The mission of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) is to improve the lives of cancer patients by finding better ways to treat, control and cure cancer. CTEP accomplishes this mission by funding an extensive national program of cancer research and by sponsoring clinical trials to evaluate new anti-cancer agents, with a particular emphasis on translational research to elucidate molecular targets and mechanisms of drug effects.
CTEP uses a scientific process to accomplish its mission:
CTEP attempts to forge broad collaborations within the research community and works extensively with the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry to effectively develop new cancer treatments. CTEP also seeks to involve outside experts and patients or their advocates in the formulation of research priorities. In the selection of clinical research for NCI sponsorship, CTEP attempts to fill critical gaps in the national cancer research effort and to avoid duplication of ongoing private sector efforts. In further efforts to control cancer, active new anticancer agents are made available as rapidly and widely as possible for patients.