TY - JOUR
T1 - Proposing essential medicines to treat cancer
T2 - Methodologies, processes, and outcomes
AU - Shulman, Lawrence N.
AU - Wagner, Claire M.
AU - Barr, Ronald
AU - Lopes, Gilberto
AU - Longo, Giuseppe
AU - Robertson, Jane
AU - Forte, Gilles
AU - Torode, Julie
AU - Magrini, Nicola
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Purpose A great proportion of the world's cancer burden resides in low-and middle-income countries where cancer care infrastructure is often weak or absent. Although treatment of cancer is multidisciplinary, involving surgery, radiation, systemic therapies, pathology, radiology, and other specialties, selection of medicines that have impact and are affordable has been particularly challenging in resource-constrained settings. In 2014, at the invitation of the WHO, the Union for International Cancer Control convened experts to develop an approach to propose essential cancer medicines to be included in the WHO Model Essential Medicines Lists (EML) for Adults and for Children, as well as a resulting new list of cancer medicines. Methods Experts identified 29 cancer types with potential for maximal treatment impact, on the basis of incidence and benefit of systemic therapies. More than 90 oncology experts from all continents drafted and reviewed disease-based documents outlining epidemiology, diagnostic needs, treatment options, and benefits and toxicities. Results Briefing documents were created for each disease, along with associated standard treatment regimens, resulting in a list of 52 cancer medicines. A comprehensive application was submitted as a revision to the existing cancer medicines on the WHO Model Lists. In May 2015, the WHO announced the addition of 16 medicines to the Adult EML and nine medicines to the Children's EML. Conclusion The list of medications proposed, and the ability to link each recommended medicine to specific diseases, should allow public officials to apply resources most effectively in developing and supporting nascent or growing cancer treatment programs.
AB - Purpose A great proportion of the world's cancer burden resides in low-and middle-income countries where cancer care infrastructure is often weak or absent. Although treatment of cancer is multidisciplinary, involving surgery, radiation, systemic therapies, pathology, radiology, and other specialties, selection of medicines that have impact and are affordable has been particularly challenging in resource-constrained settings. In 2014, at the invitation of the WHO, the Union for International Cancer Control convened experts to develop an approach to propose essential cancer medicines to be included in the WHO Model Essential Medicines Lists (EML) for Adults and for Children, as well as a resulting new list of cancer medicines. Methods Experts identified 29 cancer types with potential for maximal treatment impact, on the basis of incidence and benefit of systemic therapies. More than 90 oncology experts from all continents drafted and reviewed disease-based documents outlining epidemiology, diagnostic needs, treatment options, and benefits and toxicities. Results Briefing documents were created for each disease, along with associated standard treatment regimens, resulting in a list of 52 cancer medicines. A comprehensive application was submitted as a revision to the existing cancer medicines on the WHO Model Lists. In May 2015, the WHO announced the addition of 16 medicines to the Adult EML and nine medicines to the Children's EML. Conclusion The list of medications proposed, and the ability to link each recommended medicine to specific diseases, should allow public officials to apply resources most effectively in developing and supporting nascent or growing cancer treatment programs.
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U2 - 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.8736
DO - 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.8736
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26578613
AN - SCOPUS:84954184520
SN - 0732-183X
VL - 34
SP - 69
EP - 75
JO - Journal of Clinical Oncology
JF - Journal of Clinical Oncology
IS - 1
ER -