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- Title
Cancer Staging System: Is It A Time For Change.
- Authors
Kapoor, H. L.
- Abstract
The staging systems for various types of cancers have been in practice since a long time with many scientific bodies having evolved the staging systems based upon the size, extent and spread with additional sub classifications.These systems have served the purpose of defining the treatment strategies and the outcomes in various stages. The therapeutic strategies have also been based upon these staging systems. In recent years we have witnessed an unprecedented scientific revolution in all aspects of cancer management. From basic understanding of tumor biology, various pathways in molecular research, tumor markers, diagnostic tools, pathological sub-types, use of targeted molecules, surgical overreach, radiation precision and whole body and semi body irradiation to control even hitherto "out of bounds" extensions of cancers and incorporation of multi modality management. WHAT IS THE NEED FOR CHANGE? We all know that for a tumor to be clinically detectable the cells have to be billions in numbers and when we club the stages into 1 2 3 4 there are multiple choices for tumor size, number of lymph nodes and local invasion. With technological advances we can pick up tumors much early and treat based upon the tumor total profile. The staging has to be uniform for all solid tumors .The clinical and radiological work up must be expressed in the staging. The tumor size must be expressed in millimeters, the lymph nodes numbers and mobility status defined, the metastatic sites and number of metastases to be defined. The stages from 1 to 4 must be abandoned. I shall further expand on these issues.
- Subjects
MULTIPLE tumors; TUMOR markers; LYMPH nodes; SCIENTIFIC Revolution; CANCER
- Publication
Journal of Cancer Research & Therapeutics, 2017, Vol 13, pS433
- ISSN
0973-1482
- Publication type
Article