What and Where for Publications by Cancer Registries in the Asian Pacific? - Roles for the APJCP in the Future

The absolute necessity of cancer registration for cancer control planning is well accepted. The registry at thenational or local level can provide not only essential data for cancer incidence, mortality and survival but mayalso point to risk and protective factors and efficacy of interventions by conducting epidemiological research.Timely publication of research findings in PubMed indexed journals is of the essence, especially in examplesthat allow free access so that the widest dissemination of information can be achieved. The present commentarycovers the scope of research in Asia or using Asian data the period 2008-2013, nearly 40% of a total of over 300papers being published in the APJCP. In order to reach its full potential the registry should incorporate manyskills. Cooperation for this purpose, whether it be national, regional, Asia-wide or international, is a high priorityand the International Agency for Research on Cancer, together with the National Cancer Institute in Thailandand the APOCP/APJCP are staging an Asian Cancer Network Forum in Bangkok in February of 2014 to allowdiscussion of ways forward. It is hoped that representatives from all regions of Asia will decide to attend anda l so contribute country reports for publication in a special supplement of the APJCP.