Data Dictionary

The ICGC ARGO Data Dictionary expresses the details of the ARGO data model, which adheres to specific formats and restrictions to ensure a standard of data quality. The Data Dictionary defines a set of files, each related to a clinical concept, that can be submitted to the ARGO Data Platform.

For recent updates, check the Dictionary Release Notes.

Understanding the Data Dictionary

The dictionary table view lists all of the clinical fields that the ARGO Data Platform accepts, separated by clinical TSV file.

Field listings can be filtered by Data Tier and Attribute, which can help identify which fields are necessary for clinical data completion.

You can explore previous dictionary versions using the dropdown at the top of the dictionary, or compare the changes to previous versions using the Compare With button. It is required to use the latest version of the dictionary during data submission.

Field Descriptors

Each field has a data tier and an attribute classification, which reflects the importance of the field in terms of clinical data completion.

classification indicates:

• Field is a unique identifier that is used for cross file validation.
• Field is a primary or foreign key.

classification indicates:

• Field must meet certain conditions, depending on the value of another field.
• Conditional rules are described in the data dictionary notes & scripts column.

classification indicates:

• Field must be provided in the submitted TSV file.

classification indicates:

• Field is part of the mandatory minimum set of clinical data that must be submitted.
• When paired with the Conditional attribute, this field is only required if conditional requirements are met.

The set of core clinical fields were defined by the Tissue & Clinical Annotations Working Group which involved regular discussions with members of the working group and ARGO Programs. Core clinical fields are commonly acquired in cohort-based studies and clinical trials and are required to address clinically relevant topics by cross entity analyses, and therefore constitute a critical element in the analysis of diverse ARGO Programs.

classification indicates:

• Field is not required for clinical data completion.
• It is strongly encouraged to provide as many extended fields as possible.

Permissible Values

• Some fields will only accept certain values from a list of controlled terminology that is provided in the permissible values column of the dictionary tables. Values must match the dictionary spelling exactly, but can be submitted case-insensitive.

• Other fields must meet a regular expression for their value.

Dictionary Standards Used

The dictionary controlled terminology values were derived from external standards or common terminology used by ICGC ARGO programs. These include:

• American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Classifications
• World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10)
• International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O))
• Cancer Data Standards Registry and Repository (caDSR)
• Cancer Care Ontario Data Book Reporting Standards
• RxNorm
• Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)
• ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Tumour Staging Classifications

Revised International staging system (RISS)

Stage	Description
Stage I	Serum β2-microglobulin <3.5 mg/L and serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dL and no high-risk cytogenetics and Normal LDH.
Stage II	Not stage I or II.
Stage III	Serum β2-microglobulin ≥5.5 mg/L and high-risk cytogenetics and/or high LDH.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4846284/

Lugano Staging System

Stage	Description
Stage I	Involvement of a single lymphatic site (i.e., nodal region, Waldeyer’s ring, thymus, or spleen).
Stage IE	Single extralymphatic site in the absence of nodal involvement (rare in Hodgkin lymphoma).
Stage II	Involvement of two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm.
Stage II bulky	Stage II with disease bulk.
Stage IIE	Contiguous extralymphatic extension from a nodal site with or without involvement of other lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm.
Stage III	Involvement of lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm; nodes above the diaphragm with spleen involvement.
Stage IV	Diffuse or disseminated involvement of one or more extralymphatic organs, with or without associated lymph node involvement; or noncontiguous extralymphatic organ involvement in conjunction with nodal Stage II disease or any extralymphatic organ involvement in nodal Stage III disease. Stage IV includes any involvement of the CSF, bone marrow, liver, or multiple lung lesions (other than by direct extension in Stage IIE disease).

Note: Hodgkin lymphoma uses A or B designation with stage group. A/B is no longer used in NHL.

Suffix	Description
A	Asymptomatic (No B symptoms).
B	Any B symptom(s): Fevers. Unexplained fever with temperature above 38°C. Night sweats. Drenching sweats (e.g., those that require change of bed clothes). Weight loss. Unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of the usual body weight in the 6 months prior to diagnosis.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 981). American College of Surgeons.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Staging System

Stage	Description
Stage I	A single tumour (extranodal) or single anatomic area (nodal), with the exclusion of the mediastinum or abdomen.
Stage II	A single tumour (extranodal) with regional node involvement Two or more nodal areas on the same side of the diaphragm Two single (extranodal) tumours with or without regional node involvement on the same side of the diaphragm A primary gastrointestinal tract tumour, usually in the ileocecal area, with or without involvement of associated mesenteric nodes only.
Stage III	Two single tumours (extranodal) on opposite sides of the diaphragm. Two or more nodal areas above and below the diaphragm. All the primary intrathoracic tumours (mediastinal, pleural, and thymic). All extensive primary intra-abdominal disease. All paraspinal or epidural tumours, regardless of other tumour site(s).
Stage IV	Any of the above with initial CNS and/or bone marrow involvement.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4461808/

Ann Arbor Staging Classification for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Stage	Description
Stage I	Involvement of a single lymphatic site (i.e., nodal region, Waldeyer's ring, thymus, or spleen) (I); or localized involvement of a single extralymphatic organ or site in the absence of any lymph node involvement (IE).
Stage II	Involvement of two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (II); or localized involvement of a single extralymphatic organ or site in association with regional lymph node involvement with or without involvement of other lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (IIE).
Stage III	Involvement of lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm (III), which also may be accompanied by extralymphatic extension in association with adjacent lymph node involvement (IIIE) or by involvement of the spleen (IIIS) or both (IIIE,S).
Stage IV	Diffuse or disseminated involvement of one or more extralymphatic organs, with or without associated lymph node involvement; or isolated extralymphatic organ involvement in the absence of adjacent regional lymph node involvement, but in conjunction with disease in distant site(s). Stage IV includes any involvement of the liver or bone marrow, lungs (other than by direct extension from another site), or cerebrospinal fluid.

Suffix	Description
A	No symptoms.
B	Fever (temperature >38.0ºC), drenching night sweats, unexplained loss of >10% of body weight within the preceding 6 months.
E	Involvement of a single extranodal site that is contiguous or proximal to the known nodal site.
S	Splenic involvement.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65726/table/CDR0000062933__557/

Rai Staging System

Stage	Description
Stage 0	Lymphocytosis (high blood count of lymphocytes) and no enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, or liver, and with near normal red blood cell and platelet counts.
Stage I	Lymphocytosis plus enlarged lymph nodes. The spleen and liver are not enlarged and the red blood cell and platelet counts are normal or only slightly low.
Stage II	Lymphocytosis plus an enlarged spleen (and possibly an enlarged liver), with or without enlarged lymph nodes. The red blood cell and platelet counts are normal or only slightly low.
Stage III	Lymphocytosis plus anemia (too few red blood cells), with or without enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, or liver. Platelet counts are near normal.
Stage IV	Lymphocytosis plus thrombocytopenia (too few platelets), with or without anemia, enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, or liver.

Reference: CLL Society, Inc. Rai Staging of CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia).

Durie-Salmon Staging System

Stage	Description
Stage 1	All of the following: Hemoglobin value > 10 g/dl Serum calcium value normal or <10.5 mg/dL Bone X-ray, normal bone structure (scale 0), or solitary bone plasmactyoma only Low M-component production rates IgG value < 5g/dL; IgA value < 3 g/dL Urine light chain M-component on electrophoresis < 4 g/24h
Stage II	Fitting neither Stage I nor Stage III
Stage III	One or more of the following: Hemoglobin value < 8.5 g/dL Serum calcium value > 12 mg/dL Advanced lytic bone lesions (scale 3) High M-component production rates IgG value > 7 g/dL; IgA value > 5 g/dL Urine light chain M-component > 12 g/24h

Reference: https://www.myeloma.org/durie-salmon-staging

FIGO Staging of Cervical Carcinomas

Stage	Description
Stage IA	Invasive cancer identified only microscopically. Invasion is limited to measured stromal invasion with a maximum depth of 5 mm and no wider than 7 mm.
Stage IA1	Measured invasion of the stroma no greater than 3 mm in depth and no wider than 7 mm diameter.
Stage IA2	Measured invasion of stroma greater than 3 mm but no greater than 5 mm in depth and no wider than 7 mm in diameter.
Stage IB	Clinical lesions confined to the cervix or preclinical lesions greater than Stage IA. All gross lesions even with superficial invasion are Stage IB cancers.
Stage IB1	Clinical lesions no greater than 4 cm in size.
Stage IB2	Clinical lesions greater than 4 cm in size.
Stage IIA	No obvious parametrial involvement. Involvement of up to the upper two-thirds of the vagina.
Stage IAB	Obvious parametrial involvement, but not into the pelvic sidewall.
Stage IIIA	No extension into the pelvic sidewall but involvement of the lower third of the vagina.
Stage IIIB	Extension into the pelvic sidewall or hydronephrosis or non-functioning kidney.
Stage IVA	Spread of the tumour into adjacent pelvic organs.
Stage IVB	Spread to distant organs.

Reference: https://screening.iarc.fr/viaviliappendix1.php.

Binet Staging System

Stage	Description
Stage A	Fewer than 3 groups of enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) and a high white blood cell count.
Stage B	More than 3 groups of enlarged lymph nodes and a high white blood cell count.
Stage C	Enlarged lymph nodes or spleen, a high white blood cell count, and low red blood cell or platelet counts.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 975). American College of Surgeons.

Tumour Grading Classifications

Two-tier Grading System

Grade
Low grade
High grade

Reference: Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition.

Three-tier Grading System

Grade	Definition
GX	Cannot be assessed.
G1	Well differentiated.
G2	Moderately differentiated.
G3	Poorly differentiated, undifferentiated.

Reference: Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition.

Four-tier Grading System

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Well differentiated.
G2	Moderately differentiated.
G3	Poorly differentiated.
G4	Undifferentiated.

Reference: Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition.

Grading for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GISTs)

Mitotic Rate	Definition
Low	5 or fewer mitoses per 5 mm2.
High	Over 5 mitoses per 5 mm2.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 546). American College of Surgeons.

Grading System for GNETs

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Mitotic count (per 10 HPF) < 2 and Ki-67 index (%) < 3.
G2	Mitotic count (per 10 HPF) = 2–20 or Ki-67 index (%) = 3–20.
G3	Mitotic count (per 10 HPF) > 20 or Ki-67 index (%) > 20.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 374). American College of Surgeons.

ISUP Grading System

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Nucleoli absent or inconspicuous and basophilic at 400x magnification.
G2	Nucleoli conspicuous and eosinophilic at 400x magnification, visible but not prominent at 100x magnification.
G3	Nucleoli conspicuous and eosinophilic at 100x magnification.
G4	Marked nuclear pleomorphism and/or multinucleate giant cells and/or rhabdoid and/or sarcomatoid differentiation.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 771). American College of Surgeons.

Nuclear Grading System for DCIS

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Low nuclear grade.
G2	Intermediate nuclear grade.
G3	High nuclear grade.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 641). American College of Surgeons.

FNCLCC Grading System

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Total differentiation, mitotic count and necrosis score of 2 or 3.
G2	Total differentiation, mitotic count and necrosis score of 4 or 5.
G3	Total differentiation, mitotic count and necrosis score of 6, 7, or 8.

References: https://academic.oup.com/jjco/article/49/2/103/5179391 Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 564). American College of Surgeons.

Scarff–Bloom–Richardson (SBR) Grading System

Grade	Definition
GX	Grade cannot be assessed.
G1	Low combined histologic grade (favorable), SBR score of 3–5 points.
G2	Intermediate combined histologic grade (moderately favorable); SBR score of 6–7 points.
G3	High combined histologic grade (unfavorable); SBR score of 8–9 points.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 652). American College of Surgeons.

WHO Grading System for CNS Tumours

Grade	Definition
Grade I	Circumscribed tumours of low proliferative potential associated with the possibility of cure following resection.
Grade II	Infiltrative tumours with low proliferative potential with increased risk of recurrence.
Grade III	Tumours with histologic evidence of malignancy, including nuclear atypia and mitotic activity, associated with an aggressive clinical course.
Grade IV	Tumours that are cytologically malignant, mitotically active, and associated with rapid clinical progression and potential for dissemination.

Reference: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 894). American College of Surgeons.

Gleason Grade Group System

Grade Group	Gleason score and pattern
Group 1	≤6 (≤3+3)
Group 2	7 (3+4)
Group 3	7 (4+3)
Group 4	8 (4+4, 3+5 or 5+3)
Group 5	9 or 10 (4+5, 5+4, or 5+5)

References: Amin, Mahul B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 751). American College of Surgeons. http://pathology.jhu.edu/ProstateCancer/NewGradingSystem.pdf

Response to Treatment Criteria

RECIST

Response to Treatment
Complete response
No evidence of disease (NED)
Partial response
Progressive disease
Stable disease

Reference: https://recist.eortc.org/recist-1-1-2/

iRECIST

Response to Treatment
Immune complete response (iCR)
Immune confirmed progressive disease (iCPD)
Immune partial response (iPR)
Immune stable disease (iSD)
Immune unconfirmed progressive disease (iUPD)

Reference: https://recist.eortc.org/irecist/

IWG Cheson AML 2003 Oncology Response Criteria

Response to Treatment
Cytogenetic complete remission (CRc)
Molecular complete remission (CRm)
Morphologic complete remission
Morphologic complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi)
Morphologic leukemia-free state
Partial remission

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2003.04.036

Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO)

Response to Treatment
Complete response
Minor response
Partial response
Progressive disease
Stable disease

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2009.26.3541 and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6499019/

ELN Dohner AML 2017 Oncology Response Criteria

Response to Treatment
Complete remission
Complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi)
Complete remission without minimal residual disease (CRMRD-)
Hematologic relapse (after CRMRD-, CR, CRi)
Molecular relapse (after CRMRD-)
Partial remission
Progressive disease
Stable disease

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5291965/

Physician Assessed Response Criteria

Response to Treatment
Physician assessed complete response
Physician assessed partial response
Physician assessed progressive disease
Physician assessed stable disease