For information on clinical trials at this NCCN Member Institution click here.

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to the process of discovery, advancing medical knowledge, and providing compassionate, state-of-the-art cancer care. Outstanding basic, translational, and clinical research complements a full range of prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care programs for all types of cancer. Primary and tertiary programs on the main medical center campus treat nearly 10,000 new cancer cases annually and the Center additionally maintains affiliations with five teaching hospitals located throughout the metropolitan Chicago area. Across this system, more than 2,000 patients are annually accrued to approximately 220 clinical trials conducted by the Center.

• The Cancer Center has major research strengths in breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, aerodigestive, neurologic, and gynecologic cancers; hematologic malignancies; and pediatric oncology. Basic and translational research programs in hormone action/signal transduction, angiogenesis, biologic therapies, and nanotechnology are nationally and internationally recognized. Overall, the Center’s 250 clinicians and scientists generate in excess of $115 million annually in extramural grant funding.
• A full range of medical, surgical, and radiation oncology treatment facilities is complemented by exceptional screening facilities and programs for breast, prostate, colon, and ovarian cancers; a comprehensive, multidisciplinary breast center; the region’s leading genetic testing and counseling service; a model academic Hospice/Palliative Medicine Program that has achieved national prominence; and a novel, comprehensive program in liver-directed therapies that includes surgeons, medical oncologists, and interventional radiologists.

In 2003, the Cancer Center dedicated a new 32,000 sq. ft. ambulatory cancer care facility which provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care including hematology/oncology, surgical subspecialties, radiation oncology, and psycho-social care.

In October 2007, a new and expanded Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center, as well as all new inpatient Hematology/Oncology units, came online with 72 beds. These state-of-the-art facilities provide expanded capacity in all cancer diagnostic areas.

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Adult Oncology Services

Introduction

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University is an NCI-designated, university-based, matrix cancer center conducting a broad range of multidisciplinary clinical, laboratory, and population science research. The Cancer Center integrates the expertise and resources of the Medical School (Chicago Campus) and its affiliated hospitals along with those of departments located on the University’s Evanston Campus. Since it was established in 1974, the Cancer Center, a department-level entity of the Feinberg School of Medicine, has been dedicated to the process of discovery, advancing medical knowledge, and providing compassionate, state-of-the-art cancer care.

General Information

Treatment

Multidisciplinary Clinics:

Stem Cell Transplant Program
The following diseases are treated using stem cell transplant:

• Leukemia, including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas, such as Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)
• Multiple Myeloma
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Stem cell transplant may also be considered for patients with the following conditions:

• Aplastic Anemia
• Myelofibrosis
• Some solid tumors

There are three types of transplant, based on donor source:

• Autologous – You are your own donor
• Allogeneic – Stem cells are donated by another individual. The donor may be a sibling, other family member, or an unrelated individual; related or matched unrelated.
• Syngeneic – The donor is your identical twin.

Alternative/Complementary Medicine
Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers complementary and alternative therapies through the Wellness Institute and the Center for Integrative Medicine.

Wellness Institute – 312.926.WELL (9355) or wellness@nmh.org
Offers Smoking Cessation Programs, Weight Management and Nutrition, Fitness and Exercise Programs, and Prevention Programs (Screening Guidelines and Stress Management and Coping).

Center for Integrative Medicine (CIM) – 312.926.2224
Offers a blend of traditional primary care medicine with integrative therapies. Board-certified internists collaborate with certified integrative practitioners to offer a holistic approach to caring for both acute and chronic medical conditions.

CIM offers the following integrated services:

• Internal Medicine
• Chiropractic Medicine
• Acupuncture
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Neuromuscular Massage Therapy
• Behavioral Medicine—Biofeedback
• Functional Nutrition Services

Late Effects Clinic – 312.695.4979
The Cancer Center sponsors the STAR (Survivors Taking Action and Responsibility) Program for long-term survivors of pediatric cancer. This unique multi-disciplinary clinic is staffed by an internal medicine physician, clinical psychologist, and advanced practice nurse. The entire team has a primary focus on health maintenance and surveillance and patient education. Primary care services are provided with special emphasis on cardiac, endocrine, orthopedic, and psychosocial late effects, as well as monitoring for second malignancies.

