title: The ASCO experience with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
abstract: After strong demand from members, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) began, in 1992, to formulate clinical practice guidelines. Guidelines were written for the following: outcomes from cancer treatment, hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors, tumor markers for breast and colorectal cancer, surveillance of breast cancer patients, and management of non-small-cell lung cancer. Further guidelines are being drafted for management of advanced prostate cancer, antiemetics, bisphosphonates in breast cancer and myeloma, chemoprotectants, and surveillance of colorectal cancer patients. This article explores the process by which ASCO guidelines are drafted, as well problems with these guidelines. Suggestions are made for ASCO and other professional groups that anticipate framing a set of guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Somerfield
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000628:therapy; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors