CU Cancer Center

CU Cancer Center
Name	CU Cancer Center
Formation	20th century
Type	Cancer research center
Headquarters	Aurora, Colorado
Parent organization	University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

CU Cancer Center is an academic cancer research and care institution associated with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It integrates basic science, clinical oncology, population health, and translational research to serve patients across Colorado, the Rocky Mountains, and the Mountain West region. The center collaborates with hospitals, research institutions, government agencies, and industry partners to advance cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

History

The center traces origins to oncology programs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and clinical services at University of Colorado Hospital, evolving through partnerships with institutions including National Cancer Institute, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and regional hospitals such as Denver Health and St. Joseph Hospital (Denver). Milestones include designation processes with the National Cancer Institute, expansion of translational research linked to programs like the Comprehensive Cancer Center application, and collaborations with federal initiatives such as the Cancer Moonshot. Leadership and faculty have included investigators with prior appointments at institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mayo Clinic. Research networks tied to the center have engaged consortia including the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, Children's Oncology Group, and the SWOG Cancer Research Network. Historic partnerships extended to private organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and regional academic centers like Colorado State University.

Organization and Leadership

The center operates within the administrative framework of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus alongside entities such as the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and the CU School of Pharmacy. Executive leadership interacts with boards and advisory councils similar to those at Moffitt Cancer Center and Fred Hutch, and collaborates with specialty departments including Department of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Pathology, and Department of Surgery. Leadership roles are filled by investigators with affiliations across networks like the American Association for Cancer Research and the Association of American Medical Colleges. The center liaises with funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Department of Veterans Affairs, and philanthropic organizations like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Programs and Services

Clinical programs include multidisciplinary care models seen at institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital, offering services in breast oncology, thoracic oncology, hematologic malignancies, pediatric oncology, and gynecologic oncology. Support services mirror those at centers like Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and City of Hope, encompassing palliative care, survivorship programs, genetic counseling integrated with databases such as ClinVar and dbGaP, and clinical pathology services akin to ARUP Laboratories. Educational programs coordinate with graduate and residency training in partnership with University of Colorado School of Medicine and continuing medical education channels like the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Patient navigation and social work services collaborate with organizations including National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Research and Clinical Trials

Basic and translational research themes include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, cancer genomics, and precision medicine, aligning with initiatives at Broad Institute, The Salk Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and biotech firms like Genentech and Amgen. The center participates in multicenter trials through cooperative groups such as SWOG, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and Gynecologic Oncology Group. Investigators publish in journals including Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Research cores provide technologies comparable to those at Siteman Cancer Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, including flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing, proteomics, and biostatistics supported by collaborations with National Human Genome Research Institute initiatives. Translational partnerships extend to pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Merck & Co., Roche, and venture-backed startups from the Boston biotech cluster and Silicon Valley.

Facilities and Locations

Primary facilities are located on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, with clinical sites across the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado Springs, Greeley, and rural outreach clinics similar to regional networks supporting University of Utah Health and Stanford Health Care. Imaging and treatment technologies include equipment comparable to those at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MD Anderson, with radiation therapy suites, infusion centers, surgical oncology theaters, and specialized pathology labs. Biorepositories and core labs integrate sample management standards promoted by National Cancer Institute programs and the Cancer Genome Atlas era infrastructure. Partnerships extend to community hospitals such as Parker Adventist Hospital and specialty centers including Children's Hospital Colorado.

Community Outreach and Education

Community engagement programs coordinate with public health campaigns like those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preventive screening initiatives modeled on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, and tobacco control efforts aligned with Truth Initiative. Outreach includes collaborations with advocacy and patient organizations such as American Cancer Society, Livestrong Foundation, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and local nonprofits. Educational outreach to underserved populations interfaces with tribal health programs, rural health clinics, and regional health departments including Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Workforce development and STEM outreach partner with institutions like Denver Public Schools, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado School of Mines, and regional community colleges, and with national education initiatives such as NIH Science Education Partnership Award programs.

Category:Cancer research institutes in the United States Category:University of Colorado