Yale Cancer Center
Encyclopedia
Yale Cancer Center was founded in 1974 as a result of an act of Congress
in 1971, which declared the nation's "war on cancer
." It is one of a select network of 41 NCI-designated Cancer Center
s throughout the country, designated by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), and the only one in southern New England. Directed by Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD, the Cancer Center brings together the resources of the Yale School of Medicine
(YSM), Yale-New Haven Hospital
(YNHH), the Yale School of Public Health
(YSPH), and Yale University
.
by administering the very first anticancer agent, nitrogen mustard
, to a patient with cancer. Today, scientists and clinicians at Yale Cancer Center are collaborating to design and develop the latest cancer treatments and combination therapy to patients in Phase I, II, and III clinical trial
s.
Since the passage of the National Cancer Act in 1972, the NCI has mandated that comprehensive cancer centers, like Yale, develop fundamental basic science that translates into innovative therapies for cancer patients.
Cancer patients at Yale are able to directly access the most innovative therapies in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The focus of the Center is to provide the highest quality clinical care by translating promising research discoveries from the laboratories into cutting-edge cancer treatments. This approach provides patients with early access to novel treatments that are not yet available in the community or at other cancer centers.
Clinical trials and research studies are available for appropriate patients with early or late-stage diseases who are under the care of the Center's oncology
staff. Yale Cancer Center currently has 64 clinical trials available for patients in over 15 different disease areas.
Basic research in cancer is a hallmark of Yale Cancer Center, which draws approximately $140 million in cancer research funding to Yale every year. Yale is home to some of the world’s leading investigators in cancer, who have provided a steady stream of advances in a number of disciplines, contributing to the basic understanding of cancer and to the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
The Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Yale Cancer Center has been successful in discovering a wide range of novel agents, many of which are now undergoing pre-clinical and clinical testing. The newest initiative of the Developmental Therapeutics Program, a Phase I research team, specifically focuses on the application of promising laboratory discoveries in the design and conduct of clinical trials at Yale Cancer Center.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1971, which declared the nation's "war on 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...
." It is one of a select network of 41 NCI-designated Cancer Center
NCI-designated Cancer Center
NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a group of approximately 66 cancer research institutions in the United States supported by the National Cancer Institute....
s throughout the country, designated by the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
(NCI), and the only one in southern New England. Directed by Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD, the Cancer Center brings together the resources of the Yale School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
The Yale School of Medicine at Yale University is a private medical school located in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. It was founded in 1810 as The Medical Institution of Yale College, and formally opened its doors in 1813....
(YSM), Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital , Connecticut's largest hospital with 966 beds, is located in New Haven, Connecticut.The hospital is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System, Inc...
(YNHH), the Yale School of Public Health
Yale School of Public Health
The Yale School of Public Health was founded in 1915 by Charles-Edward Amory Winslow and is one of the oldest public health masters programs in the United States...
(YSPH), and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Overview and History
Over sixty years ago, the faculty at Yale School of Medicine pioneered the modern concepts of chemotherapyChemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
by administering the very first anticancer agent, nitrogen mustard
Nitrogen mustard
The nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic chemotherapy agents similar to mustard gas. Although their common use is medicinal, in principle these compounds can also be deployed as chemical warfare agents. Nitrogen mustards are nonspecific DNA alkylating agents. Nitrogen mustard gas was stockpiled by...
, to a patient with cancer. Today, scientists and clinicians at Yale Cancer Center are collaborating to design and develop the latest cancer treatments and combination therapy to patients in Phase I, II, and III 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...
s.
Since the passage of the National Cancer Act in 1972, the NCI has mandated that comprehensive cancer centers, like Yale, develop fundamental basic science that translates into innovative therapies for cancer patients.
Cancer patients at Yale are able to directly access the most innovative therapies in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The focus of the Center is to provide the highest quality clinical care by translating promising research discoveries from the laboratories into cutting-edge cancer treatments. This approach provides patients with early access to novel treatments that are not yet available in the community or at other cancer centers.
Clinical Care
At Yale Cancer Center, science and medicine converge as the latest research is applied directly to patient care. Led by Roy S. Herbst, MD, Chief of Medical Oncology and Associate Director for Translational Research, Yale medical oncologists care for patients in Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. To organize patient care, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital have developed 12 multidisciplinary programs to provide physicians and specialists at Yale Cancer Center with the opportunity to focus their expertise on specific types of cancers.Clinical trials and research studies are available for appropriate patients with early or late-stage diseases who are under the care of the Center's oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
staff. Yale Cancer Center currently has 64 clinical trials available for patients in over 15 different disease areas.
Research
Yale School of Medicine was home to the country’s first university-based Medical Oncology Section, and its faculty has since pioneered many breakthrough cancer treatments.Basic research in cancer is a hallmark of Yale Cancer Center, which draws approximately $140 million in cancer research funding to Yale every year. Yale is home to some of the world’s leading investigators in cancer, who have provided a steady stream of advances in a number of disciplines, contributing to the basic understanding of cancer and to the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
The Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Yale Cancer Center has been successful in discovering a wide range of novel agents, many of which are now undergoing pre-clinical and clinical testing. The newest initiative of the Developmental Therapeutics Program, a Phase I research team, specifically focuses on the application of promising laboratory discoveries in the design and conduct of clinical trials at Yale Cancer Center.