To which agency do central registries report their data directly?

Central registries report their data directly to the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), which is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NPCR oversees the collection and management of cancer data from state cancer registries to ensure a comprehensive dataset that reflects cancer incidence across the United States. This oversight is crucial for public health surveillance, trend analysis, and the development of cancer control programs.

In contrast, the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) is a clinical database designed primarily for the purpose of quality improvement and cancer research. While both NPCR and NCDB play significant roles in cancer data collection and use, the NPCR is the agency specifically designated for direct reporting from central registries. As a result, the NPCR serves as the primary federal agency responsible for collecting cancer data from state registries, making the choice to report to NPCR essential for the nation’s cancer epidemiology and surveillance efforts.