Research efforts at the South Carolina Cancer Center are grouped into three main areas—translational research, clinical research and population studies. A description of each area is listed below.

The translational research program of the Cancer Center encompasses expertise in cancer molecular biology and biomarkers, carcinogenesis, immunobiology, molecular therapeutics, and cancer prevention and control.

Research programs exist in several areas and include faculty based at the South Carolina Cancer Center-Palmetto Richland, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, the Colleges of Science and Mathematics, the School of Pharmacy, and the School of Public Health of the University of South Carolina.

Translational research programs exist in the following areas:

• Molecular biology of cervical cancer
• Experimental gene therapy
• Developmental biomarkers for colon cancer
• Chemoprevention of colon cancer
• Alternative medicines in cancer
• Experimental therapeutic modalities for colon cancer
• Immunobiology of hematopoietic malignancies
• Tumor suppressor genes and cell signaling pathways
• Gene-environment interactions in breast and prostate cancer
  

The clinical research program of the South Carolina Cancer Center is the conduit for bringing advances in technology and drug development from the laboratory to the patients with cancer. The program is associated with several national clinical research organizations including the Southeastern Cancer Control Cooperative, Cancer and Leukemia Group B and the Southwestern Oncology Group. Affiliation with these groups allows the entering of patients in large national and industry sponsored clinical trials that will include many patients from different sites who will be treated in similar fashion. The large numbers of patients in these trials makes the data more meaningful and brings results more quickly and more accurately than research done in a single institution.

The areas of clinical research at the South Carolina Cancer Center include:

• Breast cancer — Researchers at the South Carolina Cancer Center are developing a comprehensive breast cancer program that will include research in the epidemiology of breast cancer, diagnosis and staging techniques and new chemotherapy and hormonal treatments for patients with breast cancer. Ongoing research studies include National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Protocol B-30, Study of Tamoxifen and the Raloxifine for the prevention of Breast Cancer and many others.
• Lung cancer — Researchers at the South Carolina Cancer Center are actively involved in a national study of a new therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are not operable {LAMP study]. We are currently leading the country in enrollment in this study. We are also involved in clinical trials for small cell lung cancer. Several other research protocols are open for patients with lung cancer.
• Prostate cancer — Clinical trials for patients with metastatic prostate cancer who have failed hormonal therapy are being developed. These studies may be done in cooperation with one of the national cooperative groups or may be locally initiated industry sponsored trials.
• Melanoma — Researchers at the South Carolina Cancer Center opened the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial in July 1999. This study is being done in cooperation with several other cancer centers across the southeastern United States. This project involves the use of specialized diagnostic techniques to detect early spread of the melanoma to lymph nodes and immunotherapy to reduce the risk of further metastatic disease.
• Colon cancer —Several clinical trials evaluating new options for treatment of colorectal cancer are available.
• Myelodysplasia — Researchers at the South Carolina Cancer Center have a trial for treatment of low risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes using amifostine, Decadron, ciprofloxacin, and Pentoxifylline.
• Leukemia — Several clinical trials for the treatment of adult leukemia are active.
• Brain — Several trials are open for treatment of brain tumors within the radiation therapy oncology group.
• Gynecological cancer — Several clinical trials are open for patients with ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and cervical cancer.
  

The division of population studies of the South Caraolina Cancer Center is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative program composed of epidemiologists, clinicians, and basic scientists focusing on cancer prevention and control through human population-based studies. Faculty, fellows and graduate students from the USC Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy and the South Carolina Cancer Center-Palmetto Richland are located together in space dedicated to the division in the cancer center.

The major focus is on cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, cervix and cancers of childhood. The research programs of the division are supported by two division laboratories: the molecular epidemiology research laboratory and the processing and biomarkers research laboratory. The division of population studies maintains close ties with the basic research program of the South Carolina Cancer Center.

Past studies include cohort, case-control, cross sectional and clinical trial designs. Current projects focus on the etiology and primary prevention of cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, cervix and of childhood. Emphases are on the roles of diet and nutrition, hormones and gene-environment interactions; the development and assessment of biomarkers of the presence of or risk for cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, and cervix; chemoprevention; increasing participation in cancer screening in minority and underserved populations and improvement of the quality of life of cancer patients.