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Southwest Oncology Group is one of the largest cancer clinical trials cooperative groups in the United States. Funded by research grants from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, the Group conducts clinical trials to prevent and treat cancer in adults, and to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors. Led by Group Chair Laurence H. Baker, D.O., the Group celebrated its 50th anniversary during the Fall 2006 Southwest Oncology Group Meeting in Seattle.
What We Do
Southwest Oncology Group studies many adult cancer types, including breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, and lung cancers, as well as melanoma, myeloma, leukemia and lymphoma. Approximately 120 clinical trials are underway at any given time.
The Group's network of more than 5,000 physician-researchers practice at 516 institutions. Among the Southwest Oncology Group's institutions are 19 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers. Physicians must meet strict medical and ethical requirements in order to become members of Southwest Oncology Group and to conduct the Group's protocols. Among the types of medical practices represented in the Group are university teaching hospitals, community hospitals, community-based physician cooperatives and individual physician offices.
More than 7,000 cancer patients and healthy participants are enrolled each year in Group studies, and approximately 35,000 more are involved annually in ongoing clinical trials. During the last 25 years, more than 170,000 patients have directly benefited from the Group's trials, while millions more have received improved care as new standards of treatment or prevention are developed by the Group.
Click on the links to the left for a more information about the Southwest Oncology Group. More information about the Group's leadership is at our Leadership page.
Group Chair
 Laurence H. Baker, D.O., became chairman during the Spring 2005 Southwest Oncology Group Meeting in Denver. Dr. Baker joined the Southwest Oncology Group in 1972 and served in several capacities through the years, including chairman of the Intergroup Sarcoma Committee and associate Group chairman. Upon accepting the chairmanship, Dr. Baker established the Group Headquarters Office at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he is a professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology.
Dr. Baker received his osteopathy degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1966. He completed his oncology fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit, then joined the faculty there in 1972. He was director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology from 1982-1992. In 1987, he accepted the directorship of the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit. In 1994, Dr. Baker joined the University of Michigan where he served as professor of medicine and associate chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine. He also served as deputy director and director for clinical research for the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Baker's special interests include sarcoma research and new drug development. He has authored nearly 200 publications, 47 books or book chapters and 127 abstracts.
Member Institutions that are NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
Arizona Cancer Center
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
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Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Operated by the Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute at Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
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Cancer Research Center of Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
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Oregon Health and Science University Cancer Institute
Portland, Oregon
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Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of California at Irvine
Orange, California
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San Antonio Cancer Institute
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, Texas
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City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute
Duarte, California
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Stanford University
Stanford, California
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Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
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University of California Davis Cancer Center
Sacramento, California
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington
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University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Colorado Health Science Center
Denver, Colorado
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
College of Physicians & Surgeons
Columbia University
New York, New York
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University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
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University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California
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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas
Houston, Texas
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