TNM Project Structure

How is the TNM classification defined and updated?

The UICC TNM Project has updated and expanded the TNM Classification since its inception. For more than 50 years, the TNM project has benefited from an active participation of internationally renowned experts in cancer staging, who reside on the TNM Core Committee and its sub-committees, the Evaluation Committee and the Prognostic Factors Committee.

The TNM Core Committee, co-chaired by Drs Mary Gospodarowicz and James Brierley, reflects the multidisciplinary, geographical representation and objectives of the TNM project, with precise responsibilities for each of its members.

The TNM Core Committee also includes representatives, from FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer) and the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer), to maintain a unified TNM classification.

TNM Core Committee

The TNM Core Group is responsible for project planning, analysis of information, decision-making and product generation. It is supported by the Evaluation Committee and Prognostic Factors Committee.

• Dr Mary Gospodarowicz (Co-Chair)
• Dr James Brierley (Co-Chair)
• Dr Brian O’Sullivan (Chair Prognostic Factors Committee)
• Dr Hisao Asamura (TNM Atlas Co-editor)
• Dr Anne Lee (Global Advisory Group Coordinator)
• Dr Elisabeth Van Eycken (TNM Helpdesk Editor)
• Dr Meredith Giuliani (Education and Dissemination Coordinator)
• Dr Brain Rous (TNM Atlas Co-Editor)
• Dr Sean Kehoe (FIGO Representative)
• Dr Robert Brookland (AJCC Representative)

TNM Evaluation Committee

The Evaluation Committee oversees the compilation of new evidence and expert opinion relating to possible modifications of TNM and coordinates various activities.

• Dr Mary Gospodarowicz (Canada)
• Dr James Brierley (Canada)
• Dr Brian O’Sullivan (Canada)

TNM Prognostic Factors Core Group

The Prognostic Factors Core Group develops strategies relating to prognostic factors classification(s) relevant to clinical practice and is responsible for product development, including communication and timely reporting.

• Dr Brian O’Sullivan (Chair, Canada)
• Dr Mary Gospodarowicz (Canada)
• Dr James Brierley (Canada)

The Global Advisory Group

What is the Global Advisory Group?

The TNM Global Advisory Group is a network of multidisciplinary national and regional TNM committees that promotes, disseminates and educates in the use of the classification. TNM National/Regional Committees contribute to the annual literature review by providing national publications and non-English language articles for consideration, along with evidence-based expert opinions on the development and enhancement of staging and prognostic factors classifcation. Committees are also encouraged to establish local language help desk functions to augment the global service provided via the UICC website.

TNM National/Regional Committees:

• Have multidisciplinary representation including medical, radiation, and surgical oncology, pathology, cancer registry, epidemiology, and statistics;
• Develop a process for regular interaction (through face to face meetings or teleconferences) and discussion to meet the needs of the national constituencies;
• Represent the national/regional organisations on appropriate national and international cancer staging committees;
• Be a member of the UICC TNM Project Global Advisory Group and provide an annual report on their activities;
• Act as a conduit for proposals for changes to the TNM classification by using accepted premises supported by the international scientific community and the UICC.

Who is part of the Global Advisory Group?

The current Global Advisory Group is composed of representatives from all WHO regions.

TNM National and Regional Committees are active in 20 countries/regions: Australasia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China-Hong Kong-Macau, German-speaking countries, Gulf States, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Singapore, SLACOM (South America), South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA (AJCC).

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How to join the Global Advisory Group?

Please contact us if you wish to create a TNM Committee in your country or region: tnm@uicc.org

Proposals for change

If you want to submit a proposal for change in the UICC TNM Classification, please consult the document How to submit proposals for change and contact us at tnm@uicc.org

For any other questions, please contact us at the following address: tnm@uicc.org