INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND RESEARCH
ABOUT INCTR
T
he International Network for Cancer Treatment they develop, because of decreased mortality and an
and Research (INCTR) is an international increased, albeit declining, birth rate, their populations are
nongovernmental organization (NGO) that was living longer. These demographic changes are accompanied by
established to address a neglected global health problem – the the adoption of the unhealthy lifestyles of the high-income
ever increasing burden of cancer in developing countries. The countries, particularly smoking and increasingly, overeating
founder members of INCTR included the former Institut and a sedentary lifestyle.
Pasteur in Brussels and the Union for International Cancer Resources of all kinds for treating cancer are limited in the
Control (UICC). The National Cancer Institute provided low- and middle-income countries, such that patients who
financial and technical support and the organization began its develop cancer frequently lack access to a facility capable of
activities in 2000. INCTR’s headquarters are located in making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate
Brussels and it has offices and branches throughout the world. therapy. There is a lack of drugs, a paucity of radiation therapy
INCTR became an NGO in Official Relations with the World facilities and very few cancer specialists or other health care
Health Organization (WHO) in January 2010. workers who are needed to effectively care for cancer
patients. Diagnosis may be so delayed that there is little that
The need for INCTR: Cancer in developing countries can be done even if the patient does finally reach a facility
Approximately 85% of the world’s people live in low- or competent to care for them. Terminal care is not widely
middle-income countries. In 2008, Globocan estimated that available, and regulations and attitudes are still largely
there were approximately 12.7 million new cases of cancer, directed towards preventing the misuse of opioids rather than
and 7.6 million deaths from cancer in the world, with 70% of relieving the pain of dying patients, such that most patients die
deaths occurring in low- to -middle income countries. The without symptomatic relief and little or no mental or spiritual
number of cancer cases continues to rise across the world, but comfort. It is estimated, for example, that less than 1% of
much faster in the low- to middle-income countries since as patients who need palliative care in India receive it.
INCTR is unique in that it focuses only on the developing
Figure 1: Demographic changes will lead to an increased incidence world. INCTR is dedicated exclusively to helping to build
of cancer
sustainable capacity in low- and middle-income countries in
World
order to assist these countries in cancer prevention, early
All cancers excl. non-melanoma skin cancer
Number of new cancers in 2030 (all ages) detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
Male 11471506 Who INCTR works with
INCTR utilizes health care professionals familiar with the
Female 9790012
problems of developing countries to enable it to achieve its
0 2000000 4000000 6000000 8000000 10000000 12000000 14000000
goals. See Box 2.
■ Incidence in 2008 ■ Demographic effect (Source: GLOBOCAN 2008 (IARC) (19.3.2013)
INCTR develops local capacity within low- and middle-
World Box 1: INCTR’s goals – Making a difference
All cancers excl. non-melanoma skin cancer
Number of new cancers in 2030 (all ages) - Both sexes
‰ To reduce the incidence of cancer in resource limited
countries through public and professional education about
21261518 the causes of cancer and how to use this information in
cancer prevention
0 5000000 10000000 15000000 20000000 25000000 ‰ To detect cancer early through public and professional
■ Incidence in 2008 ■ Demographic effect (Source: GLOBOCAN 2008 (IARC) (19.3.2013)
education about the early signs of cancer and what to do if
Adapted with permission from:
Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C and Parkin DM. they appear
GLOBOCAN 2008 v2.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10 [Internet].
Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2010. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr Accessed: 8 March 2013.
‰ To diagnose cancer accurately through pathology training
Soerjomataram I, Lortet-Tieulent J, Parkin DM, Ferlay J, Mathers C, Forman D, Bray F. Global burden of cancer in 2008:
a systematic analysis of disability-adjusted life-years in 12 world regions. Lancet. 2012 Nov 24;380(9856):1840-50. and, where important and feasible, imaging techniques
168 CANCER CONTROL 2013