Cancer Programs News: September 3

2027 Special Study Will Evaluate Impact of Operative Standards

In late summer 2027, the Commission on Cancer (CoC), in collaboration with the ACS National Cancer Database^® (NCDB^®), Cancer Research Program, and Cancer Surgery Standards Program, will launch a CoC Special Study as part of the Assessing the Effectiveness and Significance of the Operative Standards Program (AESOP) grant (PIs: Lesly A. Dossett, MD, MPH, FACS, and Daniel J. Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS). AESOP is a 5-year National Cancer Institute R01-funded research study evaluating the impact of the CoC Operative Standards (Standards 5.3–5.8) on short-term cancer care outcomes.

The AESOP grant has three primary aims:

1. Evaluate implementation of the CoC Operative Standards across cancer and hospital types.
2. Identify guideline- and organizational-level barriers and facilitators to implementation.
3. Evaluate the impact of the CoC Operative Standards on short-term cancer outcomes.

Aim 3 will be supported by the CoC Special Study in 2027. A pilot study involving 25 CoC-accredited cancer programs was completed in 2026 to assess the data abstraction process and study materials. Feedback from pilot participants is currently being incorporated to streamline the Special Study and minimize burden on cancer registrars. The valuable insights of the AESOP pilot participants have been instrumental in refining the Special Study and improving the experience for participating programs.

During the Special Study, participating programs will abstract data on up to 30 patients total (six per standard) for CoC Standards 5.3, 5.4, and 5.6–5.8. Standard 5.5 will not be included in the study. Programs that were accredited on or before January 1, 2019, and have eligible cases are expected to participate. Completion of the Special Study is required to achieve a compliant CoC Standard 9.2 rating. Additional information, including study materials, timelines, and training resources, will be shared as the Special Study launch approaches. Please note that Veterans Affairs and pediatric programs are not eligible for participation in this Special Study.

CSSP and Behind the Knife Operative Standards Series: Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Episode

In collaboration with the Behind the Knife podcast, the Cancer Surgery Standards Program has released a new episode in the mini-series covering the technical aspects of the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery. The fourth and latest episode highlights the hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer operative standards, with a focus on liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The episode discusses standards for intraoperative evaluation of the liver and abdomen, including the use of liver ultrasound, as well as resection of lesions to macroscopically negative margins. The discussion also provides technical tips for performing and interpreting liver ultrasound and addresses the role of lymphadenectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

CoC Announces 2026 CLP Outstanding Performance Award Winners

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) has recognized nine Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) with the 2026 CLP Outstanding Performance Award, which honors CLPs for exceptional performance as physician quality leaders at their CoC-accredited cancer programs. This year, nine CLPs have been chosen to receive the award.

The CoC congratulates the award winners and thanks them for their leadership and dedication to improving the quality of care for cancer patients. The 2027 nomination period for the award program will open in the spring.

Register for the CoC Plenary Session at Clinical Congress

Don’t miss the Commission on Cancer (CoC) Plenary Session at the ACS Clinical Congress on Saturday, September 26, from 1:30–5:00 pm at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, Liberty Salon M–P, Meeting Level 4 (M4). Join CoC leadership and colleagues from across the cancer community and hear perspectives from three CoC member organizations on how they are advancing cancer care. The session will also explore the ACS clinical data strategy, including how clinical data can be put into action to drive meaningful improvements in patient care and cancer outcomes. Learn how collaboration, data, and shared expertise across the CoC community are helping shape the future of cancer care. Whether you’re a longtime CoC participant or looking to learn more, this is a great opportunity to connect, stay informed, and hear what’s ahead for the CoC. There is no fee to attend the CoC Annual Meeting; however, advance registration is required. Please register as a CoC attendee.

September Is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

The CoC encourages your site to promote prostate cancer awareness and the importance of screening during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September. To help your program raise awareness about prostate cancer, the CoC offers customizable posters that can be downloaded from the Marketing Resources section in QPort. Contact coc@facs.org with any questions. 

NAPBC Releases 2027 Standards

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) recently announced the release of Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2027 Standards). Changes to the 2027 Standards are outlined in the NAPBC 2027 Overview of Changes. Key updates include:

• Reduced duplication with CoC requirements
• Removal of difficult-to-measure requirements from several standards
• Two new standards focused on function and movement and lymphedema assessment

Register for the upcoming webinar on Thursday, September 10 at 12:00 pm CT, and learn more about  the new standards focused on function and movement and lymphedema assessment.

Along with the 2027 Standards, the NAPBC has developed several resources to assist with compliance, including:

• Quick Reference Guide for NAPBC programs that are not CoC accredited
• 2027 NAPBC Standards FAQ (available under Resources in QPort)
• A new self-paced e-learning course that reviews compliance requirements for each standard, available soon in QPort

Questions regarding the 2027 Standards can be submitted through CAnswer Forum.

NAPBC Updates 2026 Compliance Requirements

With the release of the 2027 Standards, the NAPBC announced several changes to requirements that are effective immediately and apply to all remaining 2026 and future site visits. Revised and eliminated requirements are outlined in 2026 Compliance: Requirements No Longer in Effect, including specifications on which barriers are still required for evaluation by the BPLC.

If your program has a current deficiency that is solely based on one of the eliminated requirements, contact NAPBC@facs.org for next steps. Please include your program name, company ID, and requested standard(s) for review.

NAPBC Announces New Network Option

NAPBC is offering a new Integrated Network Breast Program (INBP) option for programs that offer integrated and comprehensive breast care services across multiple facilities. Participation as an INBP is voluntary and offers several benefits, including:

• One unified Breast Program Leadership Committee for the entire network
• Coordination of breast care services across the network
• Streamlined accreditation and site visit process

More information on INBP eligibility and the application process can be found in the Resources section of QPort.

Questions on eligibility may be submitted to NAPBC@facs.org. Questions on standard requirements may be submitted to the CAnswer Forum.

Sign Up for Small Group NAPRC QI Coaching Calls

Looking for fresh ideas, practical feedback, or a new perspective on your quality improvement (QI) work? Sign up for a Small Group QI Coaching Call and connect with colleagues from other accredited programs. Led by QI experts, these interactive calls provide an opportunity to get feedback on a current initiative or challenge, brainstorm ideas for future projects, learn from the experiences of other programs, and explore helpful QI tools and resources. Come prepared with a question, challenge, or project you would like to discuss. Space is limited to approximately 20 participants per session, so read more and register today. Contact cancerqi@facs.org with any questions.

Help Patients with Breast Cancer Survive and Thrive

Register today for the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers on-demand webinar “Helping Patients with Breast Cancer Survive and Thrive,” to learn about the latest evidence-based strategies for supporting recovery and long-term wellness for patients with breast cancer. Presenters will discuss the role of exercise, rehabilitation, and nutrition in improving outcomes and patients’ quality of life.

Contact CancerProgramsEvents@facs.org with any questions.

CoC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS CoC recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning CoC reaccreditation:

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Tampa, FL

Robert Packer Hospital
Sayre, PA

St. Luke's Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Cleveland, OH

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health
Easton, MD

NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS NAPBC recognizes the following breast sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPBC reaccreditation: 

Holy Name Medical Center
Teaneck, NJ

Lenox Hill Hospital
New York, NY

Penn State Hershey Breast Center
Hershey, PA

St. Luke's Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPRC accreditation:

California Pacific Medical Center (Sutter Health)
San Francisco, CA

Mark Your Calendars

September 10: NAPBC Webinar for New Standards

September 26–29: ACS Clinical Congress 2026

July 29-August 1, 2027: ACS 2027 Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference