ASCO Clinical Practice Guidelines: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical practice guidelines have been viewed as among the most valuable benefits of ASCO membership, surpassed only by the Annual Meeting and Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). Five of the top ten most frequently accessed in JCO are ASCO clinical practice guidelines. During the past 15 years, ASCO has published some 25 guidelines or technology assessments under the auspices of the Health Services Committee (HSC) and the approval of the ASCO Board of Directors. Though clearly a valuable component of ASCO membership, important limitations of the guidelines have also been pointed out, including their limited number, lack of frequent updates, and difficult implementation in daily practice, among other weaknesses. The strengths and limitations of ASCO clinical practice guidelines along with efforts recently initiated or planned to enhance the ASCO guideline process were recently summarized in a Special Article by Somerfield et al1 in the August 20 issue of JCO. The authors note that ASCO guidelines are often viewed as out of date, difficult to locate, and awkward to implement in everyday clinical oncology practice. Though these limitations are not unique to ASCO guidelines, the HSC has taken steps to improve the ASCO guideline process and final product.