Overview For Patients

Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the DTC focuses on conducting clinical trials of new agents while providing exceptional clinical care to participants.

Our Mission

Lead groundbreaking research of new treatments for cancer

Our Specialization

Development of new cancer treatments by understanding the way the treatments work in the cancer cells within the human body

Our Areas of Research

• All solid tumors, both common ones like breast, colon, and lung cancers
• Less common tumors, like liver and pancreatic cancers
• Rare tumors, like alveolar soft part sarcoma, desmoid tumors, and BRCA-associated tumors

Our Goals

• Search for new ways to understand the weaknesses of cancer cells so we can develop a better offense in the fight against cancer.
• Offer patients treatment options, hope, and comfort

The DTC conducts clinical trials to understand how new cancer treatments work to kill cancer cells. These studies may include first-in-human studies, specialized studies in rare tumors, and NCI-prioritized studies in personalized medicine. For example, utilizing expertise in genetic development, DTC is spearheading a precision medicine clinical trial, the Molecular Profiling based Assignment of Cancer Therapeutics, or MPACT.

DTC clinicians, research nurses, and support staff have extensive experience both with specialized early trials in cancer treatment and providing outstanding clinical care for patients with advanced malignancies. DTC investigators work with other experts within the NCI to better understand the results of treatments and the best ways to use treatments to get the most efficacious outcomes. The DTC also works with physicians and patients from within the United States and internationally.