In October 2016, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) published the Eighth Edition Cancer Staging Manual. This manual is recognized as the authoritative guide for cancer staging information and is used by tens of thousands of medical professionals every day. The latest edition of the Cancer Staging Manual will go into effect January 1, 2018.

In the latest edition, prognostic factors have been added to tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging for breast, melanoma, and prostate cancers. In addition to the updates to the staging systems, the manual features new illustrations, an imaging section in each chapter, updated histology codes, and a general staging rules chapter. Recommendations for Clinical Stratification and description for the levels of evidence for the changes have also been added to each chapter.

Mahul B. Amin, MD, FACP, who served as the editor in chief, and David R. Byrd, MD, FACS, who served as the AJCC Chair and Administrative Core Chair of the Eighth Edition Cancer Staging Manual, held countless calls with many of the expert panel leaders during the four years that went into developing the manual. A total of 430 experts from 184 institutions in 22 countries on six continents worked together to produce this powerful resource for patients and physicians alike. This collective effort of all involved will have a positive impact on cancer care and the updates will undoubtedly benefit cancer patients, their care providers, and the scientific and surveillance communities. The manual was developed by AJCC in cooperation with the TNM Committee of the Union for International Cancer Control.

To view the manual, visit the Cancer Programs exhibit in ACS Central in the Exhibit Hall. To purchase the manual, visit the Springer Booth in the Exhibit Hall.