Building local capacity for childhood cancer registration: real-world examples

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (USA) and local partners in Georgia, Mexico, South Africa, and Viet Nam, report their findings on the development of childhood cancer registries after a 5-year implementation period. The summary of key commonalities and challenges was published in the journal JCO Global Oncology.

Activities in the four countries followed the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) model, including the assessment of the situation, the development of meetings, and targeted support. The general and childhood cancer registration situation was assessed in each country across four domains: context, governance, procedures, and dissemination.

The results show that the scope, modalities, and coverage of cancer registration varied in important ways in the selected countries. Common challenges identified in cancer registration in all four countries included irregular financial support, instability in personnel, and difficulties in access and data sharing. These challenges affect registry sustainability and data quality. The authors conclude that surveillance of childhood cancer needs definitive support as a key component of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

Piñeros M, Lam CG, Mery L, Znaor A, Steliarova-Foucher E, Abraham N, et al.
Building local capacity for childhood cancer registration: real-world examples
JCO Glob Oncol. Published online 6 January 2026;
https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-25-00471

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