The International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR) is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization founded in 1998 by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the Institute Pasteur in Brussels. INCTR assists developing countries trough a structured program of research collabration, education and training to develop an increased understanding of the causes and predisposition to regionally important cancers, and to increase survival rates and the quality of life in patient with cancer. The National Cancer Institute of the USA has agreed to assist the INCTR to achieve its goals by providing financial, technical and intellectual support. The INCTR is located at the Institute Pasteur in Brussels, and has one branch office located in the USA in Rockville, Maryland.
Recently, in the USA 75% of the children who are < 20 years-old and diagnosed as cancer live minimum of 5 years and most of them are completely cured afterwards. On the other hand, in developing countries only 10 to 20 % of those children may recieve sufficient cytotoxic therapy. To catch up this significant dramatic difference among those nations may be only possible with building capacity for cancer treatment and increasing the number of children treated in countries with limited resources. To achieve this goal, some organizations on the world agreed to found a global alliance for the cure of childhood cancer. The organizations are as follows: International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR), the International Union Agains Cancer (UICC), the World Health Organization Cancer Program (WHO CP), the St Jude International Outreach Program, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Monza International School of Pediatric Oncology (MISPHO), and the International Consortium for the Cure of Childhood Cancer in China (CURE).
Those eight organizations from five different continents, which have members specialized in different scientific areas and have various resources, collaborate to increase survival rates in every country on the world.
INCTR surves as a coordinator in cancer therapy, research collaboration and educational programs in developing countries. Also INCTR Pediatric Oncology Unit aims to help investigators from developing countries with the assistance of NCI which has advanced resources. Further information can be received from www.inctr.org |
