Community Clinical Oncology Program

The National Cancer Institute named Spartanburg Regional one of its original 50 sites for its Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) in 1983. Today, the program at the Gibbs Cancer Center is called the Upstate Carolina CCOP and it remains one of the original programs continuing participation in the program.

Our staff conducts experimental studies, clinical trials and prevention studies to gather critical information that will strengthen our ability to treat cancer and eventually prevent it. Clinical trials are strictly controlled studies of new and emerging therapies. The studies test whether a new drug, prevention strategy or a new screening test is safe and effective in people.

Our CCOP participation exposes our patients to the benefits of a major research hospital. We are the only hospital in South Carolina to have a direct affiliation with a NCI-designated facilities----  M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center ---- which allows us to expand our research capabilities even farther. This relationship provides our patients with access to even more clinical expertise and to the latest drugs and experimental trials available.

The groups responsible for developing and implementing cancer prevention and control clinical trials are known as research bases. The Upstate Carolina CCOP is affiliated with the following research bases:

• Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
• M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC)
• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
• North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)
• Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)
• Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University (CCWFU)
• University of Rochester Cancer Center (URCC)
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU)

The research department also has a relationship with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.