Outcomes4Me and NCCN Expand Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for Patients Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer
Outcomes4Me Inc., the developer of the first direct-to-patient, personalized, and evidence-based cancer navigation platform, and NCCN have announced that Outcomes4Me has newly integrated the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Prostate Cancer into its free, consumer-grade, direct-to-patient platform.
This integration represents the continued expansion of the collaboration between Outcomes4Me and NCCN, a relationship that dates to 2019. In addition to prostate cancer, Outcomes4Me’s cancer navigation and empowerment platform integrates the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, the NCCN Guidelines for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer, the NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate, and the NCCN Guidelines for Patients (across many cancer types). Through its proprietary algorithms, patented technology, and consumer-grade experience, Outcomes4Me provides patients diagnosed with cancer with personalized treatment options and resources based upon the latest evidence-based, expert consensus-driven guidelines.
The 2024 NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer have been updated 4 times to-date, integrating new FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer as well as new scientific data that could change the recommended treatment plan to achieve the best outcomes for patients. Through Outcomes4Me’s integration with the NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer, more patients will now have direct access to the latest guidelines and innovations that could influence their care and improve their health outcomes. Outcomes4Me is empowering patients with prostate cancer to partner with their care teams to make the best evidence-based decisions about their own treatment.
“Hearing that you have prostate cancer is emotionally stunning, even immobilizing,” said Outcomes4Me patient member Gary. “After your first meeting with a medical oncologist, questions will come in a flood—often brought on by the inevitable Google search. Having a single, medically approved resource is essential for learning about your cancer, its causes, treatment options and relevant clinical trials, effect on quality of life, and outcomes. Outcomes4Me addresses all these informational needs in a way that enables you to be an active participant in your own treatment.”
“The only way we can end cancer as we know it and improve outcomes is for everyone to get guideline-concordant care,” said Maya R. Said, ScD, Founder and CEO at Outcomes4Me. “We believe this can only be achieved by empowering patients and their providers with up-to-date, actionable information, ensuring the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time and in the right setting. We are delighted to expand our collaboration with NCCN, a collaborator that has been with us from day one, and to continue to enable the dissemination of innovation at scale, achieving better outcomes for all.”
“As a practicing oncologist, I recognize the immense value of informed and empowered patients,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. “That is why we ensure the NCCN Guidelines are kept up-to-date and accessible to users from all walks of life. Outcomes4Me provides patients with direct access to NCCN’s evidence-based, expert consensus-driven recommendations in a way that is targeted for them. This empowers patients to have conversations with their oncologists that are rooted in evidence-based guidance that doctor and patient can review and act upon together. Outcomes4Me’s technology-forward approach can provide information that helps patients to achieve their best possible outcomes.”
The Outcomes4Me platform, currently used by >200,000 patients with cancer, is available for download on iOS and Android. After patients download the app and answer a few questions about their health history, they can immediately get a comprehensive list of the most up-to-date, FDA-approved, personalized treatment options, be matched to the most relevant and closest clinical trials, gain access to genetic and genomic testing opportunities, track and manage their symptoms and medication, retrieve their health records, and gain access to health care professionals and resources to help them better understand their condition, options, and navigate their needs at all times.
New Evidence-Based Information From NCCN Offers Tangible and Moral Support for People Trying to Quit Smoking
NCCN has announced the publication of a new patient guideline designed to provide critical support and guidance for individuals with cancer who are seeking to quit smoking. Continued smoking elevates the risk of developing additional cancers, reduces the effectiveness of treatment, exacerbates treatment side effects, and is associated with shorter survival. The new NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Quitting Smoking explains how to best use the tools that exist to help anyone quit for good. Although focused on smoking cessation strategies in people with cancer, the information is also useful for smokers who do not have a cancer diagnosis.
“For every patient with cancer who is smoking at diagnosis or anytime during their cancer journey, quitting is absolutely possible. Quitting earlier is better, but any time helps,” said Peter G. Shields, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Dr. Shields serves as Chair of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) Panel for Smoking Cessation, which develops evidence-based, expert consensus-driven recommendations intended for care providers. “By empowering patients with the same information that doctors use, we aim to make quitting smoking a more achievable goal, even for those who have struggled in the past. Smoking cessation requires the active work of both the patient and the health care provider. These patient guidelines are so critical for closing that loop for best success.”
The NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Quitting Smoking offer a fresh perspective and renewed hope for those who have previously tried to quit smoking without success and those who want to quit but haven’t yet taken initial steps. The book takes an encouraging, judgement-free approach, recognizing that slips and lapses are common and that a combination of therapies, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, is often the key to success. It features multiple evidence-based options, including details on nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), behavior therapy, and non-nicotine medicines.
The NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Quitting Smoking are available to view or download for free online at NCCN.org/patientguidelines or via the NCCN Patient Guides for Cancer App, thanks to funding from the NCCN Foundation. Printed versions are available for a nominal fee at Amazon.com. A Spanish version will also be publishing soon.
“People with cancer understand the critical importance of quitting smoking, but the addiction is powerful. These NCCN Guidelines for Patients are designed to engage patients actively in their own care, turning smoking cessation into a collaborative, two-way conversation between patients and caregivers and their care team,” added Dr. Shields. “They offer easy-to-understand tools and support needed to make this challenging journey a success.”
“People with cancer have more than enough stress in their lives,” noted Patrick Delaney, Executive Director of the NCCN Foundation. “They and their doctors are engaged first and foremost with addressing the cancer itself. We hope this new patient guideline can be an added resource that empowers people to recognize they have options when it comes to quitting smoking, even while they may be focused on other medical treatments.”
Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Guidelines Expand to Meet Growing Understanding of Hereditary Risk
NCCN has published expanded NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate. This closely follows the recent publication of the expanded NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric.
Additional cancer types were added to the title and content for both guidelines. These updates account for the increasing use of genetic testing in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.
“These expanded guidelines reflect the recommendations from leading experts on genetic testing based on the latest scientific research across the cancer spectrum, consolidated into 2 convenient resources,” explained Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. “This information is critical for guiding shared decision-making between health care providers and their patients, enhancing screening practices as appropriate, and potentially choosing options for prevention and targeted treatment choices. Genetic testing guidelines enable us to better care for people with cancer and their family members.”
The NCCN Guidelines include information on when genetic testing is recommended, and which type of testing may be best. They detail which hereditary conditions and genetic mutations are associated with elevated cancer risk and include follow-up on what to do for people who have them. Those next steps can include instructions for increased screening, or even preventive surgeries or other interventions.
“NCCN has played a major role in the field by creating guideline panels specifically devoted to the genetics of major cancers, and by developing scientifically based guidelines to help providers offer the best genetic-based care to their patients,” said Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate. “These guideline panels are continuously active and engaged, constantly responding to new evidence as it becomes available to provide the most up-to-date information to NCCN Guidelines users. These updates include the spectrum of genes associated with genetic syndromes, the range of risk associated with each pathogenic variant, the improvements in screening and prevention strategies, the role of genetic data to inform cancer treatment, and the expansion of the role of genetic counseling as this field moves forward.”
“The recently updated NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric take into account the latest published research and expert opinions from >30 experts on caring for individuals with risk for hereditary cancer,” said Samir Gupta, MD, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric. “For the first time, we feature enhanced recommendations for evaluation for endometrial and gastric cancer risk, including new recommendations for consideration for hereditary cancer screening for all individuals with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer, new recommendations for evaluation and management of CDH1-associated gastric cancer risk, de-implementation of intense colorectal cancer screening for individuals with CHEK2 pathogenic variants, and enhanced recommendations for managing gastric cancer risk in patients with APC pathogenic variants.”
The NCCN Guidelines are the recognized standard for clinical recommendations and policy in cancer care and the most frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. There are 88 separate subject-specific guidelines, which are maintained by >1,900 subject-matter experts from across the 33 NCCN Member Institutions. Panels may also include primary care physicians and patient advocates. The NCCN Guidelines are available free-of-charge for non-commercial use at NCCN.org or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines App.