NCCN Updates Central Nervous System Cancers Guidelines

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Title: NCCN Updates Central Nervous System Cancers Guidelines
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2162C6.htm
Doctor's Guide
October 23, 2007

JENKINTOWN, PA -- October 23, 2007 -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announces important updates to the NCCN Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers Guidelines. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ are widely recognized and applied as the standard of care in oncology in the United States in both the community and the academic practice settings.

The NCCN CNS panel revised the guidelines by providing radiation therapy dosing and new detailed recommendations for chemotherapy for specific brain cancers or metastatic sites. For example, patients with recurrent CNS metastases from breast cancer, CNS lymphoma, or carcinomatous/lymphomatous meningitis can be treated with a high-dose methotrexate regimen.

The NCCN CNS guidelines now include specific recommendations for brain imaging. These imaging results are used mainly to make treatment decisions. The most common use is to differentiate radiation necrosis from active tumor, which may prevent unnecessary surgery or other therapies.

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ are developed and continually updated through an evidence-based process with explicit review of the scientific evidence by multidisciplinary panels of expert physicians from NCCN Member Institutions. The most recent version of this and all the guidelines are available free of charge at www.nccn.org.

For questions about NCCN or for interview information, please contact Thomas Mitchell at 215.690.0245.

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.

SOURCE: National Comprehensive Cancer Network

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