Geriatric Oncology Program – 312.695.0137
A specialty program staffed by a full time advanced practice nurse providing consultation, evaluation and service coordination for older cancer patients. Services available by referral.

Cancer Skin Care Program – 312.695.8106
The Cancer Skin Care Program is the nation’s first program to treat skin conditions resulting from anticancer drugs.  The SERIES (Skin and Eye Reaction to Inhibitors of EGFR and kinaseS) Clinic focuses on the early diagnosis and treatment of dermatological and ophthalmological reactions to anticancer drugs, encouraging patients to comply with drug therapy and minimizing the need for dose decrease, interruption or discontinuation.

Cancer Prevention and Screening

Routine screening services are as follows:
Breast cancers: Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center – 312.472.0469
Prostate Cancer (including Familal Prostate Cancer Screening): 312.695.4426
All other sites: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Physician Services – 312.926.8400

In addition to routine screening services for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer, the Cancer Center also has research-based screening and early detection programs that include:

• Northwestern Ovarian Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Program (312.926.6606)—provides care and services for asymptomatic high risk women with a research focus on development of blood biomarkers for early detection
• Bluhm Family Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program—provides care and services for asymptomatic high risk women, providing specialized testing including ductal lavage, and/or referral for genetic testing and counseling
• Familial Prostate Cancer Screening (312.695.4426)—provides free screening in an effort to combat a disease that is the second leading cause of cancer death among men.
• The Cancer Skin Care Program (312.695.8106)—the first of its kind in the nation designed to treat skin reactions frequently caused by anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation

Wellness Institute – 312.926.WELL (9355)
The Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers Smoking Cessation Programs, Weight Management and Nutrition, Fitness and Exercise Programs, and Prevention Programs (Screening Guidelines and Stress Management and Coping), and also provides comprehensive screening guidelines.

Community screening and education programs are sponsored by the hospital on an ad hoc basis, often at reduced cost. Included are breast, prostate, gynecologic, colorectal, and skin cancer programs.

Support Services

Northwestern Memorial Hospital provides a range of support groups for cancer patients, including a general support group and specialized groups for breast and prostate. In addition, the hospital's Department of Case Management, comprised of Pastoral Care, Nurse Discharge Planning, and Social Work staff, provides a full range of counseling services for inpatients, including referral for psychiatric evaluation/intervention as needed. For outpatients, the Cancer Center provides a psychosocial care team comprised of a clinical psychologist, social worker, dietician, and palliative care/symptom management nurse.

A wide range of patient education programs are sponsored by the Cancer Center each year, typically focused in specific disease areas. The Cancer Center Web site, www.cancer.northwestern.edu, provides information for patients on an ongoing basis, and an extensive Health Learning Center is also available on site, providing a comprehensive range of print and video resources for cancer patients. A Health Learning Center Satellite, which is staffed by a full time patient educator, is located in the outpatient clinical cancer care facility. Additionally, the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division, has selected the Cancer Center as a primary site for its Patient Navigator Program, a service that provides information, resources, referral, and support.

A multidisciplinary psychosocial care team including a clinical psychologist, social worker, dietician, and symptom management nurse is available to all patients to address survivorship issues.

The Cancer Center also has a Patient Advocacy Committee comprised of survivors and key staff to provide input on a wide range of programs and activities. In addition, the Cancer Center signature event is the Cancer Survivors Walk and Celebration, on the first Sunday in June.  This event annually draws approximately 4,000 participants and serves as a major means of recognizing survivors and raising public awareness about cancer risk.

Supportive Care

Pain Service
We will not reimburse him for medication he receives from any other Walgreens.Center for Pain Studies – 312.238.5654 (based at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago).
Provides inpatient and outpatient consultation for multidisciplinary pain management.

The Anesthesiology Pain Medicine Center – 877.926.4NMH (4664)
Provides interventional pain management services.

Palliative/Supportive Service
Palliative Care and Symptom Management Services – 312.926.4600
The Palliative Care and Symptom Management Services is focused on relieving pain and other distressing symptoms, with a goal of enhancing quality of life for patients and their families facing life-limiting illness. Their clinic is located in the Galter Pavilion, 21st floor.

