IACR Newsflash
ICD-O-4 consultation extended to 30 April 2025
International Classification of Diseases, 4th Edition (ICD-O-4)
Following the request of cancer registries, the consultation period for ICD-O-4 has been extended until 30 April 2025.
Comments received during the first consultation round have already been addressed and included in the beta version and associated listing of changes.
The beta version and tables are here: tumourclassification.iarc.who.int/icdo4/
- Please use the page's feedback function (contact form) to send in questions or comments.
Statistical methods for population-based cancer survival analysis JUNE 2025
Short Course: Statistical Methods for Population-Based Cancer Survival Analysis
P. Dickman (Karolinska Institutet) & P. Lambert (University of Leicester and Karolinska Institutet) & T. Andersson (Karolinska Institutet) & M. Rutherford (University of Leicester) & E. Syriopoulou (Karolinska Institutet)
This course is part of the Summer School on Modern Methods in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from 2-7 June 2023 at Hotel Castel Brando, near Treviso in the Veneto region of Italy.
The course will address the principles, methods, and application of statistical methods to studying the survival of cancer patients using data collected by population-based cancer registries. We cover central concepts, such as how to estimate and model relative/net survival. We will cover the use of flexible parametric survival models, cure models, loss in expectation of life, and estimation in the presence of competing risks. Comparison of different approaches (e.g., to estimating and modelling relative/net survival) will be a focus of the course and participants will get the opportunity to apply and contrast a range of methods to real data. A large amount of time will be devoted to exercise sessions where the faculty members will be available to work with participants individually or in small groups. The exercise sessions will also provide an opportunity for participants to discuss their own research projects with the faculty (and with each other). We encourage potential participants to read the detailed course description at http://cansurv.net/.
Wider summer school website: https://www.biostatepi.org/
Prof Dr Adriano Laudico
We learned of the very sad news of Dr Adriano Laudico’s passing on 10 November 2024.
Dr Laudico trained as a cancer surgeon, dedicating his life to helping others. Working initially with Drs Max Parkin and Calium Muir, a close relationship with the Agency began nearly 40 years ago. Considered by many as the father of cancer registration in the Philippines, he led under the Philippine Cancer Society the establishment of the first population-based cancer registry covering the original four cities of Metro Manila. Later together with Dr. Divina Esteban, he led the DOH Rizal Cancer Registry covering the 13 municipalities-turned-cities of Metro Manila. He made numerous contributions in research and the development of educational resources.
As a teacher, Dr Laudico mentored medical students in surgery, pain medicine, and epidemiology. His work was recognized among global peers with the distinction of being awarded an Honorary Lifetime Award from the International Association for Cancer Registries for his achievements.
As a person, Dr Laudico embodied a warm, humble and sincere approach that came through in the first minutes of meeting him. A fierce believer in doing the right thing, he stayed active in supporting the cancer registry long after his retirement. Dr Laudico cited his greatest professional achievement as successfully advocating for the availability of outpatient oral morphine for pain relief in palliative care patients. This followed from an injury he had incurred where the personal experience made him determined to not allow others to suffer without pain relief.
Dr Laudico was a dedicated colleague who became a friend to many peers worldwide.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Photos (Clockwise):
1) Dr A. Laudico;
2) Dr Laudico at the IACR 2016 Annual Conference in Marrakesh with IARC’s Isabelle Soerjomataram and Chelle Fernan.
3) Taken in Sept 2023 at the Manila Cancer Registry. Dr Laudico and Dr Rachael Rosario (whom we also lost in May 2024);
4) Dr Laudico and Les Mery during the latter’s visit to Manila Sept 2023; and
Bottom photo: Drs Laudico (rightmost), Freddie Bray, Rica Mirasol-Lumague, Rachael Rosario, Manila
CI5 Volume XII Print Version
CI5 Volume XII (IARC Scientific Publication No. 169) is now available for download in PDF format from the IARC Publications website: https://publications.iarc.who.int.
The seven chapters documenting the underlying processes, from the call for data to compilation, are available here.
Dr Maja Primic Zakelj
Dr Maja Primic Zakelj, A Tribute
Dr Zakelj, an internationally renowned cancer epidemiologist with extensive experience and expertise in cancer screening and cancer registration, passed away in October of this year.
Maja worked as a specialist in epidemiology and public health at the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 1981, and headed the Slovenian Cancer Registry from 2003 to 2018. Under her organization, the 29th annual meeting of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) took place in Ljubljana in 2007.
Until her retirement, she founded and managed the national screening program for the detection of cervical precancer and cancer (ZORA); she was also involved in the establishment of the national screening program for breast cancer (DORA) and the national cancer control programme.
She was a member of numerous international expert and research groups, as well as a prolific author of articles published both in Slovenia and internationally. From 2010-2019, she was President of the Association of Slovenian Cancer Societies and from, 2011-2013, the President of the European Cancer League (ECL).
IACR sends its sincere sympathies to Dr Zakelj's family and colleagues.
