History of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center

In December 1971, President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act into law, authorizing federal funding to build 15 cancer centers nationwide. In 1972, the Duke Cancer Center was one of the eight original cancer centers established and designated as "comprehensive" by the National Cancer Institute. Today, Duke is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers nationwide.

The "comprehensive" status recognizes centers for excellence in research and for other contributions in the areas of clinical trials, prevention and control efforts, information and educational offerings, and outreach and service activities. The Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center’s more than 350 physicians and scientists research all aspects of cancer biology and treatment. One of the signers of the 1971 bill and the Duke Cancer Center's founding director, William Shingleton, MD, remained actively involved at the Center until he stepped down from the directorship in 1987.

Robert C. Bast, Jr., MD, former director for clinical research at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, succeeded Shingleton, as the center's second director and served in this capacity until 1994.  Bast is an international leader in breast and ovarian cancer research and was the first to develop a blood test to detect ovarian cancer.  O. Michael Colvin, MD, served as center director from 1995 until early 2002 when he stepped down to pursue personal research interests. Colvin is widely recognized for his pioneering work with anti-cancer drugs used for bone marrow transplantation and other kinds of cancer. Darell D. Bigner, MD, PhD, Edwin L. Jones, Jr. and Lucille Finch Jones Professor of Cancer Research, served as director pro tempore from February 2002 until May 2003, when H. Kim Lyerly, MD, was selected as the new director. Lyerly is well known for his innovation in bringing basic science concepts into clinical testing. He was a pioneer in the clinical testing of gene therapies for breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In 2008, Dr. Lyerly was appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board by former President George W. Bush.

At Duke, patients receive outstanding multidisciplinary care for all types of cancer. Physicians, scientists, nurses, and other health care professionals work together to provide individualized treatment plans for patients, and patients and their families receive psychosocial and educational support and assistance from Duke's many support programs and from a group of dedicated volunteers.