NCCN Updates Treatment Recommendations for Breast, Colorectal, Lung, and other Cancer Types Based on Emerging Evidence

Recent NCCN Guidelines updates—along with the supporting evidence—will be presented during the NCCN 2024 Annual Conference held in Orlando, Florida April 5-7, and simultaneously online. Visit NCCN.org/conference to learn more and register.

Advocating for Equitable Cancer Care: A Call to Establish Comprehensive Survivorship Programming and Enhance Genetic Testing Discussions

Two new measurements have been added to the Health Equity Report Card (HERC)—a tool for improving the quality and equity of cancer care. This expansion is part of ongoing efforts to address the impact of structural and interpersonal racism as a cause of disparities in cancer outcomes in the United States.

NCCN Expands Focus on Quality of Life and Supportive Care with New Guides for People with Cancer

National Comprehensive Cancer Network publishes free NCCN Guidelines for Patients with information on improving well-being and reducing suffering and distress for people with cancer; available at NCCN.org/patientguidelines.

U.S. Cancer Centers Continue to See Chemotherapy Shortages, According to Update from NCCN

72% of the centers surveyed by NCCN continue to experience a shortage of carboplatin and 59% are still seeing a shortage of cisplatin. Overall, 86% of centers surveyed reported experiencing a shortage of at least one type of anti-cancer drug.

NCCN Senior Director Evelyn Handel Zapata is Named a ‘40 Under 40 in Cancer: Emerging Leader’ for Milestone Work Improving Safe Use of Chemotherapy

Evelyn Handel Zapata, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Senior Director of Drugs & Biologics Programs at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) was named a 40 Under 40 in Cancer: Emerging Leader; launches new resources for a type of pediatric lymphoma.

Latest Blood Cancer Treatment Updates Presented at Annual NCCN Event During Blood Cancer Awareness Month

NCCN 2023 Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies features expert perspectives on developments in blood cancer treatment, including NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) Updates, CAR T-Cell therapy, BTK Inhibitors, Bispecific T-Cell Engagers, and More. The live event is taking place September 22-23, 2023, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.

Most Non-English Speakers in the U.S. Are Turned Away Before Their First Cancer Visit According to New Research in JNCCN

New study in JNCCN from the University of Michigan found English speakers who call a hospital general information line were able to get information on next steps to access cancer care 94% of the time, compared to 38% for Spanish speakers and just 28% for Mandarin speakers.

Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, Named New CEO of National Comprehensive Cancer Network; Robert W. Carlson, MD, Retiring After 10+ Years Leading Global Oncology Nonprofit

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)—a not-for-profit alliance of leading academic cancer centers—announces Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, as incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing the retiring longtime CEO, Robert W. Carlson, MD.

NCCN Releases New Resource to Help Families Understand Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma, Part of Award-Winning Patient Information Series

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) today announces the publication of NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children.

NCCN Announces Research Funding for Biomarker-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, in Collaboration with Fight CRC and Pfizer

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Research Program (ORP) today announced new grants awarded to improve quality initiatives focused on optimizing biomarker-directed therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

NCCN Releases Statement Addressing Ongoing Chemotherapy Shortages; Shares Survey Results Finding More than 90% of Cancer Centers are Impacted

National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Department of Policy and Advocacy calls on Federal Government, pharmaceutical industry, providers, and payers to work together on solutions, as 93% of cancer centers surveyed report a shortage of carboplatin and 70% report shortages for cisplatin; two medications that are used in combination to cure many types of cancer.

NCCN Publishes New Resource to Help Patients Understand Quick-Moving Type of Breast Cancer

NCCN has published a new addition to its library of patient resources, expanding the information available for breast cancer. The new NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Inflammatory Breast Cancer joins patient and caregiver resources for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Invasive Breast Cancer, and Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Four Early-Career Cancer Researchers Earn Prestigious Annual Award from NCCN Foundation

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the NCCN Foundation announce four winners for the 2023 NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Awards. These annual awards honor up-and-coming leaders in oncology research working to investigate and advance cancer care.

NCCN Annual Conference Brings Up Important Questions for Improving Cancer Care

The NCCN 2023 Annual Conference took place in-person in Orlando and virtually, with a particular focus on human connection. That connection was underscored with more than 2,000 registrants from across the continuum of cancer care, including approximately 1,000 who returned in-person for the first time since 2019. Educational sessions highlighted the importance of ensuring care meets the latest standards while also rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Names the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center as 33rd Member Institution

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announces the addition of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center as the newest Member Institution to join the not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Updates Annual Conference with New In-Person Venue, Hybrid Format, Expert-Led Sessions, Highlighted Research Perspectives, and Small-Group Conversations

NCCN 2023 Annual Conference featuring more than a thousand worldwide oncology professionals will present new research findings, latest NCCN Guidelines updates, and best practices for achieving quality cancer care delivery, in Orlando and online March 31—April 2, 2023. Visit NCCN.org/conference for more.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Announces Collaboration with Blood Cancer Experts in Poland

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®)—a not-for-profit alliance of leading United States cancer centers—announces a new collaboration with the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine in Poland (IHIT), and the Alliance For Innovation—Polish-American Foundation (AFI).

Cancer Symptom Algorithm Presented in JNCCN Can Aid Doctors in Predicting Patients at Risk for Unplanned Emergency Visits

New research in the February 2023 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network illustrates how the use of an algorithm to calculate a patient-reported symptom complexity score can help oncologists identify patients who are at increased risk for unplanned visits to the emergency department (ED), creating the potential for additional proactive care, and the reduction of healthcare costs.

