INCTR Forges New Ties in Latin America

Preliminary discussions have been held with pediatric oncologists in Lima, Peru (Dr Anthony Wachtel and Dr Ivonne Guerrera of the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasticas) and Bolivia (Dr Yolanda Ernst, Dr Maria Raquel Bravo and Dr Martha Alicia of the Instituto Oncologico del Oriente Boliviano) regarding future INCTR activities in these countries. In Peru, discussions have focused on retinoblastoma and virus-associated cancers. In Bolivia, discussions focused around the development of programs directed toward earlier diagnosis. A local support group, Salvame, is interested in working with the INCTR in this area of endeavor. The INCTR already has strong relationships with the Boldrini Children's Cancer Center in Brazil and the Instituto Nacional de Pediatria in Mexico, so that, at least in the area of pediatric oncology, Latin American links are strengthening. These countries all have a high incidence of cervical cancer, a disease which will be a focus for discussions in the next INCTR Annual Meeting, and which is also likely to become a focus of the US Branch.