The Aga Khan University Cancer Registry, established on January 1, 2009, serves as a vital resource for monitoring and understanding the cancer burden at AKUH. As a hospital-based registry, it plays an essential role in measuring the prevalence of cancer, supporting comprehensive cancer control efforts, identifying health disparities, and advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment initiatives. It also aids in a wide variety of cancer-related research, forming the foundation for improved cancer care and outcomes.
The primary goal of the AKU Cancer Registry (AKU-CR) is to collect, maintain, and disseminate the highest quality cancer data. This data is crucial in the ongoing efforts to prevent cancer and enhance treatment outcomes. By providing accurate and reliable information, the registry contributes to improving diagnoses, patient care, survival rates, and the overall quality of life for individuals affected by cancer. The registry tracks a variety of tumor types to provide a thorough understanding of cancer trends and outcomes. Reportable tumors include malignant tumors across all sites, in-situ tumors, and benign tumors of the brain and spinal cord. This broad scope allows the registry to offer a comprehensive view of the cancer landscape, which is essential for both clinical decision-making and research purposes.
In 2024, the registry recorded a total of 5,181 new cancer cases, with 2,766 males and 2,415 females contributing to the data. These figures reflect the ongoing need for detailed and accurate cancer data, which can significantly impact both individual patient care and broader healthcare strategies. The gender breakdown of cancer cases provides insight into patterns and trends that can guide further research into potential risk factors and treatment approaches specific to each gender.
Dr. Naureen Mushtaq, an Associate Professor and Section Head of the Department of Oncology at AKU, emphasizes the importance of the cancer registry as a critical component of cancer prevention strategies. She stated, “Our cancer registry is an essential part of our cancer prevention strategies for improving the outcome and quality of life for many cancer patients. The registry team, under the leadership of Maham Zafar, has achieved numerous academic and clinical milestones, including the establishment of specialized registries such as the pediatric brain tumor registry and the head and neck registry initiative.”
These initiatives have significantly advanced the understanding of cancer in specific patient populations and regions. Moving forward, AKU aims to collaborate with national partners to establish a national cancer registry for Pakistan. This initiative will enhance cancer care across the country by providing a unified data source to guide research, treatment, and prevention efforts. A national registry will not only improve patient care but also enable healthcare professionals to make evidence-based decisions that could lead to better outcomes for cancer patients nationwide.
As Dr. Zehra Fadoo, Professor and Chair of the Department of Oncology, emphasized, "The role of cancer registries in managing this challenging disease is crucial. By ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting, they provide invaluable insights into cancer trends and outcomes, directly supporting researchers, clinicians, and policymakers working to advance cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship."
The AKU Cancer Registry serves as a comprehensive and invaluable source of data for researchers, students, healthcare administrators, and physicians alike.
