Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/101200
Fulfilling a mission in cancer Treatment F IndInG beTTer and more effective treatments for cancer is an ongoing mission of modern medicine. Claudio Ferraro and Shaker R. Dakhil, M.D., explain how Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program, Via Christi Hospitals and Via Christi Cancer Institute partner to bring the latest cancer research, treatments and developments to the area. Via Christi Cancer Institute manages the grant funding for Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program, which partners with Cancer Center of Kansas oncologists to bring the latest cancer research to Kansas. Known as WCCOP, it���s one of 63 programs sponsored and funded by the National Cancer Institute. Through relationships with such well-known programs as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and participating physicians nationwide, WCCOP offers patients the most current cancer research. Since 1983, more than 12,000 patients have participated in WCCOP trials. shaker r. dakhil, m.d., FAcP Medical Director for Via Christi Oncology Services, Associate Principal Investigator for Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program and President of Cancer Center of Kansas 12 | Greater Kansas md news ��� mdnews.com Q In what national clinical cancer trials are Via Christi Cancer Institute and WCCOP currently involved? Dr. Dakhil: We currently have 122 active studies focusing on cancer treatment, symptom management and survivorship for every type of adult malignancy. Many of the same studies done at places such as M.D. Anderson and Mayo Clinic are available here in Kansas through WCCOP and Cancer Center of Kansas (CCK). Q What are some of the more innovative or promising studies under way at your program? Dr. Dakhil: We���re seeing greater and greater emphasis on cancer prevention and survivorship studies to help patients more effectively deal with their cancer diagnoses and be as symptom-free as possible during and after treatment. There are also exciting new therapies that target and block genetic mutations in malignancies that are having excellent results. Q What metrics do you consider when measuring the efficacy of a trial? Dr. Dakhil: There���s a lot of debate over what the most impor tant