Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Located in Buffalo, New York, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center specializes in cancer research and treatment. It was founded in 1898 by surgeon Roswell Park, and was the first center in the United States to focus specifically on cancer research. The center engages in clinical cancer research, creates new medications, and offers advanced treatments for all types of cancers.

Over the past 120 years, Roswell Park has built a legacy of compassionate, innovative, and effective care. The center integrates comprehensive cancer care with critical research, boasting over 120 beds and a robust outpatient practice. This synergy between research, treatment, and education has met rigorous national standards, contributing significantly to reducing the cancer burden.

National Recognition and Unique Contributions

Roswell Park’s consistent excellence has earned it the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation of “comprehensive cancer center.” It is the only facility in Upstate New York to receive this honor and one of only 40 such centers in the United States.

Additionally, Roswell Park is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As such, the center helps establish global cancer care standards and regularly attains top patient satisfaction ratings nationwide.

Expansive Campus and Historical Growth

Operating from a 29-acre campus on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) near downtown Buffalo, Roswell Park comprises 15 separate buildings with 1.5 million square feet of space. Initially, it started as a three-room program within the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. Thanks to donations from Buffalo citizens, it expanded into a premier cancer research facility. Today, the center cares for over 46,000 patients annually.

The center has undergone several name changes through the years and is currently called Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Multidisciplinary Approach and Educational Impact

Roswell Park is credited with pioneering the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care. By merging scientific research with clinical practice, patients gain access to the latest advancements in cancer diagnostics, technologies, and treatments. Additionally, Roswell Park educates the next generation of cancer experts through various programs, from shadowing and internships to clinical training, fellowships, and graduate degrees in cancer science.

Innovative Treatments and Specializations

Roswell Park is at the forefront of developing and implementing advanced cancer treatments. The center is a global leader in photodynamic therapy (PDT), a treatment using light and special agents to target cancer cells. Other advanced treatments include extrapleural pneumonectomy, chemotherapy, and innovative procedures like cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and intrapleural heated chemotherapy (HITOC) for pleural mesothelioma. Clinical trials are also available for patients at any cancer stage, providing access to the latest promising therapies.

Specializations

• Recurrent malignant mesothelioma: a return of mesothelioma, a cancer originating from the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, after initial treatment.
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy: a surgical procedure removing a lung, part of the diaphragm, the pleura (lining of the chest), and sometimes the lining of the heart.
• Pleurectomy and decortication: a surgical procedure that removes part of the pleura and any visible tumor mass to alleviate symptoms and control cancer spread.
• Photodynamic therapy: a treatment that uses light-sensitive drugs and a light source to destroy cancer cells.
• Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy): a combined treatment where surgery removes visible tumors in the abdomen, followed by heated chemotherapy applied directly to the abdominal cavity to kill remaining cancer cells.