American Society of Clinical Oncology
Encyclopedia
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology
subspecialties who care for people with cancer
. Founded in 1964 by Drs. Fred Ansfield, Harry Bisel
, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Goudsmit, Robert Talley, William Wilson, and Jane Wright, ASCO's more than 27,000 members from the United States
and abroad set the standard for patient care worldwide. ASCO members lead the fight for more effective cancer
treatments, increased funding for clinical and translational research
, and, ultimately, cures for the many different types of cancer
that strike an estimated 10 million people worldwide each year.
, ASCO is dedicated to achieving its charitable mission outlined by the organization's founders in 1964. ASCO strongly supports all types of cancer research
, but in particular, patient-oriented clinical research
.
ASCO is committed to:
IMPROVING cancer care and prevention;
ADVANCING the education of physicians and other professionals in the care of patients with cancer, and supporting research and the development of clinical cancer
researchers;
FOSTERING communication among cancer
-related medical subspecialties and the exchange of a wide range of ideas related to cancer, including its biology
, prevention, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and psychosocial impact;
ADVOCATING public policy that ensures patient access to high-quality cancer care and that supports increased clinical cancer research
; and
ASSISTING oncologists in addressing the challenges of the modern day practice of oncology
.
physicians and other health care professionals in the field of clinical oncology
. These resources include scientific meetings, educational conferences, professional workshops, and special symposia on issues of particular relevance and importance to clinical oncologists and researchers.
ASCO publishes numerous journals, books, newsletters, and online and multimedia resources. In addition to producing the patient information website of Cancer.Net, ASCO publishes the Journal of Clinical Oncology
(JCO), the preeminent, peer-reviewed, medical journal on clinical cancer research
, and the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP), the authoritative resource for practicing oncologists making day-to-day decisions regarding clinical and administrative management. ASCO also publishes special curricula to address specific educational needs of cancer professionals. The ASCO Curriculum Series is intended to enrich the education and training of residents, fellows, and practicing physicians, with the ultimate goal of promoting high quality cancer care.
. The five-day event attracts 30,000 attendees from around the world. Clinical trial
results and updates presented at ASCO's annual meeting represent the extent of progress made each year in the fight against cancer
.
and cancer treatment to patients and their families; and, through its grants program, supports, encourages, and recognizes excellence in clinical research
in the field of oncology
.
The ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Program is among the largest of any medical professional society in the United States and provides funding for a multitude of innovative research initiatives, including the Young Investigator Award, the Career Development Award, and the Merit Award.
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
subspecialties who care for people with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Founded in 1964 by Drs. Fred Ansfield, Harry Bisel
Harry Bisel
Dr. Harry F. Bisel was a pioneering American oncologist working in the field of medical oncology.----Dr. Harry Bisel, along with Doctors Fred Ansfield, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Goudsmit, Robert Talley, William Wilson, and Jane Wright, was one of the founding members of the American Society of...
, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Goudsmit, Robert Talley, William Wilson, and Jane Wright, ASCO's more than 27,000 members from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and abroad set the standard for patient care worldwide. ASCO members lead the fight for more effective cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
treatments, increased funding for clinical and translational research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, and, ultimately, cures for the many different types of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that strike an estimated 10 million people worldwide each year.
Mission statement
As a non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, ASCO is dedicated to achieving its charitable mission outlined by the organization's founders in 1964. ASCO strongly supports all types of cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
, but in particular, patient-oriented clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
.
ASCO is committed to:
IMPROVING cancer care and prevention;
ADVANCING the education of physicians and other professionals in the care of patients with cancer, and supporting research and the development of clinical cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
researchers;
FOSTERING communication among cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
-related medical subspecialties and the exchange of a wide range of ideas related to cancer, including its biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, prevention, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and psychosocial impact;
ADVOCATING public policy that ensures patient access to high-quality cancer care and that supports increased clinical cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
; and
ASSISTING oncologists in addressing the challenges of the modern day practice of oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
.
Physician education
ASCO offers several educational resources for cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
physicians and other health care professionals in the field of clinical oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
. These resources include scientific meetings, educational conferences, professional workshops, and special symposia on issues of particular relevance and importance to clinical oncologists and researchers.
ASCO publishes numerous journals, books, newsletters, and online and multimedia resources. In addition to producing the patient information website of Cancer.Net, ASCO publishes the Journal of Clinical Oncology
Journal of Clinical Oncology
The Journal of Clinical Oncology is a medical journal published 3 times a month by the American Society of Clinical Oncology , with a 2009 impact factor of 17.793...
(JCO), the preeminent, peer-reviewed, medical journal on clinical cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
, and the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP), the authoritative resource for practicing oncologists making day-to-day decisions regarding clinical and administrative management. ASCO also publishes special curricula to address specific educational needs of cancer professionals. The ASCO Curriculum Series is intended to enrich the education and training of residents, fellows, and practicing physicians, with the ultimate goal of promoting high quality cancer care.
Annual meeting
The ASCO annual meeting is considered the premier international forum for the presentation of scientific research and state-of-the-art education in clinical oncologyOncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
. The five-day event attracts 30,000 attendees from around the world. Clinical trial
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
results and updates presented at ASCO's annual meeting represent the extent of progress made each year in the fight against cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Publications
ASCO Cancer Foundation
The ASCO Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports educational programs of the highest quality in cancer care and prevention; facilitates the dissemination of information about cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and cancer treatment to patients and their families; and, through its grants program, supports, encourages, and recognizes excellence in clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
in the field of oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
.
The ASCO Cancer Foundation Grants Program is among the largest of any medical professional society in the United States and provides funding for a multitude of innovative research initiatives, including the Young Investigator Award, the Career Development Award, and the Merit Award.