National Leader in Cancer Clinical Trials: ChristianaCare Advances Pioneering Therapies

The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at ChristianaCare ranks among the nation’s leading cancer research programs, bringing breakthrough treatments directly to patients through innovative clinical trials.

By actively pursuing today’s most promising studies for cancer prevention and treatment, clinicians and scientists at the Graham Cancer Center collaborate to turn laboratory discoveries into real-world therapies, addressing patient care challenges head-on and improving outcomes.

In 2023, nearly 30% of patients at the Graham Cancer Center participated in approximately 110 clinical trials. More than 300 enrollments were through the Delaware/ChristianaCare National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). This participation rate is more seven times the national average of 4%.

Excellence right here in Delaware

“High involvement in these trials accelerates the development of new therapies and offers patients early access to treatments that can save lives,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.

“When patients join a cancer research study, they benefit from cutting-edge advances and contribute to knowledge that will help others with cancer live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.”

For its excellence in clinical trials, the Delaware/ChristianaCare NCORP recently earned the prestigious Platinum Award for Exceptional Achievement from the NCI/NCORP.

Additionally, it was one of 20 centers nationwide commended for outstanding clinical performance by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN), a pipeline for cancer research worldwide.

This recognition places Delaware/ChristianaCare NCORP alongside other respected centers across the nation.

“Thanks to our dedicated physicians and patients, we are proud to offer a program in Delaware that continually goes above and beyond the national standard and is recognized alongside peers including MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins,” Schwaab said.

“By focusing on innovation, we’re pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment and providing our patients with the latest care options.”

Advancing cancer treatment in Delaware and nationally

As one of 46 community sites in NCORP, the Graham Cancer Center brings advanced cancer treatments, prevention strategies and care delivery trials to patients in Delaware and beyond. This work advances cancer treatment nationwide and ensures that breakthroughs are accessible to patients who need them most.

The commendation from ECOG-ACRIN recognized the center for:

• Outstanding patient enrollment numbers
• High involvement from our investigators
• Providing high-quality and timely data for trials
• Excellence in supplying tissue samples and imaging.

“As one of the nation’s leading community cancer research centers, we offer our patients unique opportunities,” said Gregory Masters, M.D., NCORP principal investigator at ChristianaCare.

“Their participation in our clinical trials is vital — they gain access to the most advanced treatments and play a key role in advancing cancer care for everyone.”

The Graham Cancer Center’s success in clinical trials is one of many reasons it is considered a national model for cancer care. The center consistently outpaces national benchmarks in reducing deaths from several cancers, including ovarian and colorectal cancer.

One of the original NCI community cancer centers program sites in the United States, ChristianaCare has since 1951 maintained accreditation from the Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.

Get involved in cancer clinical trials at ChristianaCare.

Exceptional contributors
to research

“These national honors highlight that our experts at the Graham Cancer Center serve together on behalf of our patients and advancing cancer research,” Schwaab said.

In November, the team celebrated these achievements at the 2024 Cancer Clinical Research Trials Awards ceremony.

More than two dozen physicians and nurses were honored for their exceptional contributions to clinical research.

Cancer Clinical Research Trials Award winners

Helen F. Graham Community Excellence Service Award: Zohra Ali-Khan Catts, MS, LCGC, and the genetics team

Michael J. Guarino, M.D., Award: Martha Sampson, RN

Research Excellence and Service Award: Nicholas Petrelli, M.D.

Auxiliary Accrual Recognition: Brian Nam, M.D.; Lindsay Romak, M.D.; Dhaval Shah, M.D.

Research Excellence Top Physician Pharmaceutical Accrual: Jamil Khatri, M.D.

NCI Physician Gold Accrual: Nisarg Desai, M.D.; Timothy Kegelman, M.D.; Amy McGhee-Jez, M.D.; Srujitha Murukutla, M.D.; Adam Raben, M.D.; Dhaval Shah, M.D.; Gaurav Shukla, M.D.; Ramya Varadarajan, M.D.

NCI Physician Silver Accrual: Jamil Khatri, M.D.; Evan Lapinsky, M.D.; Philip Margiotta, M.D.; Gregory Masters, M.D.; Venkateswar Veerapalli, M.D.

NCI Non-Physician Gold Accrual: Emily Broadbent, MHS, PA-C; Robyn Crisp, MMS, PA-C.

NCI Non-Physician Silver Accrual: Jennifer Campoli, MSN, APRN, NP-C; Megan Lee, PA-C.

NCI CCDR Gold Accrual: Robyn Crisp, MMS, PA-C; Ramya Varadarajan, M.D.

NCI CCDR Silver Accrual: Nisarg Desai, M.D.; Samuel Swisher-McClure, M.D.; Owen Thomas, M.D.

Benefits of participating in cancer research trials:

• Access to novel treatments
• Potential to benefit early if the study treatment is more effective than the standard care
• Close monitoring by the research team, as an additional layer of care
• Contributing to advancements that may help future patients.

– National Cancer Institute