New Staff
INCTR welcomes two new staff members. Jean Schlusselberg and John Langenaeken have joined the Clinical Trials Office—Jean as a Medical Consultant and John as a Clinical Data Manager.

Volunteers
INCTR wishes to thank its devoted volunteers for their continuing outstanding support. Hillary Wallace has provided valuable assistance to the PR Department. Sandra Jackson has done an excellent job in helping to organize INCTR educational programs. Caroline Houard has taken on the responsibility for the mailing of Network to our recipients around the world.

Travel
Dr Magrath, Melissa Adde and Jean Schlusselberg attended a meeting in Barcelona on March 18 -20 relating to a clinical trial in locally advanced cervical cancer in 10 different countries that will be sponsored by Eli Lilly.

Corporate Liaison Committee Meeting

A meeting of the Corporate Liaison Committee took place on 29 April. Dr Udo Müller and Dr Wolfgang Ham from Baxter Oncology were in attendance along with Dr Frans Dhaenens of Agfa Gevaert. Discussions were held regarding sponsored workshops on Good Clinical Practice, following the meeting on Clinical Trials Management recently held in Beijing (see last edition of Network), which was sponsored by Eli Lilly. Dr Müller mentioned that Baxter has a “Good Citizenship” program and expressed interest in participating in the sponsorship of such workshops. He also raised the issue of the identification of available and needed resources for cancer treatment in developing countries, mentioning that a compilation of such information would be valuable in many different ways. This is entirely consistent with INCTR’s view. Dr Ham described a number of studies carried out in advanced cervical cancer using ifosfamide, which appears to be a valuable agent in this disease. Dr Dhaenens raised the possibility of developing a program in education pertaining to the role of information technology in the care of patients with cancer. These topics will be further discussed at future meetings.

News from INCTR (USA)

The US Branch of INCTR, in follow-up to its planning meeting in Miami and the discussions held during the most recent Annual Meeting, is attempting to initiate a series of programs in Latin America for the management of cervical cancer. These include efforts at improved screening and early diagnosis, including a model for a single visit for screening and required follow-up, as well as the introduction of combined modality treatment for locally advanced stages of disease. Five Phase II randomized clinical trials have demonstrated a significant survival advantage for cisplatin-based therapy given concomitantly with radiation therapy. This has resulted in a formal recommendation by the National Cancer Institute (US) that strong consideration must be given to the incorporation of such regimens into future treatment strategies. As combined modality therapy is not yet available in most Latin American Centers, this would improve the current management of cervical cancer. A sample protocol has been developed and circulated to prospective investigators. The US Branch would provide the expertise required to train the Latin American investigators with respect to combined modality therapy, and would facilitate communication between investigators in Latin America and those in the headquarters in Brussels, which would have ultimate responsibility for such trials.

In addition, models for collaboration in pediatric clinical research and care between specific institutions in North American and in Latin America, in cooperation with cooperative groups, are now under review by Prof. Ronnie Barr.