Access to care among ‘critical priorities’ for American Cancer Society’s new chief medical, scientific officer
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William G. Cance, MD, has begun his new role as American Cancer Society’s chief medical and scientific officer.
Cance, who started in the position last week, will lead the integration of the society’s Research and Cancer Control departments. He will focus specifically on unifying intramural and extramural research; prevention and early detection; patient and caregiver support and service strategies; global cancer control; and health systems engagement programs.
Cance has served as deputy director of University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2016, and more recently served as interim director of the center. He has been an American Cancer Society (ACS) grantee, holds eight patents and has been involved in several entrepreneurial projects to bring research advances to market.
HemOnc Today spoke with Cance about his priorities in his new role, the challenges he anticipates and how he hopes to meet them, and his expectations for the oncology field in the coming years.
Question: What was your reaction upon being selected ACS chief medical and scientific officer?
Answer: I was both delighted and humbled. The broad reach of this organization provides an opportunity to make a significant impact. At the same time, it is humbling because there is an enormous responsibility in being the chief medical officer of this organization.
Q: What excites you most about this opportunity?
A: One of the most exciting things is having a broader platform to impact both patients and the broader population. Everything we do is about the patient with cancer and the prevention of cancer in the population. The reach of ACS, the 1.5 million volunteers, the advocacy, the work that is done in all 50 states with health care systems — all allow a way to translate discoveries and deliver the best care to patients. I also am excited about the research programs of ACS. The intramural program is fantastic, and I believe its prominence is not recognized as broadly as it should be. For example, ACS data on early-onset colorectal cancer demonstrated an increasing incidence and led to a change in the guidelines. It is this continuum, from data to actionable items to advocacy to the patient, that is very exciting. I also hope that we can more directly impact the funding of science with the most innovative ideas. We have made tremendous advances in the etiology, prevention and treatment of cancer, but at the same time, we are in a crisis for funding this critical research. Through the work of ACS, we hope to increase federal research funding through our advocacy and increase private funding through a variety of different approaches. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Gary M. Reedy, MD, ACS is actively seeking diversification of revenue streams. Together with the tremendous efforts of our army of volunteers, I am confident we will be able to enhance our support for patient care and research.
Q: How has your background helped you prepare for this role?
A: I am a practicing surgical oncologist with an active research laboratory. Our first research grant was funded by ACS, and we have had 26 years of continuous NIH funding for our cancer research efforts. Having clinical, research and administrative experience affords me the ability to see the challenges we face in cancer from many different perspectives. Most everything I have done in my career has prepared me for this role. Further, surgeons are the gatekeepers and major caregivers for many cancers. It will be critically important for surgeons to become more involved in neoadjuvant therapy, particularly with the broadened use of immunotherapy.
Q: What are your priorities in this role?
A: Critical priorities are access to care and resolving disparities in cancer care. I would like to see us increase our global research funding, particularly with our focus on early-stage investigators. Another priority will be unifying our intramural and extramural research programs and integrating our Research and Cancer Control departments. I believe this will allow our efforts to be seamless so that we will be able to grow ideas organically and align cancer control with the research.
Q: What do you consider the greatest challenge in cancer care today and how can ACS help meet that challenge?
A: The greatest challenge is delivering new advances to the patient. The science has come so far in terms of being more precise in how we design our prevention and therapeutic strategies. For example, we now believe we know the beneficial compound on broccoli extract, but how do we get this to the broad population? As we develop ways to more effectively unleash the body’s immune system against a cancer, how do we get these extremely expensive therapies to all patients? This is the challenge in the era of skyrocketing health care costs combined with inadequate funds to support research. We need to think more broadly in terms of where we are getting the funding. Our ultimate goal is to prevent cancer, but the challenge is getting there in this scientifically advanced but resource-constrained environment.
Q: How can ACS’s membership help you and the society’s other members succeed and maximize the society’s potential?
A: This is already happening with our focus on attacking cancer from all angles. We have a wonderful volunteer force committed to the vision of a world without cancer. Volunteers drive our mission with the funds they raise from our investors. Further, our staff and advocacy in the community and health systems, as well state and federal governments, allow us to have impact in all 50 states. This engagement and collaboration across all aspects of ACS is critical for us to maximize our potential.
Q: What are your expectations for the oncology field for the next 5 and 10 years?
A: We will continue to develop precision approaches to both prevention and treatment. I believe we will have a greater understanding of not only cancer incidence but also access to care and we will find a way to reduce disparities in cancer care. Long-term, I believe we will continue to see tremendous advances in immunotherapy and less toxic and more effective precision therapies. The broad goal is to see cancer eradicated where we can, and in the places where we cannot, we seek to turn cancer into a manageable, chronic disease. Treatments will globally become less invasive, less toxic and more effective. – by Jennifer Southall
For more information:
William G. Cance, MD, can be reached at American Cancer Society, 250 Williams St., Atlanta, GA 30303.
Disclosure: Cance reports a financial interest in FAKnostics, LLC, a company that develops diagnostics and therapeutics against focal adhesion kinase.