The MENA-NCCN Initiative

The impact of NCCN Guidelines has become a global phenomenon, with increasing interest in adapting these guidelines by various groups in different regions around the world.

Subsequently, the NCCN has launched outreach programs to share the extensive experience and resources with interested entities. These efforts have been translated into regional guidelines in China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and most recently the MENA region (www.nccn.org)

The Middle East and North Africa Region consists of countries extending from Morocco to India (West-East) and from Turkey to Yemen (North-South).

A group of oncology experts and key opinion leaders were assembled into seven specific committees, namely: Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colon Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Hepatobiliary Cancer, Lymphomas, and Palliative Care. The committees reviewed the NCCN Guidelines to identify any necessary modifications, which would make the Guidelines more applicable to the MENA region.  Each committee identified certain needed adaptations to the NCCN Guidelines, based on available scientific evidence and regional experience. These guideline modifications were discussed with US-based NCCN experts and then summarized in a full manuscript about each specific area. MENA-NCCN Guidelines development process generated a strong interest in the region to develop more evidence-based practice and create further networking and collaboration.

Goals of MENA-NCCN Initiative:

• To help regional Oncology health care professionals develop an evidence-based practice through the adaptation of NCCN Guidelines.
• To help build regional capacity in the evidence based medicine.
• To encourage collaborative activities among oncology health care professionals to disseminate knowledge and exchange expertise.