The cancer center currently has 450 active clinical research studies underway, including 276 clinical trials. Basic Research Related to Cancer Cancer-related biomedical research under the aegis of The Siteman Cancer Center is conducted in multiple facilities on the medical center campus. These programs are supported by core facilities that provide assistance in tissue procurement, biostatistics, psychosocial research and other areas. Washington University physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital provided care in 4,300 new cancer cases in 1998. Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital are the dominant providers of cancer care in the metro region and their clinical enterprise is among the largest nationally.
Cancer care is provided in a way that allows patients ready access to multiple specialists.
For example, a woman with breast cancer receives care from a team in a multidisciplinary clinic that includes a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgical oncologists, psychologist and plastic and reconstructive surgeons among others. A multidisciplinary clinic also has been established for head and neck cancer. Eventually, all cancer patients will be seen in such clinics. The cancer center also provides information at regional health fairs and currently offers two cancer information and resource centers on-site, a mammography van, smoking prevention programs and other community outreach efforts. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the world.