In separate announcements, several NCI-supported national cancer clinical trials cooperative groups declared their plans to merge. On March 7, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) announced their plans to consolidate operations. Two days later, a merger was announced by the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG), Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG).
Most recently, on March 18, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) said they will merge clinical cancer research programs.
The cooperative groups, which conduct clinical trials primarily in adult patients, are merging in response to the Institute of Medicine’s April 2010 report calling for restructuring and consolidation of NCI’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program and NCI’s subsequent announcement of its plan to consolidate the program to a maximum of four adult groups (down from nine current groups) and one pediatric group.
The cooperative groups involved in the mergers indicated that they have already begun discussing the transition to consolidate their current operations. In fact, ACOSOG, CALGB, and NCCTG integrated their statistical, data management, and information technology platforms in June 2010.
NCI Cancer Bulletin for March 22, 2011 - National Cancer Institute
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