Three New Cancer Guidelines Signed in Hanoi
Three additional clinical practice guidelines are now part of a newly signed agreement between the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Viet Nam National Cancer Hospital, and The Vietnam Cancer Association. The expansion adds B-cell lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, and thyroid carcinoma to an ongoing collaboration that previously covered eight solid tumors, including breast, colon, and lung cancers.
The signing ceremony took place on November 5–6, 2026, during the Best of ASCO 2026 international conference in Hanoi, drawing more than 400 attendees and over 70 international experts. Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, CEO of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, stated that the partnership combines global expertise with local insights to ensure timely, consistent, and high-quality care for patients in Vietnam.
How Adapted Recommendations Match Local Resources
The NCCN Guidelines Adaptations for Vietnam are tailored to reflect differences in available resources, population needs, clinical practice patterns, and regulatory environments compared to the United States. Guidance is color-coded to distinguish generally available options from more aspirational choices and effective substitutions when the preferred standard of care is not feasible.
Prof. Le Van Quang, MD, PhD, Director of Viet Nam National Cancer Hospital, noted that leading oncology experts from the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of the country thoroughly reviewed the adapted guidelines. These documents complement the national guidelines of the Ministry of Health to support clinicians in making informed decisions from diagnosis to treatment.
Participants at the Hanoi Conference
During the educational sessions accompanying the agreement, Dr. Denlinger was joined by several NCCN Guidelines Panel Members. The participating experts included Jaffer A. Ajani, MD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Stacey A. Cohen, MD, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Meena S. Moran, MD, from Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital; and Sandy Srinivas, MD, from Stanford Cancer Institute.
Vietnam National Cancer Hospital operates three campuses in Hanoi with 2,400 beds, tracing its history back to the 1923 founding of the Indochina Radium Institute before its establishment as K Hospital in 1969. The institution serves as the highest-level referral center for cancer care under the Ministry of Health.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Guidelines
Where can clinicians and patients access the adapted guidelines?
The adapted clinical practice guidelines and related resources are available for free at NCCN.org/global or through the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines App, which currently offers more than 90 international adaptations and over 180 translations.
Which solid tumors were included in the previous phases of the collaboration?
Previous collaborative work between the organizations covered breast, colon, gastric, hepatocellular, non-small cell lung, ovarian, prostate, and rectal cancers before the recent addition of hematologic malignancies and thyroid carcinoma.
What role does The Vietnam Cancer Association play in the initiative?
The Vietnam Cancer Association collaborates alongside K Hospital and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to advance guideline adaptation efforts and improve patients’ quality of life as part of the national cancer control strategy.
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