New Treatment Options Featured in NCCN Colorectal Clinical Practice Guidelines

JENKINTOWN, PA, April 20, 2004 – The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of nineteen of the world’s leading cancer centers, announces an update of the NCCN Colorectal Clinical Practice Guidelines. NCCN’s Colon, Rectal, and Anal Cancer panel met recently to discuss incorporation of two newly approved agents into treatment regimens for advanced colon and rectal cancer and to modify recommendations for adjuvant therapy for node positive colon cancer.

Major changes include:

• For first line therapy of advanced colon and rectal cancer, in patients who can tolerate intensive chemotherapy, the panel added recommendations for regimens using bevacizumab (Avastin™, Genentech) in combination with 5-FU based regimens including those using oxaliplatin or irinotecan to its list of treatment options.
• For second line therapy of colon or rectal cancer in patients who either could not tolerate irinotecan or whose disease had proven refractory to irinotecan, the panel added cetuximab (Erbitux™, ImClone Systems Incorporated and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) with or without irinotecan to its list of treatment options.
• The 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin™, Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc.) combination is now considered an appropriate option for adjuvant therapy for node positive colon or rectal cancer patients whose primary tumor has been resected.

“NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology are widely recognized as the standard for clinical policy in oncology. Additionally, they are being used increasingly by managed care companies to help establish coverage policy,” said William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN. “As such, the NCCN recognizes its responsibility to provide up-to-date information to inform decision-making. Thus, the NCCN Guidelines process is an ongoing, continual process.”

The most up-to-date versions of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology are available free of charge at www.nccn.org. Additionally, CD-ROMs of the NCCN Complete Library of Clinical Practice Guidelines can be ordered both on the NCCN Web site and by calling 215-690-0300.