The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) has announced significant updates to its Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®), offering evidence-based recommendations for cancer treatment. These guidelines, considered the most frequently updated in any medical field, play a crucial role in keeping cancer care providers worldwide informed about the latest advancements. The recent updates cover high-incidence cancers such as breast, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
The NCCN 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled for April 5-7 in Orlando, Florida, will present these updates and the supporting evidence. The conference, available both in-person and online, provides a platform for healthcare professionals to learn directly from the experts behind the recommendations and understand the underlying evidence.
Dr. Crystal S. Denlinger, CEO of NCCN, highlighted the accelerating pace of progress in cancer care and the dedication of multidisciplinary panels of experts who continually update the guidelines. Attendees at the conference will have the opportunity to gain insights into the latest updates and the evidence supporting them.
The NCCN Guidelines are freely available online, and in 2023, they were downloaded over 15 million times worldwide, indicating their widespread use and importance. Monthly access now exceeds one million downloads, emphasizing the growing demand for up-to-date oncology guidance.
Some recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines recommendations include:
- Updates to treatment of HR-positive, early-stage breast cancer, including a new page outlining the general principles for adjuvant endocrine therapy.
- Recommendation for considering POLE/POLD1 mutation testing for checkpoint inhibitor therapy for colon and rectal cancer.
- Addition of a new perioperative immunotherapy option for resectable non-small cell lung cancer.
- New chemotherapy options for first-line therapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
- Changes to the Principles of Pathology for bladder cancer, based on the 2022 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Urinary Tract.
- Revisions to the Hereditary RCC Syndromes Overview for kidney cancer.
The NCCN 2024 Annual Conference will feature sessions covering these updates, more than 200 poster abstracts presenting new research, and discussions on various topics, including genetics, vaccination for cancer survivors, AI in oncology, and addressing drug shortages.
Healthcare professionals, experts, and colleagues attending the conference will have the opportunity to engage in discussions, gain critical knowledge, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding cancer care.
