Background
The Siteman Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Missouri and within a 240-mile radius of St. Louis. Siteman comprises the cancer programs of Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. More than 350 Washington University physicians and investigators affiliated with Siteman treat nearly 6,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year and hold $130 million in annual research and training grants. Satellite Siteman clinics are located in west St. Louis County and adjacent St. Charles County.

Patient Care
Although Siteman treats patients with all types of cancer in 12 multidisciplinary care centers, it has gained national recognition for clinical programs in leukemia and lymphoma as well as breast, gastrointestinal, head and neck, and genitourinary cancers. A patient-centered approach to care is reinforced by programs such as the A.G. Edwards Patient Navigator Service, which provides volunteers who orient patients to the cancer center before their first visit. The Barnard Health and Cancer Information Center served about 22,000 clients in 2004, offering information, support programs, and special events.

Research
Siteman is dedicated to advancing new approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through research. Research programs include:

• Cancer Genetics
• Cancer and Developmental Biology
• Tumor Immunology
• Hematopoietic Development and Malignancy
• Cellular Proliferation
• Prevention and Control
• Translational and Clinical Research
• Oncologic Imaging

Research in these programs has resulted in federally funded translational initiatives in nanotechnology, chemoprevention, pharmacogenetics, gene therapy, proteomics, imaging, genomics, and leukemia and lymphoma. More than 30 multiproject or collaborative cancer grants are held by Siteman investigators.

State-of-the-art research facilities include Washington University's Genome Sequencing Center and 14 shared resources, including a Good Manufacturing Practice laboratory for the production of cellular and biological products, which is one of the largest such facilities at a U.S. academic medical center.

About 350 clinical trials are under way at Siteman. Washington University's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology was a founding member of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, and Siteman participates in a variety of other cooperative groups.

Other Notable Programs
As an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Siteman is committed to community outreach, education, and screening. Last year, the cancer center sponsored more than 100 community events. Participation in these events has increased nearly tenfold in the last few years to nearly 30,000 people in 2004. Siteman's Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities strives to reduce barriers to cancer education, care, and research for underserved groups. This year, the program received a $1.25 million grant from NCI to support this work.