Multiple prognostic factors and outcome analysis in patients with cancer. Communication from the American joint committee on cancer

The authors report the establishment of a new Committee of the American Joint Committee on Cancer that has two objectives as follows: (1) to review the methods available to estimate outcome and (2) to study certain tumors to determine whether an expanded list of prognostic factors can be formulated into new prognostic systems that will have scientific value and clinical utility for treatment selection and staging.