The University of Kansas Cancer Center and U.S. Oncology-Affiliated Kansas City Cancer Center to Merge Operations to Promote Patient Care and Research

KANSAS CITY, Kan., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Kansas Cancer Center and Kansas City Cancer Center (KCCC) announced today they will combine operations, creating an outpatient cancer care organization.  The partnership will expand opportunities for advanced cancer research, Phase I clinical research trials and supports the efforts of National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation.  Current and future patients will have greater access to 50 hematologists, oncologists and radiation oncologists at 12 locations, offering the most comprehensive cancer care in the region.

This partnership will unite two premier cancer centers, combining the area's leading community-based oncology program with the area's premier academic medical center to create an unprecedented approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship for patients in this region and a national model for cancer care delivery.

Kansas City Cancer Center is part of the United Network of U.S. Oncology.  U.S. Oncology will remain part of the operation by providing some proprietary products and will collaborate on research. Patients of The University of Kansas Cancer Center will have additional access to research projects through U.S. Oncology.

"The University of Kansas Cancer Center is one of the first academic medical centers where we will have established an affiliated relationship," said Bruce Broussard, chief executive officer, U.S. Oncology.  "Adding that to our continuing relationship with Kansas City Cancer Center will advance cancer care and clinical research in the local community and nationally."

Just as The University of Kansas Cancer Center will continue serving patients through its multi-disciplinary approach in an academic medical center setting, Kansas City Cancer Center will have the same group of physicians and medical staff available to their patients at the same community-based locations and community hospitals where they currently serve patients.  Other highlights of the partnership:

• Kansas City Cancer Center non-physician staff will join, and its facilities will become part of, The University of Kansas Hospital.
• Kansas City Cancer Center physicians will become members of The University of Kansas Physicians and faculty of The University of Kansas Medical Center, specifically in the departments of Internal Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Leaders of all organizations involved see the proposed combination as an opportunity to provide greater access to customized, comprehensive, patient-centered care, by integrating unprecedented access to physicians and leading-edge technology.  The vision of The University of Kansas Cancer Center and Kansas City Cancer Center is to partner as national leaders in patient care and support The University of Kansas Cancer Center's education and research missions, to contribute to the elimination of the cancer burden by achieving and maintaining National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center designation.

"The partnership of two premier cancer centers further makes Kansas City a destination for cancer patients throughout the Midwest with options for treatment locations, technologies and sub-specialists," said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital.  "Together, as national leaders in patient care, this partnership further strengthens both organizations' approach of treating the whole person with the most effective therapies in a patient-centered environment close to home."

Kansas City Cancer Center and The University of Kansas Cancer Center have collaborated on cancer care before. In 2007, they combined their blood and marrow transplant program into The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Through this collaboration, patients from across the region have benefitted from remarkable clinical outcomes.

"We knew from the beginning of our association in blood and marrow transplants that both organizations shared the same focus on patient-centered care," said Mark Myron, M.D., president of Kansas City Cancer Center.  "This collaborating organization will be able to provide seamless care in a variety of locations, and will be a major step forward for cancer research both locally and nationally."

"This new combined organization will enable a comprehensive, state-of-the-art approach to cancer care throughout our region that will be designed, coordinated and implemented by some of our nation's finest cancer physicians and nurses.  Whether it is an initial encounter with a community-based oncologist, referral for a specialized surgical procedure, or evaluation for enrollment in the latest Phase I clinical research trial, The University of Kansas Cancer Center is committed to offering world-class care to cancer patients throughout our region and to developing the next generation of cancer therapies," said Roy Jensen, M.D., director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

"This is the kind of collaboration across state lines and across organizations that is needed to realize the potential of Kansas City as a national center for biomedical research. We are just as excited about the immediate benefits as the long-term impact of this partnership," said Barbara Atkinson, MD, executive vice chancellor, University of Kansas Medical Center and executive dean, University of Kansas School of Medicine.

The parties agree to move forward to closing, no further public comment will be made until the transaction is closed.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care by linking an innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to a nationally accredited patient care program.  The partnership includes cancer research and healthcare professionals associated with The University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, The University of Kansas in Lawrence, The University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, and the members of the Midwest Cancer Alliance Partners Advisory Board and Clinical Trials Network.  For more information on The University of Kansas Cancer Center's research and outreach programs and award-winning patient care offered at the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion, Radiation Oncology Pavilion and The University of Kansas Hospital, please visit kucancercenter.org or call 800-332-6048.

Kansas City Cancer Center is a successful physician oncology practice with ten locations throughout the greater Kansas City region.  KCCC has a 30-year history of providing outstanding medical care to the citizens of the Kansas City community and combines a patient-centered model of care with access to the most advanced forms of treatment and clinical research available in the community.

Kansas City Cancer Center is united in healing with U.S. Oncology, a division of McKesson Corp. and a leading integrated oncology company uniting one of the nation's largest community-based cancer treatment and research networks. As an affiliate of the United Network of U.S. Oncology, KCCC is united with more than 1,100 physicians and 10,000 cancer professionals nationwide. Through the U.S. Oncology Research Network, Kansas City Cancer Center has helped to develop 43 FDA approved cancer therapies.

SOURCE The University of Kansas Cancer Center; Kansas City Cancer Center