Health Equity Report Card Pilot Project to Help Close the Care Gap Highlighted on World Cancer Day

An ongoing pilot project aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Health Equity Report Card (HERC) as a tool for improving the quality and equity of cancer care and continues the Elevating Cancer Equity collaboration from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF)–highlighted on World Cancer Day.

Terrance Mayes, EdD, and Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD, FACS, Announced as Leaders for NCCN Forum on Equity

National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s new Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Directors Forum is working together to improve diversity of clinical staff representation across nation’s leading academic cancer centers.

Surgery First for Colon Cancer? Not So Fast, According to New Study in JNCCN

New research in JNCCN finds that immunotherapy from immune checkpoint (PD-1) inhibitors prior to surgery was strikingly effective for patients with localized mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC).

International Collaboration to Improve Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa Focuses on Resources for Children’s Cancers

NCCN is working on new NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with the African Cancer Coalition (ACC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The organizations are part of Allied Against Cancer, a global multi-sector effort to improve resource-stratified access to life-saving cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Improving Cancer Outcomes for LGBTQ+ Patients Requires Earning Trust and Challenging Assumptions

Annual NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit explores stories and data highlighting barriers to high-quality care that LGBTQ+ people with cancer experience, examining persistent setbacks and promising developments.

NCCN Announces Funding for Bladder Cancer Research Projects, in Collaboration with Pfizer and EMD Serono

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Oncology Research Program selects projects focused on improving patient care and outcomes in locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.

New Study in JNCCN Presents Evidence for ‘Tough Conversations’ Around Racism in Access to Cancer Care

A study in JNCCN, led by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, found that Non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive guideline-appropriate treatment for ovarian cancer compared to Non-Hispanic White patients, even after adjusting for healthcare access issues.

NCCN Guidelines for Patients Win Award for Excellence in Cancer Patient Education from CPEN

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®)—an alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education—has been named winner for the 2022 Excellence in Cancer Patient Education award from the Cancer Patient Education Network (CPEN).

Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy Can Safely Receive mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines, According to JNCCN Study

New research published in the October 2022 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network confirms the safety of mRNA vaccines in people with cancer undergoing immunotherapy treatment.

On World Mental Health Day, NCCN Announces Free Updated Distress Screening Tool, Available in More Than 70 Languages

On World Mental Health Day, NCCN announced an updated NCCN Distress Thermometer, is available in more than 70 languages, to help people around the world identify and address psychosocial stressors that may raise challenges when coping with having cancer, its symptoms, or treatment.

NCCN Annual Congress on Hematologic Malignancies™ Returns to In-Person October 14–15, 2022 in New York City

The 2022 NCCN Annual Congress on Hematologic Malignancies™ (#NCCNhem22) is taking place Friday, October 14–Saturday, October 15, 2022 in New York City. All live sessions will also stream remotely through a virtual event platform.

NCCN Updates Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccination with Information on Bivalent Vaccines, Children with Cancer, and Other Developments

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis details clarified expert consensus to help guide providers on latest data and information, available at NCCN.org/covid-19.

NCCN’s New Patient Guidelines for Marginal Zone Lymphoma Help Patients and Caregivers Better Understand a Rare Form of Blood Cancer

The new patient guidelines for Marginal Zone Lymphoma guidelines are the latest in NCCN’s library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients®, published through funding from the NCCN Foundation® and available online free of charge.

New Study in JNCCN Suggests Way to Predict Outcomes with High Accuracy Prior to Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

New research in the September 2022 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer adds significant prognostic benefit in objectively assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in borderline resectable/locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients prior to surgery.

There’s a Better Way to Detect High-Risk Medications in Older Adults with Cancer According to New Study in JNCCN

Gerontology researchers teamed up with hematologic-oncology investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to look at the association between older patients with blood cancers who were taking multiple medications and their corresponding frailty. They also created a new scale based on a list of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) from the NCCN Guidelines® for Older Adult Oncology—called the Geriatric Oncology-Potentially Inappropriate Medications (GO-PIMs) Scale—and found it to be more effective at predicting frailty than conventional methods.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Shares New Recommendations for Treating Children with Brain Tumors

Newly-published NCCN Guidelines for Pediatric Central Nervous System Cancers synthesize latest evidence to help care teams ensure children with high-grade gliomas have best possible outcomes; available free at NCCN.org.

JNCCN: Mismatch in Breast Cancer Trial Results and Real-World Outcomes Based on Treatment Discontinuation

New population study in JNCCN on adjuvant hormone therapy for breast cancer finds correlation between hot flashes and poorer outcomes—in contrast to clinical trial results; likely due to patients with side-effects ending treatment early.

NCCN Policy Summit Speakers Say Flexibility in Supporting and Accommodating Cancer Patients and Caregivers Helps Workplaces Thrive

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) convened an oncology policy summit in Washington D.C. on building a workplace that includes support for people with cancer and their caregivers. The program, which also featured a virtual attendance option, examined how workplace norms and expectations have changed in recent years, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCCN Foundation Announces Awards for Rising Cancer Research Leaders

National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Oncology Research Program to oversee projects from early-career investigators advancing key areas for study in cancer care and biology, such as novel combination therapy, equitable access to cellular therapies, immune cell dysfunction, liquid biomarkers, genetic ancestry, oncogenic vulnerabilities, and MAIT cell antitumor activity.

NCCN Announces Funding for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Projects, in Collaboration with AstraZeneca

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Oncology Research Program to oversee projects focused on improving patient care and outcomes in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer in collaboration with AstraZeneca.