[NICE Draft Guideline] Transperineal biopsy for diagnosing prostate cancer

NICE | February 2022 | Transperineal biopsy for diagnosing prostate cancer

Four new diagnostic devices for men with suspected prostate cancer, which reduce the chances of biopsy related sepsis, have been recommended for use by NICE.

The new diagnostics guidance looks at local anaesthetic transperineal (LATP) prostate biopsy, using the freehand needle positioning devices PrecisionPoint, EZU-PA3U device, Trinity Perine Grid, and UA1232 puncture attachment, which are recommended as options for helping to diagnose prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men in the UK according to Cancer Research UK. It mainly affects people over 50 and the risk is higher for people of African family background and people with a family history of prostate cancer.

At present NICE guidance recommends offering people with suspected clinically localised prostate cancer a multiparametric MRI as the first-line investigation.

If prostate cancer is still suspected based on the MRI image, a prostate biopsy is offered so that samples of the prostate can be collected for analysis. There are two ways of doing a prostate biopsy. In a transrectal ultrasound guided (TRUS) biopsy samples are collected using a biopsy needle inserted through the rectal wall via the anus.

However TRUS can be associated with serious infections, sometimes requiring hospital admission and antibiotic (Source: NICE). 

NICE Transperineal biopsy for diagnosing prostate cancer

Further information and documents available from NICE

COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of systemic anticancer treatments #covid19rftlks

NICE | updated 12 February 2021| | COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of systemic anticancer treatments guideline [NG161]

12 February 2021: NICE have reviewed the evidence on the effects of systemic anticancer treatment on risk of severe illness or death in patients with cancer and COVID-19 and made new recommendations. We added vaccination status to the first bullet point of recommendation 3.3 and emphasised the importance of reaching a shared decision in recommendation 4.5

Full details from NICE

[NICE Guidline] Isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma

NICE|Isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma | Technology appraisal guidance [TA658]| Published date: 18 November 2020

Evidence-based recommendations on isatuximab (Sarclisa) with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in adults.

Further details are available from NICE

See also:

NICE

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[NICE Guideline] Atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

NICE | 1 July 2020 | Atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Evidence-based recommendations on atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer in adults.

Full details from NICE

NICE recommends treatment for type of small-cell lung cancer

NICE  |  May 2020 | NICE recommends treatment for type of small-cell lung cancer

A new treatment option for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer has been approved by NICE.

In new draft guidance, atezolizumab (also called Tecentriq and made by Roche) with carboplatin and etoposide has been recommended as an option for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Around 2400 people in England have ES-SCLC, of whom around 1200 people will be eligible for treatment with atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide.

The positive recommendation follows consultation on NICE’s previous draft guidance which did not recommend the treatment. The company has since agreed on a new price for atezolizumab with NHS England and Improvement, which means that the treatment is now considered a cost-effective use of NHS resources.

The clinical trial evidence for the combination treatment was based on patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1. Clinical experts suggested that the effects of the treatment may be different for people with a score of 2 or higher, that is, a more severe illness, so atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide was recommended only for patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.

Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive officer and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, said: “We are pleased to be able to recommend this new treatment that could extend the life of patients with this type of lung cancer.

“I know how important this news will be for patients suffering with this condition, for which there are currently few treatment options. Atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide may offer valuable time for patients to spend with their loved ones.”

ES-SCLC is a form of lung cancer accounting for 1 in 8 lung cancer cases in the UK. It is an aggressive disease that progresses rapidly, with a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients.

Clinical trial evidence suggests that atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide increases the time before the disease worsens by around 1 month compared with standard chemotherapy (5.2 months versus 4.3 months respectively).

It also suggests that atezolizumab plus carboplatin and etoposide increases overall survival compared with standard chemotherapy. However, the long-term benefit on overall survival was uncertain.

NICE expects to publish its final guidance on atezolizumab for ES-SCLC in June 2020 (Source: NICE)

Atezolizumab with carboplatin and etoposide for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Caring for People with Dementia: a clinical practice guideline for the radiography workforce

Caring for People with Dementia: a clinical practice guideline for the radiography
workforce (imaging and radiotherapy) | The Society and College of Radiographers

Caring for people with Dementia: a clinical practice guideline for the radiography workforce (imaging and radiotherapy) is a comprehensive and evidence-based document. It has a set of recommendations for the whole radiographic workforce caring for people with dementia and carers when undergoing imaging and/or radiotherapy. It has been developed systematically using the best available evidence from research and expert opinion, including service users, and subjected to peer professional, lay and external review.

Image source: http://www.sor.org

The guideline has recommendations for good practice for individual members of the radiographic workforce, service managers, academic institutions and the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR).

As a whole, this guideline acts to highlight to practitioners that to offer the best service and healthcare outcomes for people with dementia and carers, care must be tailored to the needs of the invidual.

There have been minor changes to the language used in this second edition, which emphasises the ability of and need for people with dementia to continue to live well with a good quality of meaningful life.

Full document: Caring for People with Dementia: a clinical practice guideline for the radiography workforce

NICE Guideline: COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of systemic anticancer treatments

NICE | March  2020 |COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of systemic anticancer treatments

NICE guideline [NG161]

The purpose of this guideline is to maximise the safety of patients with cancer and make the best use of NHS resources, while protecting staff from infection. It will also enable services to match the capacity for cancer treatment to patient needs if services become limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 3 April 2020, NICE added 2 recommendations on when to offer and continue systemic anticancer treatment for patients with COVID-19. NICE also amended the table on prioritising treatments in line with new advice from NHS England.

 

This guideline is for:

• health and care practitioners
• health and care staff involved in planning and delivering services
• commissioners

Further information availlable from NICE 

NICE has also produced a COVID-19 rapid guideline on delivery of radiotherapy.

COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of radiotherapy

NICE | March 2020| COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of radiotherapy

The purpose of this guideline is to maximise the safety of patients who need radiotherapy and make the best use of NHS resources, while protecting staff from infection. It will also enable services to match the capacity for radiotherapy to patient needs if services become limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NICE has also produced a COVID-19 rapid guideline on delivery of systemic anticancer treatments.

This guideline is for:

• health and care practitioners
• health and care staff involved in planning and delivering services
• commissioners

Full details from NICE

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer | NICE guideline [NG151] | January 2020

This guideline covers managing colorectal (bowel) cancer in people aged 18 and over. It aims to improve quality of life and survival for adults with colorectal cancer through management of local disease and management of secondary tumours (metastatic disease).

Recommendations

This guideline includes recommendations on:

• prevention of colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome
• information for people with colorectal cancer
• management of local disease
• molecular biomarkers to guide systemic anti-cancer therapy
• management of metastatic disease
• ongoing care and support

See also: Colorectal cancer (Quality Standard 20, updated from Aug 2012)

[NICE Guideline] Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management [NG131]

NICE |  May 2019 | Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management NICE guideline [NG131]

This guideline covers the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer in secondary care, including information on the best way to diagnose and identify different stages of the disease, and how to manage adverse effects of treatment. It also includes recommendations on follow-up in primary care for people diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Full details from NICE