About the Cancer Surgery Standards Program

The CSSP has its origin in the ACS Cancer Research Program (ACS CRP), which was established in 2011 as a collaboration between the American College of Surgeons and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. One goal of the ACS CRP was to evaluate the evidence that exists to support the development of standardized surgical approaches. The resulting Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery manuals offer concrete, evidence-based recommendations on cancer surgery techniques critical to achieving optimal outcomes.

The 2020 Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards for accreditation, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care, include six operative standards based on the evidence published in the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery. These standards require accredited facilities to track comprehensive data for select cancer sites. The CSSP is tasked with developing educational content to help implement these standards at CoC accredited facilities.

Our mission is to define cancer surgery standards so institutions and surgeons can readily adopt and easily integrate them into the accreditation process. The CSSP brings together experts in cancer surgery and accreditation to develop standards for surgical care, disseminate resources and tools that support implementation and adherence to standards, and educate and train surgeons, trainees, and staff at accredited programs, and accreditation site reviewers. The CSSP also develops disease-specific cancer surgery protocols, which provide guidance on the collection of essential data for cancer surgery.

Member organizations participating in the CSSP have an opportunity to be involved in quality improvement activities of the ACS and collaborate with other members from organizations around the country. Member organization representatives will be instrumental in the creation of infrastructure geared towards CoC accreditation, educational resources, and strategies for implementation of synoptic operative reports.

Each organization appoints one representative to serve on the CSSP for a three-year term with eligibility to serve a second term.

Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO)

College of American Pathologists (CAP)

American Urological Association (AUA)

The Americas Hepto-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA)

The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES)

Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)

Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS)

The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS)

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA)