NCCN Posts Comparative Effectiveness White Paper for Public Comment

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has posted a draft white
paper for public comment that details a draft paradigm for near-term
comparative effectiveness clinical evaluations based upon existing data. The
document introduces the NCCN Comparative Therapeutic Index(TM) (CTI), a
consensus-based process that compares the risk-versus-benefit of different
treatment options recommended in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in
Oncology(TM). The paper will be posted for public comment through November 23,
2009.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Drawing on the
expertise from the world's thought leaders in oncology, the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Comparative Effectiveness Work
Group has developed a systematic process for applying existing data in
comparative effectiveness clinical evaluations in the field of oncology that
will benefit both physicians and patients. These recommendations are detailed
in a draft white paper currently posted on NCCN.org that will be available for
public comment through November 23, 2009.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM) are widely recognized
and used as the standard of care in oncology in both the academic and
community settings and significantly influence appropriate practice patterns,
prescribing behavior, and coverage policy. With ready access to oncology
experts in all relevant specialties, NCCN convened the NCCN Oncology
Comparative Effectiveness Work Group comprised of expert members representing
patients, clinicians, managed care, pharma/biotech, and health policy with the
intent of driving the national policy process on comparative effectiveness and
improving patient care.

The NCCN Work Group drafted a white paper, entitled "The 'NCCN Comparative
Therapeutic Index(TM)' as a Paradigm for Near Term Comparative Effectiveness
Analyses of Existing Data in Oncology", which introduces the NCCN Comparative
Therapeutic Index(TM) (CTI). The NCCN CTI is a clinical evaluative method that
communicates the ratio of the effectiveness of a proposed treatment versus its
potential toxicity. Resource utilization issues are also addressed in the
document.

The NCCN CTI model is based upon the evaluation of available scientific data
integrated with the expert judgment of leading oncologists. The
implementation of the NCCN CTI is proposed to be a gradual, progressive
approach with an eventual goal of system-wide adoption into all of the NCCN
Guidelines. Given the NCCN Guidelines' stature and credibility in the cancer
community, the NCCN Work Group believes they serve as an ideal channel to
disseminate comparative effectiveness results for adoption into practice.

The NCCN Work Group will consider the public's feedback and develop a second
iteration of the white paper that will be presented at the NCCN Oncology
Summit on December 7, 2009.

NCCN seeks to continue its leadership role in developing and communicating
scientific, evaluative information to inform and improve decision-making to
assure that patients have available the safest and most effective options for
their cancer care.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of
21 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the
quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through
the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member
Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the
numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of
high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality
improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice
guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care
decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the
quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can
live better lives.

The NCCN Member Institutions are: City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Los Angeles, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center / Massachusetts
General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer
Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney
Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H.
Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL;
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University
Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research
Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Siteman
Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/University of
Tennessee Cancer Institute, Memphis, TN; Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Birmingham, AL; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San
Francisco, CA; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor,
MI; UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; The
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN.

For more information on NCCN, please visit NCCN.org.

SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Megan Martin, NCCN, +1-215-690-0576, martin@nccn.org