University of Maryland School of Medicine

Program in Oncology

Director:
Kevin Cullen, MD

The University of Maryland Cancer Center was established in 1982. Its history dates back to 1965 when the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Treatment created the Baltimore Cancer Research Center at the Baltimore U.S. Public Health Service Hospital.

In 1974 the center moved to the University of Maryland, Baltimore and remained an intramural NCI program under contractual arrangement between the NCI and the University until 1982 when it became the University of Maryland Cancer Center. In 1996, the center was renamed the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC) in recognition of a generous gift made to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The clinical effort of the center was established as a separate clinical entity within the University of Maryland Medical System. Within the School of Medicine and the other professional schools, the cancer center serves as the umbrella for all cancer-related activities on campus. The cancer center faculty have academic appointments in various clinical and basic science departments of the School of Medicine and other schools such as pharmacy, social work and the Dental School.

UMGCC activities include basic and clinical cancer research, student and house officer teaching and a strong focus on aggressive treatment with intense patient care in the 40-bed inpatient and outpatient services of the cancer center. In addition to full-time attending services on medical oncology and hematology, UMGCC faculty members participate in multidisciplinary clinical programs centered around specific cancers (e.g. breast, thoracic, genitourinary, gynecologic, head and neck, gastroenterologic and hematologic malignancies) with specialists from medical, surgical and radiation oncology to provide integrated care for the cancer patient. In addition, the cancer center has a vigorous Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplantation Program which provides cutting-edge therapies in hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma as well as certain solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancer.

UMGCC is a strong participant in new drug development and performs research on new anti-cancer drugs. Virtually every important drug in use in oncology today has been tested in this program, and the center has contracts in both the public and private sectors with a commitment to clinical and laboratory research. Pilot studies and Phase I, II and III trials are performed, which range from testing efficacy and potential applicability of a given treatment program and establishing dose and toxicity limitations of new drugs, to comparing treatment programs for superiority of treatment, toxicity and outcome. These studies tend to be definitive treatment programs that have major impact on the practice of oncology nationwide. The cancer center has also established a strong translational research program in immunotherapy and biological therapy of cancer and is developing a gene therapy program focused primarily on hematologic malignancies. Strong research programs in breast and genitourinary cancers and molecular oncology provide foundations for the translational research programs. The faculty has a strong commitment to interinstitutional cooperative scientific trials and cancer research.

Students and residents participate in weekly grand rounds and conferences, and students are encouraged to become involved in research projects with cancer center faculty members. UMGCC sponsors an ongoing cancer research seminar series that attracts nationally known speakers.

Links:

This site will work and look much better in a modern web browser, such as Internet Explorer 6, Firefox, or Safari 1.2 (Mac)
Copyright © University of Maryland School of Medicine