The Division of Oncology continues to be a productive group, with strength in clinical practice, peer-reviewed research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and hospital, university and community service. The Division has had a significant increase in new outpatient visits, admissions and clinical efficiency (reduced length of stay) at the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital and LAC+USC Medical Center. At the same time, we have entered a substantial number of cases into peer-reviewed clinical trials with accompanying translational research protocols, thus bringing innovative treatment strategies and therapeutic reagents to patients. The laboratory and clinical team of Drs. Heinz-Josef Lenz and Syma Iqbal has integrated studies of the biology and management of gastrointestinal cancer with new anticancer drug development, and has secured international recognition as one of the top groups in this area. They have expanded their clinical team with the development of a Colorectal Center at USC/Norris Hospital. Dr. Jeffrey Weber continues his major role in the development of immunotherapeutic strategies, with an excellent track record of funding and a focus on innovative adjuvant therapies for malignant melanoma. Dr. Jacek Pinski, a recent faculty addition from Johns Hopkins University, has secured grant support for a unique model of prostate cancer bone metastases. Drs. Christy Russell, Darcy Spicer and colleagues have interacted with the Department of Pathology in developing paradigms for growth regulation in breast cancer innovations in diagnosis and management of early breast cancer. In addition, these investigators have helped establish a Center of Women's Cancer Care at the Norris Cancer Hospital. Dr. Ana Aparicio has joined the faculty as a full time member and has garnered a Wright Foundation Award as well as funding from the Whittier Foundation. Dr. Barbara Gitlitz, also a new faculty member, is developing the treatment programs of Lung Cancer and Head Neck Cancer at USC.

Drs. Lenz, Weber and David Quinn have participated actively in the California Cancer Consortium (with University of California-Davis and City of Hope Cancer Center), and have successfully gained National Cancer Institute (NCI) contracts for Phase I and Phase II anti-cancer research. Dr. Spicer has continued to head the activities of the USC Institutional Review Board (IRB), maintaining an excellent record of review in an increasingly complex regulatory environment, and producing an outstanding educational tool for Human Subjects Protection that allowed the training of all faculty members who participate in peer-reviewed clinical research. Dr. John Daniels has continued to explore the role of intra-arterial chemotherapy for hepatoma in collaboration with the Liver Transplant Team. Dr. Russell has continued to be a major force of the California Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and is negotiating to bring the Hope Lodge for cancer patients to our campus. Dr. Weber was appointed to be the Associate Director for Clinical Research and lead the Clinical Investigations Committee of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; he also has maintained his function on the NCI Clinical Oncology Study Section.

Several members of the Division have been involved in leadership roles of the Southwest Oncology Group, including Drs. Lenz, Weber, Quinn, Iqbal and Pinski. Dr. Lenz became the co-chair of the GI Committee of SWOG. Finally, members of the Division have participated in intramural undergraduate and post-graduate teaching activities, as well as lecturing in several international forums in Europe and Asia. The collaboration between Hematology and Oncology has strengthened the fellowship program substantially, with 100+ applications nationwide for 3-4 slots per year, leading to the training of clinical practice and academic oncologists and the acquisition of several awards by these young oncologists.