[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/hillman-comprehensive-cancer-center\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/hillman-comprehensive-cancer-center\/","headline":"What a National Cancer Institute Designation Means","name":"What a National Cancer Institute Designation Means","description":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is western PA's only Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. Here's what that means for you.","datePublished":"2021-02-01","dateModified":"2025-04-04","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center","url":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-hillman-cancer-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/prostate-cancer-symptoms-causes.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/prostate-cancer-symptoms-causes.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/hillman-comprehensive-cancer-center\/","about":["Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z"],"wordCount":816,"articleBody":"When it comes to cancer care, you want the best. For many people, that means UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.UPMC Hillman is western Pennsylvania’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. In fact, it is one of only 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Centers in the United States.The NCI is the U.S. government’s main agency for cancer research and training and is the largest funder of cancer research in the world. Its Comprehensive Cancer Center program recognizes centers nationwide that conduct state-of-the-art research to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.The NCI Recognizes ExcellenceThe NCI’s Comprehensive Cancer Center designation is the highest federal rating a cancer center can get. It is awarded to the top cancer centers in the country in recognition of innovative research and state-of-the-art treatments. UPMC first earned the NCI designation in 1990 and has retained it ever since.Over the past 30-plus years, UPMC Hillman doctors and scientists have pushed the boundaries of cancer research and clinical care by:Discovering two of the seven known viruses that cause cancer.Conducting research that has changed standard practices for a wide range of cancers, including melanoma and lung, breast, thyroid, and head and neck cancers.Discovering new cancer immunotherapy drug targets and cancer vaccines being tested in clinical trials that have led to new approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).UPMC Hillman’s researchers include more than 300 faculty members. Each faculty member does research in at least one of these areas:Biobehavioral oncology \u2014\u00a0The biological changes created by stress and other psychological and behavioral factors.Cancer epidemiology and prevention\u00a0\u2014 Who gets cancer and how we can prevent it.Cancer immunology \u2014 The immune system’s role in cancer.Cancer therapeutics \u2014\u00a0How today’s cancer treatments can be improved.Cancer virology \u2014\u00a0The viruses that cause 15% of human cancers, including how we can use viruses as tools to fight cancer.Molecular and cellular cancer biology \u2014\u00a0The study of what happens at the cellular level in cancer.The NCI also has given UPMC Hillman two Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) awards to recognize its expertise in:Head and neck cancer.Skin cancer.NCI-designated cancer centers expand scientific knowledge. Their discoveries help ease the global burden of cancer.How the NCI Designation Benefits PatientsAs an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, UPMC Hillman is a leader in converting exciting laboratory discoveries into new cancer treatments.Our cancer researchers work with clinicians to move the most promising research results from their labs into clinical trials quickly. Referred to as “bench to bedside” research, it means that patients throughout the UPMC Hillman network get early access to the newest and most innovative cancer treatments as soon as they become available.Better outcomesA study in Cancer showed that patients treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center have better survival rates than those treated at other hospitals.Access to clinical trialsAt any given time, UPMC Hillman researchers lead or take part in close to 400 clinical trials. These trials cover all aspects of cancer, from prevention and early detection to new therapies and survivorship. If a local clinical trial might be a good fit, your doctor will discuss it with you.ConvenienceUPMC Hillman makes it easy for patients to get state-of-the-art care throughout Pennsylvania and at additional locations in Ohio, New York, and Maryland. That means you can benefit from having an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center right in your backyard. With UPMC Hillman’s network of community hospitals and outpatient surgical centers, you may receive some of your cancer care without traveling to Pittsburgh.The Best of the BestAt UPMC Hillman, researchers and doctors collaborate to move promising laboratory studies into clinical trials with patient volunteers. Ultimately, this work provides patients with early access to new and innovative treatments.In the 30-plus years UPMC Hillman has held the NCI designation, our doctors have been at the forefront of many life-changing discoveries and treatment options. But our priorities remain unchanged.UPMC Hillman continues to:Find better ways to treat cancer through clinical trials.Invest in smart technology to better care for patients.Pioneer new cancer treatments every day through research.The end goal is to improve cancer treatment for every patient.UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has more than 70 locations in Pennsylvania, western Maryland, Ohio, and New York. It offers convenient access to critical cancer research initiatives, diagnosis, and treatment resources, and treats all types of cancers.Learn more about\u00a0UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and visit our website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 1, 2021, and was last reviewed on April 4, 2025.SourcesNational Cancer Institute. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. National Institutes of Health.  LinkNIH Almanac. National Cancer Institute (NIH). National Institutes of Health.LinkNational Cancer Institute. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. National Institutes of Health. LinkCancer. Impact of Care at Comprehensive Cancer Centers on Outcome \u2013 Results from a Population-based Study. National Library of Medicine\/PubMed. Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What a National Cancer Institute Designation Means","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/hillman-comprehensive-cancer-center\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]