Home Care/Hospice Service
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Hospice Program – 312.926.4600
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Home Health Care – 312.926.HOME (4663)

Nutrition Service
Northwestern Memorial Hospital has registered dieticians available for inpatient care and post-discharge outpatient consultation.

Patients seen only in the ambulatory setting also have registered dietician services available as part of the psychosocial care team referenced above.

Rehabilitation Service – 800.354.REHAB (7342)
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Services are available to both inpatients and outpatients. In addition, the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is affiliated with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a top-rated, freestanding rehabilitation hospital located on the same campus.

Cooperative Group Membership

Clinical and Research Efforts

Adult Oncology Program *

*FY07 (9/1/06–8/31/07)

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Pediatric Oncology Services

Introduction

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals. The American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer Approved pediatric oncology program offers a family-centered, multidisciplinary approach and provides the highest quality diagnostic and treatment services for children and adolescents with leukemia, tumors of the brain and spinal cord, and other solid tumors. Oncology specialists are recognized around the world for their knowledge and expertise. The Transplantation Center has attracted national and international medical and surgical leaders. The philosophy is to treat the “whole child” through a multidisciplinary approach involving caregivers from many related fields. The Brain Tumor Center at Children's Memorial is among the first institutions in the country to develop a cohesive, multidisciplinary program with support from specialists in more than 33 pediatric and surgical subspecialties. Children’s Memorial provides a warm and nurturing, educational, and recreational environment that allows “kids to be kids” as they undergo treatment.

The pediatric oncologists have expertise in the management of all childhood cancers and are world-renowned experts in the areas listed below:

General Information

Clinical and Research Information

Research Efforts

The medical center is a hub of oncology/hematology research, leading efforts ranging from molecular genetic studies of certain childhood cancers, to the pioneering use of stem cell transplantation in treating and curing sickle cell disease, to the study of a multi-drug–resistant gene in cancerous brain tumors.

The faculty and nursing staff of Children’s Memorial Hospital are involved with several significant research efforts, primarily in the areas of bone marrow/stem cell transplantation, neuro-oncology, and neuroblastoma biology. Faculty are actively involved in biologic research on neuroblastoma, as well as some early investigation into antiangiogenesis. Research is also being pursued relative to cell differentiation in the laboratory. In addition, the stem cell laboratory continues to make major advances in support of the clinical program in the areas related to stem cell procurement, transplantation, and engraftment. These include assessment of engraftment via molecular immuno-genetics, minimal residual disease testing for malignancies including leukemias and neuroblastoma, and the molecular HLA Typing Laboratory.

Children’s Memorial Research Center (CMRC) is an integral component of the Children’s Memorial Medical Center. CMRC has evolved as the Midwest’s only institution devoted exclusively to pediatric medical research. The six core programs of CMRC—cancer biology and chemotherapy, immunobiology, human and molecular genetics, neurobiology, developmental systems biology, and statistical sciences and epidemiology—represent an important direction in contemporary biological investigation in medicine.

Special Expertise

Brain Tumors
In addition to brain tumors, Children's experts treat tumors of the spinal cord and the spine itself. Children’s Memorial Hospital treats more than 85 percent of the patients with pediatric brain tumors in the Chicagoland region.

Members of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery are involved in basic research in cooperation with the Neurobiology and the Brain Tumor Research Program at Children's Memorial Research Center (CMRC).

The Brain Tumor Clinic provides a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary visit in which experts in pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric oncology, pediatric neurology, pediatric radiation oncology, and social services can examine youngsters. Representatives from physical therapy, audiology, and other pediatric subspecialties are also available to see patients in this clinic. Each patient's neuroradiographic studies are available for review on-site at this weekly clinic, making it easy for family members to ask all the questions they need to in order to fully understand their child's illness and make educated decisions regarding his or her care.

Children’s Memorial uses a multidisciplinary approach that gives equal importance to tumor surveillance and neurological, neuroendocrine, and neuropsychiatric issues. Through this teamwork, Children’s Memorial continues to make progress towards innovative therapies that maximize survival while minimizing the sequelae faced by these patients and their families.

Currently, Children's Brain Tumor Center treats well over 100 new patients per year.

