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Facts and Figures
The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center serves 2.5 million people in southern and central Wisconsin and adjoining portions of Illinois.
In 2007, Carbone Cancer Center:
- Managed 90,600 outpatient clinic and radiation therapy visits
- Cared for 2,995 inpatient admissions
- Treated 18,030 unique patients
- Enrolled 2,838 patients in carefully monitored clinical protocols
In 2008, Carbone Cancer Center saw 4,244 new cancer patients with the following diagnoses:
- 766 Genitourinary (cancers of the bladder, kidney, prostate and testis)
- 550 Gastrointestinal (cancers of the colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, pancreas and stomach)
- 461 Gynecologic (cancers of the cervix, uterus and ovary)
- 460 Breast
- 370 Lung
- 264 Melanoma
- 212 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- 196 Brain and central nervous system
- 178 Head and neck
- 140 Leukemia
- 95 Childhood cancers
- Total more than 250 faculty from 55 departments and 9 schools
- Have access to 16 shared services and laboratories that offer cost-efficient, state-of-the-art technology for researchers
Carbone Cancer Center and UW Hospital have established affiliations and partnerships.
Leading Achievements
- Developed tomotherapy - a specialized form of radiation therapy targeting cancer cells, avoiding other cells and organs
- Instrumental in Wisconsin law improving patient access to clinical trials
- Leading developer of virtual colonoscopy
- Two $7 million federal grants received to fund housing for interdisciplinary prostate and breast cancer research
- Established a palliative care unit at UW Hospital and Clinics
- Chosen to lead a consortium of five institutions to conduct multiple Phase I and II clinical trials of cancer chemopreventive agents
- Developed tamoxifen, one of the best therapies for treating and preventing breast cancer
- Introduced 5-flourouracil, widely used to treat breast, ovarian, stomach and colon cancers
- Developed the conceptual basis for combination drug therapy
- Led the first clinical trials with DFMO, a potential cancer-preventing agent that slows an enzyme involved in tumor growth
- Launched the world's first test of "gene gun" technology in cancer patients
- One of three centers to participate in the national endostatin Phase I clinical trial
- Sponsored the nation's first telephone-based cancer helpline, which has now become the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
- First radiation oncology department in country to have CT/PET scanning for treatment planning
- Led the development of the Wisconsin Cancer Council and Wisconsin Cancer Pain Initiative