Sutter Cancer Centers stay on the front line of treatment developments by conducting research, participating in clinical trials and quickly adopting proven advances. Sutter often leads the region in bringing more effective treatments that are better tolerated by patients, such as thermal ablation and the da Vinci® system for robot-assisted prostate surgery.

A great deal of exciting research is currently underway that will allow doctors to narrowly target therapies to a specific cancer. Areas of research include an increasing number of biologic (immunological) treatments, genetic treatments, treatments that cut off tumors’ blood supply, targeted delivery of chemotherapy, and others. When an encouraging new advance has proven safe and is reaching the final phase (Phase III) of clinical trials to achieve FDA approval, Sutter often participates in the trial to provide patients with early access to a promising approach. More information is available in our Research & Clinical Trials section.

The National Institutes for Health, National Cancer Institute offers updates on new research on their Web site at www.cancer.gov, as does the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.