Siteman Cancer Center earns highest NCI rating

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Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received an “exceptional” rating from NCI during its site visit for 2020.

The evaluation resulted in a nearly perfect score from NCI.

Siteman earned its latest exceptional rating based on a January site visit by 22 researchers and administrators from academic cancer centers across the U.S. During the visit, Washington University researchers and physicians presented research programs that included:

  • Siteman’s portfolio of more than 600 clinical studies and the cancer center’s enrollment of more than 12,000 patients in clinical studies per year.

  • Genomic research to identify personalized targets and create personalized vaccines.

  • The use of ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging, which relies on light and sound rather than tissue samples, to diagnose ovarian cancer.

  • Community-based research to understand and reduce cancer disparities and lessen the burden of cancer in our entire region.

  • Improvements in colorectal cancer screening in urban and rural areas.

  • The use of cellular therapies and CAR-T cell therapy to treat blood and bone marrow cancers.

  • The development of novel immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

  • Community outreach and education, and enhanced access to cancer care.

  • The range of educational opportunities available at Siteman, from mentorships for high school and college students to advanced training for medical students and junior faculty.

Siteman was named Missouri’s only NCI-designated Cancer Center in 2001 and the state’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2005. Today, Siteman treats more than 75,000 unique patients, including 12,000 newly diagnosed patients, every year.

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