Story 01
Summary
The NCI-sponsored Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) Consortium uses simulation modeling to inform US screening guidelines.
Current State
Research is needed to help translate advances in early cancer detection, treatment, and survivorship care into cancer control strategies that maximize population benefits while minimizing harms and burdens.
Strategy
- Advance how cancer care is delivered, including through research identifying and addressing inequities to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
- Increase collaboration between NCI and other government and private groups to capitalize on data, resources, and expertise that help enable cancer care delivery research.
- Work across government agencies and with private companies to promote widespread use of research-proven ways to lower cancer death rates and improve survivor well-being.
DCCPS Contribution
Formed in 2000 by the DCCPS Surveillance Research Program, CISNET is a consortium of NCI-sponsored investigators who use simulation modeling to improve our understanding of cancer control interventions in prevention, screening, and treatment and their effects on population trends in incidence and mortality. CISNET represents nine cancer sites, with over 200 members at more than 30 different institutions.
Their models are used to guide public health research, policy, advocacy, and priorities. They extend clinical trial evidence on the benefits and harms of new cancer interventions to aid in the development of optimal cancer control strategies that maximize health benefits while minimizing the harms.
For example, work conducted by the CISNET Consortium has significantly influenced US Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations for colorectal, breast, lung, and cervical cancers. By evaluating use of different screening tests, ages to start and stop screening, and how frequently to screen, modeling by CISNET investigators has contributed to major changes in task force guidelines, including the following:
- Changing mammography recommendations to every 2 years starting at age 40.
- Lowering the age to start colorectal cancer screening to 45.
- Lowering the age to start lung cancer screening to 50 and expanding the group for whom screening is recommended to those who have smoked a pack a day for more than 20 years.
- Changing cervical cancer screening by adding the recommendation of HPV testing every 5 years in women ages 30–65.
Story 02
Summary
NCI’s Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science focuses on cancer control priorities, cross-collaboration, and innovative solutions in implementation science.
Current State
Ending cancer as we know it requires ongoing improvements across the health care system, and implementation science is needed to ensure that high-quality, evidence-based cancer care is available to and affordable for all who need it.
Strategy
Advance and intensify research in cancer care delivery and implementation science, including research to inform improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship and address inequities across this continuum.
DCCPS Contribution
DCCPS formed the Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science in 2019 as a new approach for supporting collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to address key challenges and identify and develop new areas of investigation toward advancing the implementation science agenda in cancer control. The consortium consists of action groups that develop public goods (widely available tools and resources) to address key challenges and advance the implementation science agenda in cancer. Public goods have included webinars, podcasts, publications, trainings, data platforms, and more. Action groups conduct strategic planning activities to collectively prioritize projects that are intended to advance a specific area within cancer implementation science and provide supports to make it easier for high-quality studies to be conducted. The consortium meets annually, with an average of 322 attendees. There are currently eight active action groups (and four inactive action groups) that have developed 36 public goods.
Story 03
Summary
The NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship works to advance research on primary care and cancer survivorship.
Current State
Research to improve health care delivery is extremely important; it is also challenging, as it requires cooperation among clinicians and health systems that currently lack the time and resources necessary to conduct research. Ending cancer as we know it requires further research and ongoing improvements across the health care system to ensure high-quality cancer care is available and affordable.
Strategy
Advance and intensify research in cancer care delivery and implementation science, including research to inform improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship and address inequities across this continuum.
DCCPS Contribution
The growing number of cancer survivors, coupled with their unique needs during and after cancer treatment, necessitates a comprehensive strategy for survivorship care. Primary care providers (PCPs) manage many components of survivorship care, including screening for subsequent malignancies, managing chronic conditions, and promoting healthy behaviors. Therefore, it is critical to support PCPs by identifying effective strategies to provide quality survivorship care.
The NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship and other parts of DCCPS have supported several initiatives to advance research on primary care and cancer survivorship, including a funding opportunity, workshop, and other events.
The funding opportunity, Addressing the Primary Care Needs of Cancer Survivors (U01 Clinical Trial Required), was published to support studies that aim to develop and test inventions and strategies that promote high-quality care for cancer survivors during and/or after the treatment period. In February 2024, DCCPS sponsored Enhancing Capacity for Primary Care Research in Cancer Survivorship: A Workshop for Action to discuss opportunities for impact in this field. This event, led by the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship, included more than 300 participants who focused on three areas: conducting system-level interventions, identifying survivors within primary care practices, and mentoring and team building for research success. In addition, past Office of Cancer Survivorship events have included Optimizing Care Delivery for Cancer Survivors: Engaged, Pragmatic, Multi-team, and Multi-level; Innovations in Survivorship Models of Care; and Cancer Survivorship Healthcare Delivery: Challenges and Opportunities Integrating Primary Care.
A key next step is the development of a community of practice focused on enhancing capacity in primary care and cancer survivorship.
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