Cancer Protocols
For more than 30 years, the CAP Cancer Protocols have provided structure for consistent and meaningful information that enables health care professionals to manage and study clinical data for improved patient care.
Cancer reporting solutions
Cancer Protocol Templates
View protocols and download templates.
CAP electronic Cancer Protocols (eCP)
Integrate the Cancer Protocol & Biomarker Templates into your LIS workflow.
About Cancer Protocols
When referring physicians review a cancer pathology report, they look for key pieces of information to guide their treatment decisions for the best possible patient outcomes. Having data in a standardized, synoptic format ensures all pertinent information is included, enabling physicians to quickly and easily find what they’re looking for—and therefore enabling more rapid and effective treatment decisions.
Recognized as a worldwide “gold standard” in cancer reporting, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Cancer Protocols help laboratories create the highest quality cancer reports, following the latest standards and guidelines to support improved patient care. In addition, the CAP Cancer Protocols can help laboratories:
- Standardize processes for new and experienced pathologists
- Manage varied or less-familiar cases
- Reduce time spent on incomplete reports
- Meet and maintain compliance/accreditation requirements
- Measure quality within and across laboratories, networks, and systems
- Contribute to cancer research for improved treatments
The CAP Cancer Committee develops these guidelines in collaboration with cancer experts, such as oncologists, molecular experts, radiologists, surgeons, cancer registrars, and other health care professionals, to aid pathologists in cancer reporting. The Pathology Electronic Reporting (PERT) Committee integrates these standards into a computer-readable electronic format for pathologist use in AP-Laboratory Information Systems (LIS).
Cancer Protocol Templates
View protocols and download templates.
CAP electronic Cancer Protocols (eCP)
Electronic versions of CAP Cancer Protocols that can be used directly within a laboratory information system (AP-LIS) workflow.
Cancer Protocols Frequently Asked Questions
Access expert answers to FAQs about the CAP Cancer Protocols. Find guidance on implementation, update schedules, and templates for accurate, standardized cancer reporting.
New Cancer Protocol Development Procedure
Learn how the CAP develops protocols based on the incidence of the tumor type and on the availability of staging standards.
Cancer Protocol Revision Process
Learn how the CAP conducts the protocol revision process.
Cancer Protocol Public Comment Period
The public comment period for the following cancer protocols is open through Monday, January 24, 2022.
About Synoptic Reporting
Proven Value of Synoptic Reporting
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the use of structured reporting “improved patient care in those with CRC [colorectal cancer] by providing more complete reports of higher quality, which had significant effects on the delivery of adjuvant therapy and patient outcomes.” The authors also concluded that implementation of structured reporting for CRC “resulted in increased completeness of pathology reports, higher-quality pathology evaluation, and better outcomes for patients.”1
In a separate article in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, “the introduction of a synoptic report dramatically improved the completeness of reporting of rectal cancer among both non-gastrointestinal and GI pathologists.”2
Synoptic Reporting Using the CAP Cancer Protocols
Using the CAP Cancer Protocols helps ensure that all pathology reports contain necessary data elements to improve patient care. By requiring those specific data elements, synoptic reporting ensures more accurate reports that communicate findings in a clear, standardized format to clinicians, colleagues, researchers, and other users of the data.1
Designed with our member pathologists and patients in mind, our Cancer Reporting Protocols benefit thousands of CAP member pathologists and other medical professionals by ensuring complete, uniform reporting of malignant tumors. Choose from digital or print/PDF versions to help your laboratory achieve better patient outcomes.
Resources
Collaborations
References
- “Improvement of Care in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Influence of the Introduction of Standardized Structured Reporting for Pathology.” JCO® Clinical Cancer Informatics. https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/CCI.18.00104
- “What Impact Has the Introduction of a Synoptic Report for Rectal Cancer Had on Reporting Outcomes for Specialist Gastrointestinal and Nongastrointestinal Pathologists?” Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. https://meridian.allenpress.com/aplm/article/135/11/1471/64981/What-Impact-Has-the-Introduction-of-a-Synoptic