NCCN Updates Supportive Care Guidelines for VTE

NCCN recently updated the NCCN Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolic Disease, which includes both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), and is a common condition in people with cancer. Noted updates include the expanded use of graduated compression stockings in prophylaxis and treatment, and a strengthened recommendation for VTE prophylaxis in general.

May 20, 2009

FORT WASHINGTON, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announces new updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ for Venous Thromboembolic Disease. These changes reflect leading developments in the treatment of patients with cancer and represent the standard of clinical policy in oncology in both community and academic settings.

The NCCN Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolic Disease are one of the NCCN Guidelines for Supportive Care. Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), commonly known as “economy class syndrome”, includes both deep venous Thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), and is a common and life-threatening condition in people with cancer. The incidence of cancer-related VTE is further increased by additional risk factors such as thrombophilic mutations, prolonged immobilization, surgical procedures, and chemotherapeutic regimens.

Noteworthy updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolic Disease include a recommendation for the use of graduated compression stockings as inpatient prophylaxis, as well as a treatment for patients with central DVT who are tolerating anticoagulation treatment.

For patients in high-risk settings (e.g. those receiving highly thrombotic antiangiogenic therapy), the NCCN Guidelines strengthened the recommendation for VTE prophylaxis from ‘consider’ to ‘recommend’. For patients with active cancer or persistent risk factors in the chronic VTE setting, the updated NCCN Guidelines also strengthened the suggestion for indefinite anticoagulation therapy from ‘consider’ to ‘recommend’.

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

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 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. For more information, visit NCCN.org.

The NCCN Member Institutions are:

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Duke Cancer Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center / Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stanford Cancer Institute
University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center