Alaska Native Tumor Registry

The Alaska Native Tumor Registry (ANTR) has been collecting cancer surveillance data for Alaska Native people since 1974. The program was initiated as a collaboration between the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Alaska Native tribal health leaders. From the outset, the ANTR adopted and followed the data collection standards of the NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. The ANTR has been a full participating member of the SEER Program since 1999. In 2017, the ANTR also began participating in the SEER-Medicare Linked Database. The ANTR is housed at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a tribally-led non-profit organization that provides healthcare to, and represents statewide health care interests of, Alaska Native people.

Since its inception, the ANTR has served as the cornerstone for tribally-led cancer research among Alaska Native people. ANTR staff have contributed to over 75 peer-reviewed publications that describe and elucidate the burden of cancer among Alaska Native people. These studies have included reporting of surveillance data as well as active participation in epidemiologic research studies, several of which have included the use of archived biospecimens linked to tumor registry data. Current studies that the ANTR supports include: a research program to investigate colorectal cancer disparities and etiology among Alaska Native people; ongoing surveillance studies, including reports in breast and pediatric cancers; and health services work to address cancer disparities among Alaska Native people. All research conducted by or in collaboration with the ANTR is conducted in a tribally-engaged manner, adhering to best practices for engaging in research with Native American communities.