The questions of the extent of progress against cancer and how to measure it have stimulated attention among scientists and in Congress. In this presentation, we summarize a report requested by the Senate Appropriations Committee to address the adequacy of the existing measures of progress against cancer. The report was prepared by an extramural committee convened by the National Cancer Institute at the request of Congress. It includes extensive findings and recommendations on the existing measures of progress against cancer, the systems used to develop the data reported through the measures, the frequency and content of reports addressing progress, and the need for analytic research on this topic. Although the Extramural Committee To Assess Measures of Progress Against Cancer found the measures and systems to be generally adequate, they also found that modification or expansion of the information base is needed in many areas.