NCI NCTN- Network Lead Academic Participating Site: USC

描述（由申请人提供）：USC Norris综合癌症中心于1987年首次参与SWOG的研究活动，1992年获得初步资助。这个为期五年的资助周期增加了行政和学术参与，保持了高临床和相关试验的进入，与可用的SWOG资金和南加州大学的额外资源相称。USC团队的主要重点是(a)在整个NTCN中提供领导，以设计和有效地执行临床试验，评估新方案或修改现有方案的安全性和有效性；(b)在生物标志物开发和将新技术整合到NCTN试验方面发挥领导作用，利用系统的方法收集、处理和储存血液、正常组织、新鲜或冷冻肿瘤组织以及用于分子和药理学研究的其他相关生物样品；(c)评估特殊患者群体的癌症治疗方案，如罕见癌症、老年人和少数民族。南加州大学的研究人员不仅对SWOG的试验做出了广泛的贡献，而且还展示了行政/学术领导能力，促进了对SWOG特定研究主题的翻译。最近的SWOG试验评估了ERCC1表达在转移性胃癌患者预后中的预测作用，以及CTC计数和端粒酶活性在前列腺癌中的作用，这突出了南加州大学研究人员在NCI合作小组系统中提供的科学领导的一个方面。他们还在NCI工作组和指导委员会中发挥了积极作用。作为其致力于癌症临床研究的一部分，南加州大学通过SWOG青年研究者奖成功地指导了年轻研究者，并扩大了其机构培训能力。最后，作为网络领先的学术参与站点，南加州大学将继续为NCI国家临床试验带来独特的优势

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center first participated in the research activities of SWOG in 1987 and was initially funded in 1992. This five-year grant cycle has had increased administrative and academic participation, with maintenance of high clinical and correlative trial entry, commensurate with available SWOG funding and added resources from USC. The major emphases of the USC team are (a) to provide leadership across the NTCN to design and efficiently perform clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel regimens or modifications of existing regimens; (b) to provide leadership in biomarker development and in integration of new technologies into NCTN trials, taking advantage of a systematic approach to collection, processing, and storage of blood, normal tissue, fresh or frozen tumor tissue, and other relevant biologic samples for molecular and pharmacologic studies; and (c) to evaluate cancer treatment regimens in special patient populations, such as rare cancers, the elderly and ethnic minorities. USC investigators have not only contributed extensively to SWOG trials but have demonstrated administrative/academic leadership, facilitating the translation of specific themes of investigation to SWOG. Recent SWOG trials evaluating the predictive role of ERCC1 expression in the outcome of patients with metastatic gastric cancer and the role of CTC enumeration and telomerase activity in prostate cancer highlight one aspect of the scientific leadership that USC investigators have provided in the NCI cooperative group system. They have also played an active role in NCI task forces and steering committees. As part of its dedication to cancer clinical research, USC has been successful in mentoring young investigators through the SWOG Young Investigator Awards (10) and has expanded its institutional training capabilities. Lastly, as a Network Lead Academic Participating Site, USC will continue to bring unique strengths to the NCI National Clinical Trials Network thanks to its strength in recruitment of minorities to clinical trials, accrual to rare cancers such as biliary and bladder cancers, and a well-developed clinical research infrastructure.