Alexandria, Va. –ASCO and The ASCO Cancer Foundation are honoring 11 community oncology practices for their efforts to improve care of people with cancer through increasing and enhancing patient participation in cancer clinical trials. The Community Oncology Research Grant and the Clinical Trials Participation Awards will be presented Sunday, May 31, at ASCO’s 45th Annual Meeting in Orlando.

Practicing oncologists are essential to the clinical trial infrastructure in the United States – approximately half of the patients who participate in cooperative group trials run by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) join through community-based practices.

“Well designed clinical trials offer patients state-of-the-art medical care,” said Joseph S. Bailes, MD, chair of The ASCO Cancer Foundation Board of Directors. “However, it can be challenging for community-based oncologists to implement a clinical trials program. The Community Oncology Research Grant and the Clinical Trials Participation Awards recognize oncology practices for their work to transform scientific research into high quality patient care.”

Community Oncology Research Grant
The Community Oncology Research Grants, supported by The Astellas USA Foundation, are designed to help practicing oncologists enhance their clinical trials programs, based on the ASCO Statement on Minimum Standards and Exemplary Attributes of Clinical Trial Sites. Each of this year’s three award-winning practices will receive a one-year grant of $30,000.

The 2009 Honorees include:

Billings Clinic Cancer Center (Billings, Mont.): The Billings Clinic Cancer Center will use the grant to increase accrual of patients onto clinical trials, particularly patients from underrepresented communities.

Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center (Washington, N.C.): The Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center will use the grant to diversify the trials available to patients, to include trials to treat phase I through III cancers, as well as prevention and quality of life clinical trials.

Nebraska Cancer Specialists (Omaha, Neb.): Nebraska Cancer Specialists will use the grant funding to support a variety of activities to improve clinical trials practice, including enhancing patient accrual activities and expanding awareness and interest in clinical trials.

Clinical Trials Participation Awards
The Clinical Trials Participation Awards, supported by a grant from the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, enable ASCO to recognize eight practices and provide travel grants to attend ASCO’s Annual Meeting. The award winners were selected based on a number of factors, including their patient accrual rates and accrual of minority and under-represented populations and innovative techniques in overcoming barriers to participation in clinical trials.

The 2009 Honorees include:

Nebraska Cancer Specialists
Omaha, Neb.

University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii

Iowa Oncology Research Association CCOP
Des Moines, Iowa

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
Las Vegas, Nev.

Wilshire Oncology Medical Group, Inc.
La Verne, Calif.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital/North Star
Yakima, Wash.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Grand Rapids, Mich.

Doctors Hospital of Laredo
Laredo, Texas

For more information on participating in a clinical trial, including information on patient safety and questions patient considering clinical trials participation should ask the research team, visit ASCO’s patient Web site, www.cancer.net.

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About The ASCO Cancer Foundation
As the charitable arm of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), The ASCO Cancer Foundation funds research, education and cancer care programs both in the U.S. and abroad. By harnessing the knowledge of ASCO’s 27,000 oncology professionals, The ASCO Cancer Foundation helps deliver physician-approved information directly to those in need. Through these efforts, we improve the lives of those affected by cancer.

About ASCO
ASCO is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 27,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org/presscenter. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.