SITC Brings Immunotherapy Perspective, Leaders in the Field to Commission on Cancer
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN (PRWEB) August 17, 2015 -- The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is the first and only organization dedicated to cancer immunotherapy to be accepted as a Commission on Cancer (CoC), a program of the American College of Surgeons, member.
“There has been unprecedented progress in the development of tumor immunotherapy over the past decade, and it is now clear that this will become a major component of standard therapy for patients with a variety of cancers,” said SITC President Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey). “SITC is one of the oldest and most credible professional organizations dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by the implementation of tumor immunotherapy.”
SITC’s CoC membership is a logical next step in promoting the safe and effective use of tumor immunotherapy across the country. The CoC is the nation’s leading accreditation body for cancer care and has established a strong partnership approach to defining and measuring quality as it relates to managing patients with cancer. Today, over 80% of Americans with cancer will seek treatment at a CoC accredited facility.
“The appointment of SITC to the Commission brings Society members, as the leaders of the field, to help establish and implement immunotherapy at CoC-accredited institutions and develop mechanisms for collecting data and educating healthcare providers on the optimal way to deliver immunotherapy,” explained Dr. Kaufman.
This mutually beneficial partnership comes at a historic time in the field, when immunotherapy is being established as a standard of care for patients with cancer. The Commission will have direct access to the premier provider of cancer immunotherapy education in SITC, and the Society will be able to reach more patients across the United States and fulfill its mission of improving cancer patient outcomes by ensuring rapid access to immunotherapy delivered in a safe and effective manner.
As a CoC member, SITC joins representatives from administrative, advocacy, allied health, clinical, government, registry, and research organizations—including the American Cancer Society, Oncology Nursing Society and the National Cancer Institute Applied Research and SEER programs—to develop rigorous standards of care and improve cancer patient outcomes. SITC President Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS, will represent the Society, serving a three-year term on one of six CoC standing committees that work to achieve these goals.
"Immunotherapy and the leading edge work of scientists, physicians, and others who are members of SITC adds a valuable tool to the arsenal for diagnosing and treating patients with cancer,” said Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS, Chair, Commission on Cancer. “This enhanced relationship between our new member organization, SITC and the Commission on Cancer, will enable us to develop standards and evaluate patient outcomes that go beyond the traditional treatment modalities of surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology.”
SITC, the leading organization dedicated to cancer immunotherapy, is proud to bring a unique perspective to the Commission as it collectively strives to improve the lives and outcomes for cancer patients everywhere.
About the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
Established in 1984, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is a not-for-profit organization of medical professionals dedicated to improving patient outcomes by advancing the development, science and application of cancer immunotherapy. As the world’s leading member-driven organization dedicated to cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology, SITC is comprised of nearly 1,000 influential basic and translational scientists, clinicians, health care professionals, government leaders and industry professionals from around the globe. Through educational initiatives that foster scientific exchange and collaboration among leaders in the field, SITC aims to one day make the word “cure” a reality for cancer patients everywhere. For more information about SITC, please visit http://www.sitcancer.org.
Ilona Gonzalez, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, http://www.sitcancer.org, +1 4142712456, [email protected]
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