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Winston-Salem, NC - Cancer patients at the Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center of Forsyth Medical Center will have access to an even wider range of clinical trial cancer treatments through an agreement announced today by Forsyth Medical Center, and Duke University Health System. The agreement will increase the number and types of clinical trials available at Forsyth, as well as broaden the cancer centers research capabilities. In addition, it will provide Forsyth Medical Center patients access to numerous clinical trials that previously have been available only through Duke University Medical Center, an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"This agreement formalizes a program through which two of the largest cancer centers in the state can work together to enhance both of our clinical and research capabilities," says Sharon Murphy, executive director of the Forsyth Regional Cancer Center. "It will also provide an opportunity for increased medical collaboration among oncology physicians, nurses and staff at our two medical centers."

In addition to expanding the existing oncology clinical research programs available at Forsyth Medical Center, the agreement will provide for the sharing of research and patient data to improve cancer treatments and the possibility of developing new types of clinical trials for treating all kinds of cancer.

Currently the Forsyth Regional Cancer Center has more than 100 Phase II and Phase III active clinical trials, which test the effectiveness and overall benefits of new cancer drug treatments.

Through the Duke collaboration, Forsyth also will be able to offer patients access to Phase I clinical trials, investigational medical treatments that have shown great promise and offer hope to those for whom other treatments have failed.

"We believe this agreement will be highly beneficial to both of our organizations through information exchange, professional association and clinical research collaboration," says Linda Sutton, MD, Medical Director of the Duke Oncology Network.

"With the program expertise already available here at the Forsyth Regional Cancer Center and this agreement with Duke, we will be able to offer cancer patients a very unique and comprehensive treatment program," says Tom Grote, MD, medical director of the cancer center.

The Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center at Forsyth Medical Center diagnoses more than 2,600 patients a year and is one of the largest cancer centers in the state.