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Regional Information

The Collaborating Center has a longstanding commitment to promoting the best in supportive care and symptom management for cancer patients in developing countries. Cancer centers in countries such as Mexico, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam have benefited from on-site training and collaborative research. Today, the Collaborating Center focuses on two primary areas:

Asia

The Pain Research Group (PRG), now the Department of Symptom Research, has been active in Asia for nearly two decades. Training and collaboration has occurred in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and China. An extensive bilateral program for cancer pain management was launched in China in 1993.

In China, there are 1.6 million new cancer diagnoses and 1.3 million cancer deaths each year. By the time they are diagnosed, most cases are incurable. Few patients have access to good pain relief. In order to change these grim statistics, the PRG partnered with China’s Ministry of Health’s Bureau of Drug Administration and Policy to provide five national training seminars on cancer pain management. In addition to training, the program measured dissemination of information on cancer pain management and the establishment of cancer pain research in China. Significant positive outcomes have been observed and documented:

  • Changes in drug regulation and policy
  • Availability of new formulations of opioids
  • Distribution of national guidelines on pain management
  • Establishment of clinical trials of analgesics
  • Development of a valid pain assessment tool in Chinese
  • Establishment of a pain clinic in major cancer hospitals
  • An increase of morphine consumption

Current Projects

The Collaborating Center has worked with researchers and clinicians in several countries to produce pain and symptom assessment tools in several Asian languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Filipino, Thai and Vietnamese. The Center is working with investigators to develop studies of pain management practice, and studies of the epidemiology of cancer symptoms. Clinical trials looking at potentially more effective ways of providing symptom control are also underway in several countries

  • Management of Cancer Pain: Clinical Practice Guidelines. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Reform guidelines are available in Chinese. To order, e-mail us at symptomresearch@mdanderson.org.
  • Pediatric Cancer Pain: A Research and Training Program for Chinese Pediatricians. Physicians in Beijing and Shanghai will complete a survey to help determine the level of knowledge and current practice for Chinese pediatricians who treat cancer pain. Two pediatricians will participate in a six-month palliative care training program at the cancer center.

Latin America and the Caribbean

There are 477 million cancer cases diagnosed each year in Latin American countries. By the year 2020, that number will increase to 841 million. Cancer deaths will outnumber deaths by infectious disease by three to one in the next 20 years. Less than 1% of cancer patients receive adequate pain management. The Collaborating Center will work closely with the Pan American Health Organization to provide practitioner training and research, improve patient access and increase availability of supportive and palliative care medications in the region.

Current Projects

  • AHCPR Guidelines for the Management of Cancer Pain - Spanish Translation. The English version of this Agency for Health Care Policy and Reform publication has guided clinicians since its release in 1994. The Collaborating Center financed the translation and printing of the Spanish version. 7,000 copies will be distributed at no cost to health care professionals throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. A complimentary copy is available for health care professionals. To obtain a copy, send your e-mail order to symptomresearch@mdanderson.org.

  • Advanced Cancer Survey. A survey has been designed to determine existing services and treatment options for patients with advanced cancer. The set of surveys will be distributed to health care professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean who treat patients with advanced cancer. Latin American oncologists, pharmacists, and nurses are invited to participate. Contact symptomresearch@mdanderson.org.
  • Palliative Care Demonstration Projects. The Department of Symptom Research at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center will provide technical assistance and cooperation in the formulation, design, implementation and evaluation of three demonstration projects in the Region. The projects will analyze the social benefits and cost effectiveness of supportive care and cancer pain relief. For more information, contact the Pan American Health Organization.

© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center