Leukemia
Children with leukemia comprise the largest single subgroup of patients with oncology diagnoses at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Currently, the overall prognosis for children with leukemia is quite good with certain subgroups having outstanding survival while others are still suboptimal. The majority of patients are treated on cooperative group protocols that are currently directed at both maximizing cure rates and minimizing toxicities.

For children with lymphocytic leukemia, a significant portion of the treatment can be administered in the clinic so children spend less time on the inpatient unit. For children with non-lymphocytic leukemia and certain high-risk subtypes of lymphocytic leukemia, the majority of the treatment occurs on the inpatient service. The efforts at Children’s Memorial Hospital are not only to refine treatment but to try to maintain, as much as possible, the normalcy of daily and family life.

A multidisciplinary approach to the wellbeing of the child, including psychosocial issues, long-term follow-up, and acute treatment issues, comprises the core of the efforts in this area.

Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic
Approximately 75 percent of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors, and more than 1,300 children, adolescents, and young adults are treated through the STAR (Survivors Taking Action & Responsibility) Program at the Children's Memorial Hospital Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic.

The program follows patients beginning five years after diagnosis and extends until the patient is 21 years of age. At this time, survivors are transitioned to our adult health care partners at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for follow-up in their long-term follow-up program. A typical STAR visit focuses on the physiologic and psychological issues facing childhood cancer survivors, including evaluation of growth and development, blood work, physical exams, and cardiac and nutritional assessment. Interest is also given to the psychosocial and academic status of the patients, and new screening tools are being used to elicit information in these areas. Education is provided to patients and their families about their medical history; healthy living habits are promoted; and health maintenance is taught.

Liver Tumors
The distribution of childhood liver tumors diagnosed and treated at Children’s Memorial Hospital include a wide variety of lesions. The most commonly encountered tumor is hepatoblastoma, and two thirds of these present with advanced disease (Stage III or IV). The majority of these children are placed on multi-agent treatment protocols of the Children’s Oncology Group. The introduction of the liver transplant program at Children’s in 1997 has provided a new dimension of treatment for these patients. Our hepatobiliary transplant surgeons have the ability now to resect many lesions previously considered “unresectable,” and if resection remains unobtainable, liver transplantation is sometimes an option for therapy.

Lymphoma
The majority of patients are treated on cooperative group protocols. Current prognoses for nearly every subgroup of patients with lymphoma, including those with advanced disease, are quite good. Children’s Memorial Hospital strives to improve the cure rates for certain high-risk groups by increasing and refining treatment intensity. Treatment is administered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The multi-disciplinary faculty at Children’s Memorial Hospital have a long-standing and significant interest in all aspects of lymphoma, including lymphomas that have a more unusual presentation or course and those lymphomas associated with the HIV infection.

Neuroblastoma
Innovative, research-based treatment protocols have been developed at Children's for patients with neuroblastoma. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous tandem stem cell rescue is performed on an outpatient basis. With this procedure, Children's has become the region's leading provider of care to children with neuroblastoma.

Children’s Memorial Hospital has very active research efforts directed at both laboratory aspects of the biology of this disease and at clinical treatment. Many children with neuroblastoma are treated on cooperative group protocols. The current thrust of these protocols is to minimize therapy in early stage disease while attempting to increase the cure rate for patients with more advanced disease. Currently there is an open in-house study for the treatment of patients with advanced neuroblastoma that includes a multidisciplinary approach combining surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biologic agents. The care of this subgroup of children is carefully coordinated between the oncologist, radiation therapist, surgeon, and the bone marrow/stem cell transplant team.

In addition, extensive laboratory research is directed at investigating biologic aspects of neuroblastoma.

Radiation Oncology
Children’s Memorial Hospital patients receive their radiation oncology services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. There are two radiation oncologists with a specialty in pediatric care. Our radiation oncology program employs state-of-the-art technology to maximize cure and minimize complications in the growing child. The technology currently includes fractionated stereotactic radiation, radiosurgery, 3-dimensional conformal treatment planning, total body irradiation, hyperthermia, and both low- and high-dose brachytherapy. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy allows delivery of the maximal doses required while sparing as much normal developing brain as possible. This capability has been pioneered at Children’s Memorial and is one of the primary advances in pediatric radiation oncology.

