Tumor Boards and Clinical Trials

Patients who come to UNC will have not only their own oncologist but an entire multidisciplinary team of different cancer specialists managing their treatment. Each patient’s medical case is discussed at a disease-specific tumor board, where 6-10 specialty physicians with different areas of expertise hear and discuss the case before treatment begins. This process helps eliminate errors and ensures that all reasonable treatment options are considered – including experimental clinical trials – so that your own doctor can provide the best possible care for both you and your fellow patients.

UNC Tumor Boards

There are twelve tumor board meetings for the thirteen cancer programs in UNC.

    Active Cancer Clinical Trials at UNC

    Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)

    • Breast SPORE
      UNC’s multidisciplinary breast cancer program has been a thriving example of true multidisciplinary care since 1992, when it was first designated a Breast Cancer SPORE, one of only eleven in the United States.  Unlike many programs that have multidisciplinary tumor boards that meet to review cases after treatment decisions have been made, UNC takes a true “team approach”.  Patients are seen on the same day as the tumor board by all disciplines, and the multidisciplinary treatment recommendations are made by the group.  This allows co-ordination of treatment care, consensus recommendations, and fosters interdisciplinary treatment trials. more