The rate of advances in clinical cancer research could stagnate after the recent cuts to biomedical research funding in the United States, warns ASCO President, President Sandra M. Swain, MD, FACP, in a briefing of the Society’s 49th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) has released a report ” Blueprint for Transforming Clinical and Translational Cancer Research” which details the gains made toward achieving clinical cancer research goals.

Dr. Swain said:

“Our federally funded clinical trials system has achieved remarkable advances that have improved survival and quality of life for millions of people with cancer, but this progress is occurring under the cloud of federal budget slashing. Draconian cuts to biomedical research will slow our progress at the moment of greatest scientific potential and increasing worldwide need.”

According to ASCO, 7.6 million people globally will have died from cancer in 2013. As lifespans get longer and cancer rates increase, it is predicted that by 2030 twelve million people will die every year from cancer.

The economic crisis which started in 2009 and affected much of the world, has had a direct impact on biomedical research funding. Funding for the U.S. NIH (National Institutes of Health) is at its lowest level since 2001, after adjusting for inflation. ASCO describes it as “a drastic reduction in the nation’s historical commitment to biomedical research”.

ASCO urges the US Congress to commit fully to federally funded research, and suggests it approves a NIH budget of $31 billion for 2014. Proper funding is crucial to make sure that new medical and scientific breakthroughs continue to yield advances in patient quality of life and survival.

The briefing at the opening of ASCO’s 49th Annual Meeting included the following speakers:

  • Sandra M. Swain, MD, FACP – ASCO President
  • Clifford Hudis, MD, FACP – ASCO President-Elect
  • Bruce J. Roth, MD – ASCO Cancer Communications Committee Chair
  • Richard Pazdur, MD – Director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration’s) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
  • Monica Bertagnolii, MD – Chair, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

ASCO laid out a roadmap for the clinical research system in its “Blueprint for Transforming Clinical and Translational Cancer Research”, in order to further the new understanding of cancer biology.

ASCO

Since the Blueprint report was issued, ASCO says it has liaised closely with partners to push its recommendations forward. Examples of partners include the FDA and the NCI (National Cancer Institute), which have also launched their own initiatives.

Below are some examples of initiatives to drive the Blueprint’s vision through:

  • Clinical meaningful outcomes – ASCO is drafting recommendations for meaningful outcomes for clinical trials to make sure that new cancer treatments offer significant improvements in patients’ quality of life and survival

  • Breakthrough therapy initiative – the FDA issued an initiative to prioritize and streamline the development of new therapies that show the most promise

  • Revitalizing federally-funded clinical research – this includes National Cancer Institute actions to enhance the Cooperative Group Program

  • Finalization of ASCO’s CancerLinQ prototype – aimed at fulfilling the Organization’s commitment to develop a “rapid learning system” for cancer care

ASCO’s 49th Annual Meeting at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, is based on the theme “Building Bridges to Conquer Cancer”. The organizers expect 30,000 cancer experts from all over the globe to attend.

Written by Christian Nordqvist