<unk> <unk>  is a set of published rules that define when tumors in cancer patients improve ("respond"), stay the same ("stabilize"), or worsen ("progress") during treatment. The criteria were published in February 2000 by an international collaboration including the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), National Cancer Institute of the United States, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Today, the majority of clinical trials<unk> g cancer treatments for objective<unk>  in<unk>  tumors use<unk> . These criteria were developed and published in February 2000, and subsequently updated in 2009. The criteria are specifically not meant to determine whether patients have improved or not, as these are tumor-centric, not patient centric criteria. This distinction must be made by both the treating physicians and the cancer patients themselves. Many oncologists in their daily clinical practice follow their patients' malignant disease by means of repeated imaging studies and make decisions about continuing therapy on the basis of both objective and symptomatic criteria. It is not intended that these<unk>  guidelines play a role in that decision making, except if determined appropriate by the treating oncologist.
Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors
PET response criteria in solid tumors
Cancer staging
Lung cancer staging
Breast cancer classification
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General 
Computed tomography dose index
TNM staging system