Analysis of stage and clinical/prognostic factors for colon and rectal cancer from SEER registries: AJCC and collaborative stage data collection system.

Background The Collaborative Stage (CS) Data Collection System enables multiple cancer registration programs to document anatomic and molecular pathology features that contribute to the Tumor (T), Node (N), Metastasis (M) (TNM) system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This chapter highlights changes in CS for colon and rectal carcinomas as TNM moved from the AJCC 6th to the 7th edition.