On Sept. 10, 1974, the Division of Cancer Control and Rehabilitation (DCCR) was established by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to plan, direct, and coordinate an integrated program of cancer control and rehabilitation activities with the goal of identifying, testing, evaluating, demonstrating, communicating, and promoting the widespread use of available and new methods for reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.

The DCCR is now responsible for program administration. DCCR administers the program through grants, contracts, and interagency agreements awarded to State and local health agencies, medical centers, and others.

In the past 5 fiscal years, about 72 percent of the funds allocated for the cancer control program was obligated for contracts. GAO reviewed five NCI contracts to determine whether the cancer control program’s objectives were being met, whether NCI was effectively administering the cancer control projects, whether funding and staffing levels were adequate, and whether advice provided by cancer control advisory groups was being implemented.