North Central Cancer Treatment Group

North Central Cancer Treatment Group ReceiveS $34.4 Million Grant from the National Cancer Institute

Clinical research group recognized for “outstanding cancer research programs”

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), a clinical research group based at Mayo Clinic, has received a $34.4 million renewal grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The grant, to be awarded over a six-year period, will help fund NCCTG’s efforts to develop and conduct clinical trials to test new cancer therapies.

Since its first funding in 1979, NCCTG has received continual funding from NCI for its programs. Every six years, the group applies for renewed funding for its research activities.

“NCCTG brings state-of-the-art cancer treatments directly to patients within their own communities,” says Jan Buckner, M.D., a medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and NCCTG group chair. “We turn promising research ideas into clinical trials offered to patients through their local oncologists throughout the United States. This grant will help us to continue our mission to improve outcomes for cancer patients and increase our understanding of cancer biology.”

The grant supports several clinical research initiatives including projects to:

• Test the effectiveness and safety of promising medications that target biological or molecular processes to reduce cancerous tumors

• Determine how surgical therapy can be used along with radiation and medications to treat patients with cancer that has spread from the original site in the body (metastatic disease)

• Conduct definitive Phase III trials for promising regimens

• Develop new clinical trial designs and statistical analysis methods

• Conduct translational research to study the impact of genetics on disease diagnosis, expected prognosis, drug absorption and treatment effectiveness

• Establish an Imaging Initiative to develop and implement standards for using imaging in clinical trials

• Expand the use of patient-reported information and quality of life analysis in clinical trials

“NCI recognized NCCTG’s significant contributions to improving cancer treatments, especially in the areas of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, neuro-oncology and quality-of-life research during the previous grant 6-yearperiod. The NCCTG Statistics and Data Center, part of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, along with several disease committees received ratings of ‘outstanding’ as part of the grant review process,” says Dr. Buckner.

“NCCTG’s strong connection with Mayo Clinic Cancer Center clinicians, scientists and administrators was highlighted as an essential aspect of NCCTG’s clinical research success. NCI reviewers recommended full funding for the requested operations budget of $50.5 million; the award for $34.4 million represents 68 percent of this requested budget. In addition to this award, we will continue to explore supplementary sources of funding through complementary grants and contracts.”

NCCTG researchers collaborate with other cooperative groups, academic institutions and medical centers. Investigators within NCCTG also collaborate with other Mayo Clinic Cancer Center researchers who operate Phase I (novel therapy safety trials) and Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant research programs.

About the North Central Cancer Treatment Group

NCCTG is one of ten cancer clinical research cooperative groups funded by NCI. Originally started in 1977 as an outreach effort of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, NCCTG has grown from nine member institutions in five states to 39 members and 339 treatment locations in 25 states, one Canadian province and Puerto Rico. More than 1,200 physicians are members of NCCTG, and 2,500 to 3,000 patients are enrolled in NCCTG clinical trials each year.

NCCTG aims are:

• To improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients by performing high-quality cancer treatment trials

• To improve the understanding of cancer biology by conducting translational research as part of clinical trials testing new cancer treatments

• To improve statistical analysis methods for interpreting clinical trial results

• To provide an organizational structure to develop studies of cancer prevention and symptom management

To meet these objectives, NCCTG has developed an administrative structure to facilitate the development and conduct of clinical research. NCCTG Disease Committees originate research in the areas of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, neuro-oncology, melanoma and hematological cancers. Modality committees interface with the disease committees in the areas of surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, quality of life, cancer control and imaging. Investigators from each disease area with expertise in novel therapeutics also provide scientific input into research. Additional support committees include the Nursing Board, Clinical Research Associate Board, Patient Advocacy Committee, Cancer Health Disparities Committee and Audit Committee.

Clinics and hospitals from around the country join NCCTG so that their patients can have access to the latest treatments available in cancer care. These members can enroll patients in NCCTG trials and can administer the treatments being tested at their own site. Members also monitor the progress of each patient enrolled in a clinical trial and provide documentation to the principal investigators at NCCTG for each study. Member sites also collect biospecimens from clinical trial participants for use in correlative laboratory research.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your health stories.

Return to Archived News Release list