The AJCC has spearheaded efforts to define, disseminate, and evaluate a system of clinical elements that are integral parts of the decision-making process related to treatment, outcome assessment, and the reporting of scientific and clinical information. Through a network of multidisciplinary volunteer-experts, the AJCC has defined staging schemes to incorporate new knowledge and healthcare technologies.

In May 2002, the Sixth Edition AJCC Cancer Staging Manual was published in a manual and handbook version and made available for all those taking part in cancer care, both in the United States and throughout the world.

The manual is required for use beginning with cases diagnosed and treated beginning January 1, 2003. The groundwork for the latest edition began several years ago when several clinicians, registrars and dedicated AJCC personnel combined their efforts to develop task forces specific to organ sites of cancer. These groups reviewed pertinent literature, patient databases and new clinical and pathological techniques that would impact staging strategies appearing in the Sixth Edition. These groups met and worked diligently to debate concepts that are critically important, not only to cancer staging, but also to the methods of collecting and analyzing a vast amount of material related to staging concepts.