The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives. NCCN.org is NCCN's website for health care professionals.

NCCN Member Institutions

World-renowned experts from NCCN Member Institutions diagnose and treat patients with a broad spectrum of cancers and are recognized for dealing with complex, aggressive, or rare cancers. More than 160,000 new patients receive cancer care at NCCN Member Institutions over the course of any year. NCCN Member Institutions pioneered the concept of the multidisciplinary team approach to patient care and lead the fight against cancer as they integrate programs in patient care, research, and education. Our programs offer access to expert physicians, superior treatment, and quality and safety initiatives that continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care. Forty-one Nobel Prize winners have served on the faculties of NCCN Member Institutions.

NCCN Leadership

NCCN’s Board of Directors is comprised of key leadership from each of the 23 NCCN Member Institutions, and the Board provides oversight for NCCN activities. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Samuel M. Silver, MD, PhD, from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The NCCN Chief Executive Officer is Robert W. Carlson, MD, who provides overall direction for the organization.

NCCN Foundation^®

The NCCN Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of NCCN embracing the NCCN mission of improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of care provided to patients with cancer. The Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors is The Honorable Ellen O. Tauscher, former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control & International Security and Member of Congress.

Other NCCN Programs

In addition to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®, NCCN develops the:

• NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium^®), a compilation of cancer treatments, derived from the NCCN Guidelines, that supports decision-making about the appropriate use of drugs and biologics for people with cancer. This reference is used by the federal government to determine which cancer treatments they will pay for.
• NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates^®), a library of chemotherapy order templates developed to improve the safe and effective use of drugs and biologics in cancer care.

NCCN also publishes JNCCN — The Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network ; develops and hosts continuing medical education courses for oncologists and other health professionals; works to improve patient safety in cancer care, and manages the NCCN Oncology Research Program (ORP).