will take a leading role in assisting other institutions within their own countries or regions to reach the necessary level of competence to participate effectively in INCTR projects.
Current Strategy Groups
African Burkitt's Lymphoma Strategy Group
Breast Cancer Strategy Group
Leukemia Study Group of India
Retinoblastoma Strategy Group
Pediatric Oncology Strategy Group
African Burkitt's Lymphoma Strategy Group
The African Burkitt's Lymphoma Strategy Group is comprised of investigators from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. The group has implemented a protocol entitled, The Treatment and Characterization of Burkitt's Lymphoma in Africa" which includes first-line treatment for newly diagnosed patients and second-line treatment for patients who relapse or for those who fail to respond to the first-line treatment. Patient accrual began in August, 2004 and is on-going.
The study will expand to other institutions in Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda later in 2008.
Breast Cancer Strategy Group
The Breast Cancer Strategy Group is comprised of investigators from many countries including Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam. The group is focusing its efforts on developing projects related to the epidemiology, characterization and treatment of breast cancer.
The group has designed a survey of the presentation features of breast cancer and the risk factors for treatment outcome. This retrospective study is a survey of female breast cancer cases treated in participating institutions from January, 1993 through December, 2001. It entails a review of data available from institutional hospital registries as well as individual patient medical records. This study entitled, "A Retrospective Survey of Presentation Features of Breast Cancer and Risk Factors for Treatment Outcome" will provide a foundation for future studies. It was initiated in 2005 in four countries.
The group will be following up the retrospective survey with a longitudinal prospective survey of presentation features of breast cancer as well as treatment and outcome. A questionnaire of newly diagnosed women with breast cancer will be undertaken in order to identify factors contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Leukemia Study Group of India
The Leukemia Study Group of India initiated a new protocol for the treatment and characterization of ALL in August, 2004. It is an exploratory, hypothesis-generating study of prognostic factors predictive of relapse, event-free and overall survival and represents a modification of an earlier treatment protocol used in India for many years. Patient accrual is well underway.
An updated version of MCP841 will be implemented in 2006 with the goal of expanding treatment to more children, adolescents and young adults throughout India. The group is in the process of developing a cooperative group in India.
Retinoblastoma Strategy Group
The Retinoblastoma Strategy Group is comprised of investigators from one or more centers in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The major objective of this group is to develop a multi-national program for retinoblastoma. The present activities are focused on professional and public education and the treatment of children with advanced disease. The purpose of the professional and public education programs is to increase awareness and thereby, promote early detection of retinoblastoma. These educational programs are conducted within each country and materials for both health care professionals and the public have been developed. A public service announcement, produced in Brazil has been translated into many languages for use in many countries.
A survey study entitled, "Understanding the Problems Faced by Parents of Children with Retinoblastoma Prior to Treatment" has recently been completed. The objective of the study was to identify the reasons for late presentation through understanding problems faced by parents of children with retinoblastoma prior to treatment. The information obtained through the questionnaire will be used in the development of targeted public and professional education programs. Over 350 parents have been surveyed.
A regimen designed for the treatment of children with extra-ocular, non-metastatic retinoblastoma has been piloted in Turkey.
Pediatric Oncology Strategy Group
The Pediatric Oncology Strategy Group is comprised of investigators from Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, Turkey, Jordan, India and Pakistan as well as pediatric oncologists and epidemiologists from the USA and Europe. This newly formed group will assist in developing INCTR's overall strategy in pediatric oncology. The group will focus on specific childhood cancers including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Burkitt lymphoma, other childhood lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, retinoblastoma and Wilms' Tumor. In addition, the group is in the process of developing a Pediatric Supportive Care Handbook that can be used by doctors in low and middle income countries.
This announcement has been shown in Brazil and has resulted in parents contacting major referral centers about getting help for their children. Click here to view this Public Service Announcement (http://tucca.org.br/)
