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—————————————————————————— The Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) was initiated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1983 to bring the benefits of clinical research to cancer patients in their own community. Through the CCOPs, physicians and patients have access to the latest approaches in the prevention and treatment of cancer. There are CCOPs funded all over the United States. In Minnesota, there are two funded CCOP programs; one at the Duluth Clinic and the other a consortium of hospitals and physicians in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area called the Metro-Minnesota (MN) CCOP. The Metro-MN CCOP involves 9 hospitals and over 100 physicians, and is regarded as one of the top CCOPs in the country. Over 100 studies for the treatment of all types of adult cancers are available through the Metro-MN CCOP. Clinical trials are at the forefront of advances in cancer. Trials afford potential benefits to future patients by testing cancer treatment as well as providing current patients with additional options which subsequently may prove superior to standard treatment. Although many cancer patients are not eligible for clinical trials, knowledge gained from clinical trial participation is applied to the treatment and care of patients not on clinical trials. For more information about clinical trials or CCOPs, visit the National Cancer Institute website. For more information about the Metro-MN CCOP call 952.993.1517.
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