The National Cancer Institute–designated Stanford Cancer Center combines tremendous expertise in the basic biology of cancer with state-of-the-art therapies, creating one of the most respected programs in cancer care and prevention. Drawing on the skills of more than 270 cancer specialists across the university in fields ranging from molecular biology to health policy, the Cancer Center is translating Stanford's superb science into new methods of detection and treatment for our patients.

Imaging: The center's Cancer Imaging Research Program works at the forefront of today's revolution in anatomical and molecular imaging. Experts from the schools of medicine, engineering, and humanities and sciences are collaborating to develop powerful molecular probes to detect cancer in its earliest stages. These tools are leading to new insights into cancer's origin and progression, as well as better outcomes for patients. The program's many breakthroughs include new methods for imaging cancer gene therapy and the use of magnetic resonance imaging for patients at high risk for breast cancer.

Invention: Stanford has a long history of creating powerful tools against cancer, from the first use of radiotherapy to cure Hodgkin's lymphoma through the recent development of the CyberKnife as a highly accurate robotic system used in cancer radiosurgery. Other inventions under way include compounds that selectively target cancer cells and overcome drug resistance and new cancer vaccines.

Integration: The cancer stem cell effort, in which Stanford is a world leader, is fully integrated with the clinical cancer programs, the overall stem cell program, and the engineering and imaging programs to form multidisciplinary teams for rapid discovery and development of cancer therapies.