The directors of national cancer institutions from 15 Latin American countries, met on the 26 and 27 March under the initiative of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), to discuss the current status of research on cancer prevention and control in the region, and to promote collaboration.

The IARC is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), and its mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies of cancer control.

During the meeting, a number of key immediate priorities were identified, such us: cancer registration, screening, etiology, as well as education and training. Members of the Pan American Organization/WHO also participated in this meeting.

Countries in Latin America face a great challenge in the fight against cancer. Latest figures show a projected increase in the number of new cancers from 875,000 per year in 2010 to 1.5 million by 2030.

For more information, you can read IARC’s press release in the following link:

• IARC Latin America Collaboration