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Review
. 2020 Jun:113:104639.
doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104639. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Recommendations for further revisions to improve the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph program

Julie E Goodman  1 , David B Mayfield  2 , Richard A Becker  3 , Suzanne B Hartigan  4 , Neeraja K Erraguntla  5
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Recommendations for further revisions to improve the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph program

Julie E Goodman et al. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2020 Jun.
Free article

Abstract

In 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) "Preamble to the IARC Monographs" expanded guidance regarding the scientific approaches that should be employed in its monographs. These amendments to the monograph development process are an improvement but still fall short in several areas. While the revised Preamble lays out broad methods and approaches to evaluate scientific evidence, there is a lack of specificity with regard to how IARC Working Groups will conduct consistent evaluations in a standardized, objective, and transparent manner; document systematic review and evidence integration actions, and substantiate how these actions and decisions inform the ultimate classifications. Furthermore, no guidance is provided to ensure Working Groups consistently incorporate mechanistic evidence in a robust manner using a defined approach in the context of 21st century knowledge of modes of action. Nor are the conclusions of the working groups subjected to outside, independent scientific peer review. Continued improvements and modernization of the procedures for evaluating, presenting, and communicating study quality, and in the methods used to conduct and peer-review evidence-based decision making will benefit the Working Group members, the IARC Monographs Programme overall, and the international regulatory community and public who rely upon the monographs.

Keywords: Carcinogen; Evidence integration, mode of action; IARC; Monograph; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: The authors had complete control over the design, conduct, interpretation, and composition of this manuscript. The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of their employers. J. Goodman and D. Mayfield received support from the American Chemistry Council (ACC) for developing this manuscript. R. Becker, S. Hartigan, and N. Erraguntla are employed by the ACC, a trade association of chemical manufacturers. This work was supported by funding from the ACC.