In its update of its technology assessment guidelines on chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays (CSRAs), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) cautioned against the use of this technology to select chemotherapeutic agents for individual patients. Rather, the guidelines recommend that oncologists “make chemotherapy treatment recommendations based on published reports of clinical trials and a patient's health status and treatment preferences.”
This is not to say that ASCO does not recognize the importance of this strategy. The guidelines noted that the potential of this currently in vitro technology warrants participation in clinical trials evaluating such analytic strategies.
The complete 2011 Guidelines are published in the July 25 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2011/07/18/JCO.2011.36.0354).
Have you used a CSRA in your practice? We welcome your thoughts on ASCO’s decision.
