# PROJECT ON THE TNM CLASSIFICATION OF MALIGNANT TUMORS

> **NIH NIH R01** · INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER · 1992 · $52,241

## Abstract

A long-term aim of the UICC is to attain an internationally
acceptable classification of the anatomical extent of cancer
(TNM).  The UICC is the only international organization
responsible for this project, coordinating and leading the several
national TNM committees which carry out specific tasks.

The relaxation of coordinating efforts over a period of several
years led to the development of "double standards", variations in
classification criteria among the participating groups.  This
became such a critical problem that for the past five years (1982
to 1987), all efforts of the UICC TNM Project and its national
TNM committees (including the American Joint Committee on
Cancer-AJCC) were directed towards unification.

The goal was achieved.  A single TNM Classification is now in
press from both the UICC and the AJCC.  This not only unifies,
but updates, the component site-specific classifications based on
clinical and pathological data.  Furthermore, during the process,
TNM classifications were elaborated for sites not previously
covered.  Five specific goals are considered for the next phase of
work in this project: -implementation: to disseminate and promote
the universal use of the system; 2-monitoring: to measure user
satisfaction or otherwise; 3-testing: to determine validity,
especially in respect to new diagnostic and imaging modalities; 4-
classification of new tumor types:  namely mesotheliomas,
visceral sarcomas, small bowel and appendiceal carcinomas,
gastrointestinal carcinoids and hepatic and pulmonary metastases;
-prognostic grading:  to develop an integrated system that will
combine the data of anatomical extent of disease with other
factors, eg. histologic grade, aneuploidy, biochemical markers,
age, sex, immunological response, for a more accurate approach
to prognosis than given by extent of disease alone.  The costs of
the above tasks and studies will be borne by the national TNM
committees and are not included in this grant proposal.  This
grant will only cover the costs of coordinating the work, namely
five annual TNM Committee meetings and four editorial sessions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3176283
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038193-08
- **Recipient organization:** INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LGMQM9N1V4F7
- **Principal Investigator:** FAUSTO BADELLINO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $52,241
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-30 → 1994-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3176283

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3176283, PROJECT ON THE TNM CLASSIFICATION OF MALIGNANT TUMORS (5R01CA038193-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3176283. Licensed CC0.

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