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Oncology

Cancer research close to home

Our cancer research program at HealthPartners gives patients access to clinical trials and research at their community hospital or clinic. Through strong collaboration and clinician expertise, we advance the science of cancer treatment and care delivery.

We study the full spectrum of cancer care, from prevention, screening and early detection to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The results of these studies are shared around the world to improve patient care. Our experts bring research and training experience from a variety of specialties, including:

  • Medical oncology
  • Hematology
  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Medical ethics
  • Oncology pharmacy
  • Genomics/pharmacogenomics
  • Cancer modeling and economics
  • Survivorship
  • Treatment symptom management
  • Health services research

 

Clinical cancer research

Providing clinical trials as an option for cancer patients is a vital step in advancing knowledge of cancer. Clinical trials may answer important scientific questions and suggest future research directions. Thanks to progress made through clinical trials, many people treated for cancer are living longer and enjoying a better quality of life.

We offer trials to help prevent, diagnose, screen and treat cancer and manage the side effects of treatment and the symptoms of the disease. These trials range from Phase 1 trials, the first step in testing a new treatment in humans, to Phase IV trials. Our clinical trials are available throughout HealthPartners, including  Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center and Regions Cancer Care Center. They are also available through Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium(MMCORC) member sites. Visit “Participate in a Study” to learn more.

Regional and national partnerships

Almost all studies are conducted in partnership with HealthPartners oncologists to ensure that issues relevant to patient care are examined and that results can be used to improve care. In addition, we have longstanding, productive partnerships with local, regional and national organizations:

  • HealthPartners oncologists are active in the Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium (MMCORC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and participating community hospitals and clinics. This clinical oncology research program gives patients access to the newest therapy for cancer treatment, symptom management and cancer prevention.
  • We are members of the:
    • Hoosier Cancer Research Network (HCRN), an independent not-for-profit research consortium specializing in early-phase, multicenter, investigator-initiated trials.
    • Midwest Melanoma Partnership (MMP), a multi-institutional collaboration dedicated to the development of improved therapies for patients with malignant melanoma.
    • Cancer Research Network, a nationwide consortium of 14 nonprofit research centers based in large, integrated care-delivery systems. Through this partnership, our team has been recognized for its focus on cost-effectiveness modeling.
  • We have a formal collaborative relationship with researchers at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center. We are a founding member of the Health Care Systems Research Network.

Investigators

Key projects

Early-Phase Therapeutics Program (EPTP)

Also known as a Phase 1 Program, the EPTP debuted in late 2015 at Regions Cancer Care Center. These trials give patients local access to leading-edge treatment options that, in the past, required extensive travel to other health care organizations.

Transforming how we deliver cancer care

Researchers at MMCORC are advancing one of the NCI’s newest areas of research: cancer care delivery. The goal is to transform cancer care by identifying new and unique delivery approaches that maximize clinical outcomes and patient well-being. NCI views MMCORC as a leader in this new area of research.

Improvement of pain treatment

Oncology researchers at Frauenshuh Cancer Center tested a clinic-wide pain intervention initiative. This work achieved improvements in quality of care and clinic staff satisfaction, as well as decreases in drug costs. The documentation of patients’ personalized pain goals increased from 20 percent to over 70 percent. Goals were achieved in nearly 90 percent of patients. Rates of high-cost, long-acting opioid prescriptions as a total of all long-acting opioid prescriptions declined from 46 percent to 35 percent.

Assessing the financial impact of cancer on patients

We studied the use of a financial impact assessment tool for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread through their body. This information may help clinicians better understand how the cost of cancer affects patients. In the future, it could help patients avoid financial problems during treatment.

Treating confusion in breast cancer survivors with cognitive impairment

This study compares the safety and effectiveness of the drug donepezil (Aricept), which is used to treat confusion, in decreasing memory loss after chemotherapy for breast cancer. We will test the effects of donepezil on memory in breast cancer survivors who report memory loss one to five years after chemotherapy.

Key publications