Comprehensive Cancer Centers like City of Hope^® are uniquely positioned at the intersection of patient care, research and education — serving as critical lifelines for communities while driving the future of medicine. City of Hope plays a pivotal role in sustaining America’s global leadership in the fight against cancer. As one of the nation’s 57 NCI-designated centers, City of Hope drives progress through leading-edge science, advanced treatments and improved patient outcomes worldwide.

Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) bring indispensable value to the health care ecosystem, helping reduce mortality rates by a third since the 1990s and contributing to more than four million lives saved over the past 30 years. But shifting policies threaten to slow progress and create new barriers to care for patients who need it most.

At a time when lifesaving breakthroughs are within reach, the U.S. must continue its commitment to cancer research and care. City of Hope is committed to elevating patient voices in critical policy discussions and driving policy innovations and collaborations that help build a patient-centered health care ecosystem and strengthen the future of cancer care. The stakes are too high — and the potential too great — to turn back now.

The Foundation of Our Policy Vision

Cancer Care is Different. Access to Expertise is Crucial.

We live in an era of groundbreaking cancer innovation that is changing the way we treat cancer and significantly impacting patient outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a gap between the innovation taking place at CCCs and the people who can actually access these breakthroughs. We know that cancer is not one disease but hundreds — unique variants that can be targeted for treatment. This often requires more sub-specialization and expertise only available at CCCs. Access to the right subspecialists at CCCs like City of Hope is crucial for survival.

Delivering Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs, Today.

Jose Rios, patient | City of Hope — Jose Rios, City of Hope patient

Centers like City of Hope provide early access to breakthrough therapies and clinical trials before they become standard of care. We translate research into new treatments, filling the gap between innovation and access at lifesaving speed. City of Hope is the birthplace of biotech innovations like synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. We have the largest and most successful bone marrow and blood stem cell transplant program in the nation. We are a leader in cellular immunotherapies. We are currently conducting nearly 800 clinical trial studies. We are producing noninvasive technologies to detect cancers years before conventional diagnostic methods. We are exploring the benefits of integrative therapies, providing comprehensive supportive care services to enhance patient outcomes.

Better Outcomes. Longer Lives. Stronger Communities

While cost is important, saving lives provides greater value and benefit to society. CCCs deliver high-value care that saves lives and reduces long-term costs by getting the diagnosis right the first time. Thanks to the advanced treatments and specialized expertise offered at comprehensive cancer centers like City of Hope, patients achieve better outcomes and continue making meaningful contributions to their families and communities, ultimately shaping a healthier society — both now and in the future.

Advocacy in Action

Cancer care is advancing at breakneck speed, with new lifesaving treatments being discovered daily. Yet millions of Americans who need these cures can’t access them, and patients are dying needlessly as a result. Barriers created by the healthcare industry exacerbate inequities.

It’s time for the healthcare industry to reimagine our approach to cancer care.

Through collaborative partnerships and policy reform, City of Hope is working to ensure every patient has equitable access to the expertise and treatment they need to beat cancer.

Learn more about our advocacy work:

Policy with Purpose

City of Hope’s policy priorities focus on amplifying the voices of patients and families while advancing policies that expand access to expert cancer care, innovative clinical trials and supportive medicine. We lead initiatives that address the unique needs of cancer patients and ensure specialized care for those facing complex cancers. We oppose policies that threaten access to expert treatment and champion programs that protect vulnerable communities. Our goal is to remove barriers, so every patient has the opportunity to survive and thrive.

When Policy Meets Patient Care: The Threat of Site Neutrality in Cancer Treatment