AURORA | The University of Colorado Cancer Center on March 15 was chosen as a member institution of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a nationwide network of facilities largely regarded as leaders in treating cancer.
The designation makes the CU Cancer Center one of 23 centers selected by NCCN, which was based on criteria including education, patient care and research.
Dr. Robert Carlson, CEO of Pennsylvania-based NCCN, said the organization hasn’t added a new member to its 23-member alliance in six years. It chose the CU Cancer Center because of its renowned education programs and its $100 million annual funding for ground-breaking cancer research, particularly in the fields of melanoma, bladder and lung cancers.
“It’s a very impressive, very accomplished cancer center,” Carlson said.
NCCN is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995. The organization and its member institutions are most well-known for developing the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, which are the standard guidelines for oncology care for most oncology departments in the country and many international oncology departments.
The NCCN has also developed NCCN Guidelines for Patients for a variety of cancers, so that patients can learn more about their illness and know what questions to ask their doctors.
Other member institutions in NCCN’s alliance include MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Duke Cancer Institute in North Carolina, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Tennessee.
Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the CU Cancer Center, said he’s thrilled that the cancer center is now an NCCN member institution.
“These are the leading cancer centers in the nation, and it’s a good group to be with,” he said.
Theodorescu and his lab has helped make breakthroughs in bladder cancer research, which is one of the reasons the CU Cancer Center was chosen as an NCCN member institution.
His latest research, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in early January, debunked a myth about a protein in the body that was previously associated with an increase in the aggressiveness of bladder cancer.
The study, which involved four researchers and hundreds of patients, showed that Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine acts like an anti-inflammatory drug much like ibuprofen to heal tissues inflamed by tumors. As researchers analyzed tumors in bladder cancer over a period of two years, they realized that SPARC was more prevalent in cancers that were more aggressive. But they found that it was because the body’s natural “ibuprofen” was trying to suppress the cancer, not make it worse. Theodorescu and his lab will soon focus on why SPARC is unsuccessful at completely suppressing the cancer and what can be added to enhance the effectiveness of SPARC.
The CU Cancer Center applied to be a NCCN member institution in December 2010, at Theodorescu’s request.
“It was one of the first things I did as director here,” he said. “I felt we had a lot to say and a lot to contribute to this organization … they really can help improve practice in oncology, and that’s why I wanted to be a part of it.”
The NCCN designation benefits the CU Cancer Center because it will be able to contribute to NCCN’s oncology care guidelines and attend educational meetings, Theodorescu said.
“It’s a big deal,” he said. “We’re part of an elite group and hopefully we’ll be able to make a contribution.”
NCCN also chose the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center to become a member institution March 15. Carlson said the San Diego Moores Cancer Center and the CU Cancer Center went through a lengthy application process.
“There really has to be something unique, something special about these organizations to bring them in,” Carlson said. The NCCN designation is another accolade for CU Cancer Center, Carlson said.
“It says (NCCN) believes that they are quality and they can serve on panels, develop guidelines to establish cancer care and participate in research programs, international programs and health care policy programs.”
Last August, the CU Cancer Center was awarded a National Cancer Institute designation as a “comprehensive cancer center,” which earned the center $3.5 million in funding.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.