Hello all,
Recently, AJCC and CAP released the joint statement below regarding the delay in updated CAP protocols corresponding to the Salivary Gland and HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC Version 9 protocols. This statement was included in the January Cancer Programs Newsletter, posted on the AJCC Version 9 website, and distributed through CAP's communication channels.
While these outlets provide broad visibility, we are concerned that the key target audiences, particularly members of the Head and Neck cancer community and cancer registrars, may not be reached through these mechanisms.
We are requesting your assistance in helping to extend the reach of this message. Specifically, could you:
- Recommend additional key contacts or distribution lists where this statement should be shared?
- Share the statement with your organization's communications team for possible inclusion in newsletters, social media, websites, or other relevant channels?
We would greatly appreciate your support in ensuring this information reaches those who rely on it most. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.
Joint Statement:
Effective January 1, 2026, all Salivary Gland and HPV Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinomas are to be staged using the AJCC Version 9 protocols. However, because the corresponding CAP Cancer Protocols will not be released until March 2026, pathology reports issued prior to that date may continue to reference AJCC 8th Edition. Clinical teams should base staging on the relevant AJCC Version 9 clinical and pathological elements.
For questions regarding AJCC Version 9 staging, please contact ajcc@facs.org.
For questions regarding CAP Cancer Protocols, please contact cancerprotocols@cap.org.
- American Joint Committee on Cancer and the College of American Pathologists