PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), the African Cancer Coalition (ACC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) are celebrating six years of their collaboration as part of Allied Against Cancer. The initiative aims to empower the Sub-Saharan African oncology community, enhance health system capacity, deliver high-quality cancer care, and improve patient access.
One of the key initiatives of Allied Against Cancer is the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa. These guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations for treating nearly all adult cancers across more than a dozen countries in the region. They are based on expert consensus within the region and provide context-appropriate approaches to cancer care.
“The oncology community in Sub-Saharan Africa is working with NCCN to enhance our capacity to meet the increasing challenge of cancer care,” said Professor Isaac Adewole, Co-Chair of ACC and former Nigerian Minister of Health. “Tools like the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines help us ensure cancer care is provided according to the latest research and available resources.”
The first NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa were released in 2017 at the biennial African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) International Conference on Cancer in Africa. Since then, the library has grown to 54 guidelines, covering more than 92% of all adult cancer incidence in the region. Recently, the focus has shifted to the development of pediatric guidelines.
In 2023, the group published 35 updated guidelines. At the 14th AORTIC International Conference on Cancer in Africa, regional oncologists presented on the implementation of the harmonized guidelines in their respective countries, with support from ACS.
The Federal Ministries of Health and leading cancer centers in Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia endorse the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa. These endorsements represent 44% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa. The guidelines have been downloaded over 56,000 times to date.
“We are honored to work alongside these dedicated local experts across the African oncology community and our Allied Against Cancer collaborators,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, CEO, NCCN. “We hope efforts such as this will continue to promote improvements in care that are both pragmatic and aspirational around the world.”
This collaboration is a crucial step toward improving cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering a comprehensive resource to help guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. It’s an example of what can be achieved when organizations collaborate to tackle global health challenges.
Learn more about Allied Against Cancer’s collaborative work to improve cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa at alliedagainstcancer.org.
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