NICE 2000/023
Issued: 12 July 2000
Press Release
NICE welcomes role in drive to improve Cancer Care
Health Minister John Denham has today referred a 2-year cancer work programme to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
The Institutes Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon said, "The Institute welcomes the referral of these cancer drugs to its technology appraisal work programme and pleased to receive confirmation of its cancer guidelines work programme.
The Institute will be contacting the patient organisations, professional bodies and the manufacturers who will be involved in the appraisal of temolzolamide and gemcitabine by the end of this week. We will contact consultees for the remainder of the products in the near future.
We will publish details for all these new technology appraisals, including the dates of the relevant Appraisal Committee meetings, on our web site as soon as possible. Details of the guidelines work programme are available on the web site today.
Mr Dillon added, " We look forward to working with Professor Richards, the NHS and patients in the battle against cancer"
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Further information/Bids: Lucy Betterton - Communications Executive
Notes for Editors
1. The Nice website is www.nice.org.uk
2. NICE has recently issued guidance on the use of Taxanes for breast and ovarian cancer. It is estimated that at least 5,000 more women will now be treated in the NHS with these products at an additional cost to the NHS of around £23m per year.
- The ovarian cancer guidance recommends that the drug paclitaxel (Taxol) should be used to treat women with ovarian cancer as a standard initial therapy. It also recommends that paclitaxel should be used to treat women who have not previously received paclitaxel, whose cancer has recurred or been resistant to other forms of treatment.
- The breast cancer guidance recommends that as patients reach the appropriate stage in their treatment for advanced breast cancer, they should be offered either docetaxel (Taxotere) or paclitaxel (Taxol). The decision as to which product should be used should be taken by the responsible clinician in discussion with the patient taking into account the clinical trial data set out in full in the guidance. In addition it recommends that use of Taxanes for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer, or for the first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer, should be limited to clinical trials.
- Copies of the full guidance, & information for patients are available on the NICE web site (www.nice.org.uk).
3. The final list of anti-cancer drugs being referred to NICE today is:
- inrinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for colorectal cancer.
- paclitaxel, vinorelbine, gemcitabine and docetaxel for lung cancer.
- rituximab for blood cancers.
- vinorelbine and trastuzumab for breast cancer.
- topotecan for ovarian cancer.
- temozolamide for brain cancer.
- gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer
4. The list of cancer guidelines in the Institutes work programme is:
- Haematological malignancies - ("Improving Outcome Guidance")
- Urological cancer - ("Improving Outcome Guidance")
- Colorectal Cancer (Update of existing "Improving. Outcome Guidance")
- Breast Cancer (Update of existing "Improving Outcomes Guidance")
- Head and Neck Cancer ("Improving Outcome Guidance")
5. NICE guidance means that no matter where they live in England or Wales, both patients and health professionals, have access to information on what the NHS considers to be best practice.
6. Health professionals are expected to take the Institute's guidance fully into account when exercising their clinical judgement about the circumstances in which it is appropriate treat patients. This guidance does not, however, override the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions in the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.
7. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is a part of the NHS. It produces guidance and guidelines for both the NHS and patients on medicines, medical equipment, clinical procedures and the management of care, based on evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness. Key to its work is the involvement of manufacturers, patient groups and professional organisations.
8. The Institute promotes clinical and cost effectiveness through its technology appraisals, clinical guidelines and audit tools. The Institute supports the work of those who make the complex treatment decisions - doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. The needs of the patient are central to the Institute's work, and it has forged strong links with patient groups and representatives.
9. The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales select the Institute's work programme.
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