NCCN Announces Release of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Task Force Report

Hollywood, FL, March 11, 2004 � The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) today introduces The NCCN Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Task Force Report. The report, an expansion on The NCCN Sarcoma Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, outlines the current thinking about the optimal management of patients with GIST. Though an uncommon cancer, GIST is increasingly recognized after experts reported that imatinib (Gleevec�, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) an oral cancer therapy which targets a molecular switch important to the tumor cells, could induce dramatic remissions and prolong survival for patients with advanced GIST.

�The clinical care of patients with GIST has changed radically in the past few years thanks to the rapid evolution of research translating into new and effective therapeutic strategies,� said George D. Demetri, MD, Chair, GIST Task Force and Director of the Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology at Harvard�s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. �The GIST Task Force Report represents the work of expert physicians from several disciplines, such as pathology, surgery, medical oncology, and radiology. Together, we have outlined the most effective approach for optimal management of GIST patients. Our aim is to increase awareness of the tremendous changes which have developed in such a short time in our approach to patients with GIST, and to identify opportunities for future research to improve outcomes further.�

Preliminary recommendations of the GIST Task Force Report were presented today at the NCCN ninth annual conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines and Outcomes Data in Oncology in Hollywood, Florida. The complete report will be published as a supplement to the May 2004 issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN).

GIST is the most common form of gastrointestinal (GI) sarcoma, a life-threatening cancer of the GI tract. Recent data suggest that there are as many as 4,500 to 6,000 new cases of GIST per year in the United States. The introduction of effective molecularly targeted therapy has dramatically improved the outcomes for patients diagnosed with GIST.

�The NCCN was pleased to be able to bring together experts from across the USA and Canada to analyze and discuss the evidence supporting the newest and best standards for management of this disease,� said Joan S. McClure, MS, Vice President, Clinical Information and Publications for NCCN. �Advances in pathologic diagnosis, imaging technology, and treatment modalities have merged to significantly change the way clinicians of multiple specialties interact to care for patients with GIST as a coordinated team.�

The task force report describes the cooperative multidisciplinary effort among medical oncology, surgery, pathology, and other specialties that is necessary to achieve the best possible results, which include reducing the incidence and risks of recurrent disease, optimizing disease control, improving quality of life by minimizing surgery that might impair function, and prolonging survival.

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