International collaboration to improve cancer
outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa is working to update consensus
harmonized guidelines on several key subjects in oncology,
including how best to treat people with both cancer and
HIV.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Local and global
experts are meeting in Nairobi,
Kenya to update clinical practice guidelines as part of
ongoing work with Allied Against Cancer—a collaboration between the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network®
(NCCN®), African Cancer Coalition (ACC), American Cancer
Society (ACS), and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The
meeting brings together subject matter experts to update NCCN
Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa, featuring updates
for treating cancer in people with HIV and other important topics.
The event runs from May 1-3,
2024.
NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa are
available free-of-charge at NCCN.org/harmonized or via the Virtual
Library of NCCN Guidelines® App.
"Published guidelines have a direct impact on improving cancer
treatment for people living with HIV by alleviating fears of drug
interactions and confirming the safety and necessity of commonly
used therapies," said Warren
Phipps, MD, MPH; Medical Director, Uganda Cancer
Institute – Fred Hutch Collaboration. "Many cancers occur more
frequently in people with HIV and AIDS, including AIDS-defining
cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and invasive
cervical cancer. Non-AIDS defining cancers are also on the rise in
this population as AIDS treatment improves, leading to longer life
expectancies. Sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately burdened by
HIV/AIDS, making these region-specific guidelines particularly
necessary."
The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ employ color-coded
recommendations to delineate the best possible cancer care across
various settings and resource availability. They are based on the
NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN
Guidelines®)—evidence based expert consensus
recommendations maintained by multidisciplinary panels of leading
clinicians and researchers. Allied Against Cancer is committed to
updating these tailored guidelines at least every other year,
meeting with local oncologists in Sub-Saharan Africa to share
expertise and experience.
"These meetings give us unique and productive opportunities for
knowledge sharing across different countries and specialties," said
Shanthi Sivendran MD, MSCR,
MBA, Senior Vice President for Cancer Care Support, American
Cancer Society. "By standardizing treatment approaches based on the
latest evidence, we can help make sure that patients are receiving
optimal care. These guidelines also provide a blueprint for how
best to scale up capacity in resource-constrained areas."
The Nairobi meeting will focus
on updates to the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for People Living
with HIV, as well as the following cancer types:
- Breast Cancer
- Kaposi Sarcoma
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Occult Primary (Cancer of Unknown Primary)
- Prostate Cancer
- Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas
The group will also update NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ focused
on prevention and supportive care, including:
- Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
- Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections
- Prostate Cancer Early Detection
William J. Gradishar, MD,
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chair of the NCCN
Guidelines Panel for Breast Cancer is participating in the meeting,
along with Gregory J. Riely, MD,
PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Chair of the NCCN
Guidelines Panel for Non-Small Cell Lung
Cancer/Mesothelioma/Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas Panel and
Manoj P. Menon, MD, MPH, Fred
Hutch Cancer Center, who is a Member of the NCCN Guidelines Panels
for Cancer in People with HIV and Kaposi Sarcoma.
"The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines exemplify our commitment to
advancing cancer care and reducing global disparities in
cancer-related access and outcomes," said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive
Officer, NCCN. "We hope their ongoing use and implementation leads
to tangible, continuous improvements for cancer prevention and
treatment across Sub-Saharan Africa and contributes to better
health outcomes for individuals throughout the region.
NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa have been
endorsed by the Federal Ministries of Health and leading cancer
centers in Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, representing 44% of the population of
Sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more about Allied Against Cancer's
efforts to improve cancer outcomes at alliedagainstcancer.org.
About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The
National Comprehensive Cancer Network®
(NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of
leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research,
and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating
quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all
patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice
Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide
transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for
cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the
recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer
management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical
practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN
Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment
information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through
support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also
advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and
research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit
NCCN.org for more information.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer
Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to
end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100
years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer
and their families as the only organization combating cancer
through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed
to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat,
and survive cancer. To learn more,
visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline
at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us
on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Rachel
Darwin
267-622-6624
darwin@nccn.org
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