Understanding cancer treatment and outcomes: the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium

Cancer treatments and outcomes are less than optimal for many patients in the United States.1,2 To understand the reasons for such variations in care, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has funded the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium. This consortium is a centerpiece of the NCI's ongoing initiative to improve cancer care.3,4 The purpose of this commentary is to introduce the goals and methods of the CanCORS Consortium to the broader community of cancer researchers and clinicians, many of whom are caring for patients participating in this study. (August 2004)