The division of oncology works to fulfill the mission of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, which is to understand cancer from its beginnings, to use that knowledge in the creation and improvement of cancer treatments, to relieve the suffering of cancer patients, and to provide education about cancer risk, prevention, and care.
The oncology division focuses on three main missions: clinical, research, and education. In building an exceptional oncology program, we combine our experienced and caring physicians, our passion for research, and our commitment to teaching. Many of our faculty are lead researchers in their field, and all faculty are active in clinical trials. Our faculty cover all areas of medical oncology, including:
- gastrointestinal cancer
- breast cancer
- melanoma and other skin cancers
- brain and spinal cancer
- thoracic cancers
- head and neck cancers
- genitourinary cancers
- sarcomas
Currently, our division consists of 22 full-time and 10 adjunct faculty members. We have 14 fellows enrolled in our combined Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program
Advances in Patient Care
What advances in patient care, historic or current, come from the Division of Oncology that directly impacts patient care today?
- Neeraj Agarwal et al reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that apalutamide, an androgen receptor inhibitor, prolongs survival in men with metastatic prostate cancer when used in combination with androgen deprivation therapy.
- Theresa Werner et al, also in the NEJM, presented a trial showing that veliiparib, in combination with and as maintenance following chemotherapy, prolonged progression-free survival in ovarian cancer.
- Conan Kinsey et al reported in Nature Medicine that the combination of trametinib and hydroxychloroquine is active in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a notoriously treatment-resistant cancer.