Retinoblastoma
Children’s Memorial Hospital is a leader in innovative multimodality therapies. The treatment of both sporadic and inheritable forms of retinoblastoma revolves around saving sight and minimizing long-term sequelae of past therapies, including secondary cancer. Presently, Children’s Memorial Hospital employs a chemotherapy and local ophthalmologic control (cryotherapy, photocoagulation, etc.) in an attempt to preserve sight and avoid enucleation.

Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Children’s approach to these patients is multidisciplinary, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment is adapted to the tumor type and stage of diagnosis, and each patient is carefully followed for response to therapy and appropriate timing of the various modalities of treatment. The majority of patients are initially treated on national intergroup protocols devised by multiple institutions across the country. Patients who do well are carefully followed in the Long-Term Follow-Up clinic for the management of late complications of their treatment.

A pediatric brachytherapy program has been established to obtain local control without amputation or other mutilating surgery in the treatment of pediatric sarcomas.

Stem Cell Transplantation
The program is a member of the Northwestern University Affiliated Transplant Center (NUATC), The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University, The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), and the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium (PBMTC). Each of these entities sponsors clinical trials in pediatric transplantation and correlates with activities in the laboratory.

Children's Memorial Stem Cell Transplant Program achieved initial accreditation from the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) in 1999. This program was the seventh institution nationwide and the first freestanding pediatric institution to achieve this milestone.  The program is also accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).

An important feature of the program is a laboratory facility at the cutting edge of processing stem cells, graft engineering, detecting tumor cell contamination of the graft, HLA typing, stem cell expansion, and detection of engraftment by molecular techniques. The program also has its own state-of-the-art HLA laboratory capable of the highest detection of alleles via molecular sequencing. Lab research is primarily in the areas of stem cell processing, stem cell expansion, detection of minimal residual disease, and characterization of mesenchymal cells.

The Ambulatory Stem Cell Unit (ASCU), consisting of four HEPA-filtered, positive-pressure rooms with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, is devoted exclusively to stem cell transplant patients and their families. This allows Children's to conduct more innovative procedures and provides greater convenience and comfort to patients and families. The rooms are also equipped to provide patients and families the ability to connect to work and school via the Internet.

The Stem Cell Transplant Program was started in 1992. In 1996, Children’s Memorial Hospital became an approved National Marrow Donor Program and performs matched, unrelated, and umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants, as well as autologous transplants.

Statistics

Children's Memorial Hospital is a leader in the treatment of children in the Chicago area diagnosed with leukemia, solid tumors, and blood diseases.

As of October 2007, a total of 790 stem cell transplants had been performed: 

Percent of children treated in each age range

Pediatric Oncology Program Fiscal Year 2007 (Hematology/Oncology Only)

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Genetic Counseling and Testing Service

Introduction

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University offers cancer genetics services through two programs that meet on a weekly basis: the Cancer Genetics Program (CGP) and the Northwestern Ovarian Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Program (NOCEDPP). The goal of these programs is to provide a wide range of services to individuals who are concerned about the occurrence of cancer in their family. These services include cancer risk assessment, education about the genetic basis of cancer, discussions regarding the risks and benefits of genetic testing in a particular situation, recommendations for appropriate cancer screening and prevention, and information about opportunities for participation in research studies. The CGP is staffed by two oncologists and two board-certified genetic counselors, and the NOCEDPP is staffed by two geneticists and one board-certified genetic counselor. They both work closely with Northwestern's surgical, medical, radiation, and gynecologic oncologists, internists, nurses, and psychologists to provide comprehensive cancer genetic services.  In addition to cancer genetic services, the NOCEDPP provides ovarian cancer screening to women at increased risk for ovarian cancer.  The NOCEDPP is a research program that is dedicated to developing tests that will be effective in the detection of early stage ovarian cancer.

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University provides a full range of genetic counseling, testing, screening, and research. The following sets out the components of the comprehensive genetic testing program.

Intake Process

Testing

Post-Test Counseling and Follow-Up

Research

The Cancer Center makes participation in research studies available to patients and families who meet the criteria for studies performed at Northwestern or at institutions across the country.

Other Components of Genetic Services

Last updated: 2/20/2008