News Details
NCCN Posts Comparative Effectiveness White Paper for Public Comment
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has posted a draft white paper for public comment that details a draft paradigm for near-term comparative effectiveness clinical evaluations based upon existing data. The document introduces the NCCN Comparative Therapeutic Index™ (CTI), a consensus-based process that compares the risk-versus-benefit of different treatment options recommended in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™. The paper will be posted for public comment through November 23, 2009.
November 9, 2009
FORT WASHINGTON, PA — Drawing on the expertise from the world’s thought leaders in oncology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Comparative Effectiveness Work Group has developed a systematic process for applying existing data in comparative effectiveness clinical evaluations in the field of oncology that will benefit both physicians and patients. These recommendations are detailed in a draft white paper currently posted on NCCN.org that will be available for public comment through November 23, 2009.
The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ are widely recognized and used as the standard of care in oncology in both the academic and community settings and significantly influence appropriate practice patterns, prescribing behavior, and coverage policy. With ready access to oncology experts in all relevant specialties, NCCN convened the NCCN Oncology Comparative Effectiveness Work Group comprised of expert members representing patients, clinicians, managed care, pharma/biotech, and health policy with the intent of driving the national policy process on comparative effectiveness and improving patient care.
The NCCN Work Group drafted a white paper, entitled The `NCCN Comparative Therapeutic Index™` as a Paradigm for Near Term Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Existing Data in Oncology”, which introduces the NCCN Comparative Therapeutic Index™ (CTI). The NCCN CTI is a clinical evaluative method that communicates the ratio of the effectiveness of a proposed treatment versus its potential toxicity. Resource utilization issues are also addressed in the document.
The NCCN CTI model is based upon the evaluation of available scientific data integrated with the expert judgment of leading oncologists. The implementation of the NCCN CTI is proposed to be a gradual, progressive approach with an eventual goal of system-wide adoption into all of the NCCN Guidelines. Given the NCCN Guidelines’ stature and credibility in the cancer community, the NCCN Work Group believes they serve as an ideal channel to disseminate comparative effectiveness results for adoption into practice.
The NCCN Work Group will consider the public’s feedback and develop a second iteration of the white paper that will be presented at the NCCN Oncology Summit on December 7, 2009.
NCCN seeks to continue its leadership role in developing and communicating scientific, evaluative information to inform and improve decision-making to assure that patients have available the safest and most effective options for their cancer care.