Guiding Principles for Community Building in Global Oncology

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Oncology
• Health Equity

Background:

• Cancer incidence and prevalence are rising globally, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• There is a critical need for equitable global collaboration in oncology, involving knowledge and resource exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the guiding principles for establishing a Global Oncology Community of Practice (CoP).
• To ensure ethical community building that avoids perpetuating inequities and power imbalances in global oncology efforts.

Main Methods:

• Review of core guiding principles for the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) Global Oncology CoP.
• Focus on principles essential for equitable and sustainable global health initiatives.

Main Results:

• The proposed framework emphasizes responsibility, amplification, accessibility, sustainability, and decolonization.
• These principles aim to foster a self-organizing, grassroots approach for the global oncology community.

Conclusions:

• A well-defined ethical framework is imperative for building effective and equitable global oncology partnerships.
• Implementing principles such as decolonization and sustainability can maximize the impact of collaborative oncology efforts worldwide.