Disease burden is the most important determinant of survival in patients with cancer. This domain, reflected by the cancer stage and codified using the tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) classification, is a fundamental determinant of prognosis. Accurate and consistent tumour classification is required for the development and use of treatment guidelines and to enable clinical research (including clinical trials), cancer surveillance and control. Furthermore, knowledge of the extent and stage of disease is frequently important in the context of translational studies. Attempts to include additional prognostic factors in staging classifications, in order to facilitate a more accurate determination of prognosis, are often made with a lack of knowledge and understanding and are one of the main causes of the inconsistent use of terms and definitions. This effect has resulted in uncertainty and confusion, thus limiting the utility of the TNM classification. In this Position paper, we provide a consensus on the optimal use and terminology for cancer staging that emerged from a consultation process involving representatives of several major international organizations involved in cancer classification. The consultation involved several steps: a focused literature review; a stakeholder survey; and a consultation meeting. This aim of this Position paper is to provide a consensus that should guide the use of staging terminology and secure the classification of anatomical disease extent as a distinct aspect of cancer classification.

中文翻译：

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全球癌症分期咨询：促进一致的理解和使用。

疾病负担是癌症患者生存的最重要决定因素。该域由癌症分期反映并使用肿瘤-淋巴结-转移 (TNM) 分类进行编码，是预后的基本决定因素。治疗指南的制定和使用以及临床研究（包括临床试验）、癌症监测和控制需要准确和一致的肿瘤分类。此外，在转化研究的背景下，了解疾病的程度和阶段通常很重要。试图在分期分类中包括额外的预后因素，以便更准确地确定预后，通常是在缺乏知识和理解的情况下进行的，并且是术语和定义使用不一致的主要原因之一。这种影响导致了不确定性和混乱，从而限制了 TNM 分类的效用。在这份立场文件中，我们就癌症分期的最佳使用和术语提供了共识，该共识来自涉及癌症分类的几个主要国际组织的代表的协商过程。咨询包括几个步骤：重点文献回顾；利益相关者调查；和协商会议。本立场文件的目的是提供一个共识，以指导分期术语的使用，并确保将解剖疾病程度的分类作为癌症分类的一个独特方面。我们就癌症分期的最佳使用和术语提供了共识，该共识来自涉及癌症分类的几个主要国际组织的代表的协商过程。咨询包括几个步骤：重点文献回顾；利益相关者调查；和协商会议。本立场文件的目的是提供一个共识，以指导分期术语的使用，并确保将解剖疾病程度的分类作为癌症分类的一个独特方面。我们就癌症分期的最佳使用和术语提供了共识，该共识来自涉及癌症分类的几个主要国际组织的代表的协商过程。咨询包括几个步骤：重点文献回顾；利益相关者调查；和协商会议。本立场文件的目的是提供一个共识，以指导分期术语的使用，并确保将解剖疾病程度的分类作为癌症分类的一个独特方面。