Does anyone know why Stanford University is not on the list of NCI Cancer Centers? Are some places "Comprehensive Cancer Centers" but are not NCI designated? I've read the info on the NCI site but I still don't get it.
The sign outside Stanford does say it's a "Comprehensive Cancer Center". Just curious.
Thanks
Mel

The National Cancer Institute provides funding for research. Institutions apply for NCI designation (the selection is done through a peer-review process), and the term "NCI-designated" primarily has to do with the facility's research interests --- not the quality or scope of patient care.

An NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center means that the institution is involved in research in three areas: laboratory, clinical and population-based. All NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers also treat patients. An NCI-designated cancer center concentrates research in one or two of those areas, and a few of these facilities -- like the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia or the Salk Institute in San Diego -- do research only. Further information is available here: http://www3.cancer.gov/cancercenters/description.html

By contrast (and Brian or Gary, please correct me if I am wrong), the term CCC as most frequently used here means that the facility uses a team approach to dealing with an individual case, bringing the knowledge and experience from a variety of specialties to each treatment plan -- a "comprehensive" approach, as it were.

Stanford is part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 20 of the leading cancer centers across the United States. The NCCN's focus is primarily on patient care and clinical practice guidelines. Here is information about that network -- http://www.nccn.org/about/default.asp

-- Leslie

Mel,
There are 2 possible reasons that they are not on the NCI list: 1. They didn't apply (most likely) or, 2. they didn't meet the criteria.

It's a whole lot pf paperwork and basically funds research only - not patient care, and is basically a grant process. See: http://www3.cancer.gov/cancercenters/CCSG_Guide12_04.pdf

None the less, being one of the 20 NCCN member Institutions packs a lot of weight anyway. Stanford is at the cutting edge of cancer research and patient care. The NCI institutions follow the guidelines developed at Stanford and the other NCCN member institutions.

I think Leslie explained the "comprehensive" part pretty well.

Thanks Leslie and Gary - that definitly clears it up.