Frequently Asked Questions

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES SYLVESTER TREAT? The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is a regional resource for nearly 6 million residents predominantly from a five-county area in Southeast Florida as well as from the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Sylvester physicians treated 4,318 new cancer patients in University of Miami Health System facilities (41 percent from Miami-Dade County, 23 percent Broward County, 23 percent Palm Beach County, 3 percent International, and 10 percent other), and another 2,996 patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2009.

The cancer center is located in the heart of Miami's inner city where 68 percent of residents are African American and 30 percent are Hispanic - 42 percent of residents live below the national poverty level. Because of this diverse patient population, Sylvester is one of the foremost cancer centers in the country studying how cancer relates to race and ethnicity.

WHAT DOES NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE (NCI) DESIGNATION MEAN AND HOW IS IT ACHIEVED? NCI designation is not an accreditation. NCI designation is granted as a result of competing successfully for the Cancer Center Support Grant through a rigorous three-stage peer-review process. This process evaluates the breadth and depth of the cancer center's research programs with special focus on how the cancer center adds value to the research conducted by its members. Sylvester is accredited by all appropriate accrediting bodies.

HOW WOULD NCI DESIGNATION AFFECT SYLVESTER? The most direct effect is that Sylvester would receive approximately $1 million annually from the NCI for research infrastructure support over the first five years of the grant. The level of support is capped in the first five years and would increase substantially in future years. Additionally, Sylvester would become eligible for other NCI grants that are limited to NCI-designated centers, and cancer center members would be better able to compete for all cancer funding.

NCI designation also brings additional prestige to Sylvester, the University of Miami and the State of Florida. To consumers and cancer patients, NCI designation serves as a seal of approval. Without an NCI-designated cancer center in South Florida, many patients leave the region or state, believing better treatment is available elsewhere.

HOW WOULD AN NCI DESIGNATION BENEFIT SYLVESTER'S PATIENTS? NCI designation would allow Sylvester to greatly expand Florida's access to cutting-edge cancer research and clinical trials for millions of residents, including the most vulnerable populations, right in their home region.

HOW MANY CANCER RESEARCHERS AND PHYSICIANS WORK AT SYLVESTER? Sylvester has more than 250 physicians and scientists engaged in more than 200 clinical trials. Many of these experts are among the best cancer specialists in the country. Sylvester investigators attracted research funding of more than $40 million in 2009, including $17 million from 68 NCI-funded projects.

HOW WOULD AN NCI DESIGNATION AFFECT SYLVESTER'S STAFFING OPTIONS? With an NCI designation, working at Sylvester would become an even more attractive option to a larger pool of top-tier cancer physicians and researchers, who would help provide more cutting-edge cancer treatment options to Florida residents.

By expanding its research, education and clinical activities, Sylvester also would be investing in the South Florida economy - creating new, high-wage jobs. With NCI designation, Sylvester would expand hiring opportunities in South Florida and also bolster medical tourism.

HOW WOULD SYLVESTER INVEST FUNDS COMMITTED BY THE STATE? With an additional investment from the State of Florida, Sylvester would construct additional cancer research laboratories, expanding its research campus and enhancing its hiring opportunities, while reinforcing its reputation and ability to leverage increased funding from NIH, peer-reviewed funding, and private philanthropy.

HOW DOES SYLVESTER IMPACT SOUTH FLORIDA'S ECONOMY? The health care industry accounts for more than half of the fastest-growing occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health care is an economic driver for Florida and is a stable component of the state's economy. Sylvester offers high-wage jobs related to patient care, education and research. The economic impact on the region and the State of Florida is substantial now and will increase greatly with NCI designation. We are currently conducting a formal economic impact study to quantify the impact.

HOW MANY NCI-DESIGNATED CANCER CENTERS ARE THERE IN THE UNITED STATES? There are 65 NCI-designated cancer centers across the nation actively engaged in cutting-edge research to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. Currently, Florida has only one NCI-designated cancer center, while other states with populations of 10 million or more have multiple NCI-designated cancer centers: California has 10, New York has six, Pennsylvania has five and Texas has three.

WHAT KIND OF CANCER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY DOES SYLVESTER FEATURE?

Sylvester physicians and nurses work together in 15 organ-based teams that provide multi-disciplinary cancer treatment and conduct clinical research. Treatment is "advance-of-the-art", including all of the latest targeted therapies.
Sylvester is home to one of only two phase I clinical trials programs in the State of Florida -- the other is at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa -- 300 miles away.
Sylvester offers the most modern technology for radiation treatment, including the CyberKnife and image-guided treatment.
Sylvester provides patients with highly sophisticated treatment options. One of Sylvester's newest and most advanced treatment technologies is the NanoKnife -- the first in Florida and one of only a handful in the world. The NanoKnife is used to treat hard to reach tumors at the cellular level and is one of the less invasive tools used by interventional radiologists to treat cancer patients.
Sylvester surgeons are expertly trained in minimally invasive treatments, including robotic surgery.

WHAT UNIQUE CLINICAL STUDIES ARE CONDUCTED AT SYLVESTER? Because of its diverse pool of patients, Sylvester is able to study ethnic and racial disparities in the onset and treatment of cancer, such as:

The findings of one study proved considerable disparities in the survival rates for African Americans and poor patients with head and neck cancer. The study was published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
The results of another study showed that Hispanic and African American patients with melanoma are initially diagnosed with advanced forms of the cancer, despite having a lower risk for it.
A study on the effects of stress and group therapy on African American women with breast cancer earned a $4 million grant from the NIH.
A Department of Defense Synergistic Idea Award (one of only 12 in the U.S.) led to a $725,000 grant to fuel research examining the genetic difference found in African American breast cancer patients.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found dramatic disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue for African American breast cancer patients. The study included international collaboration on women of African descent and was the largest population-based analysis of breast cancer outcomes to date. It included more than 63,000 patients from Florida. The results found that the breast cancer mortality rate for African American women was higher than Caucasian women, regardless of age, extent of cancer, type of treatment or socioeconomic status.
Haitian immigrant women contribute disproportionately to cervical cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. A Sylvester investigator has been awarded a grant from the NCI to examine the reasons for this occurrence.

Click to download a PDF of the FAQs.

MIAMI, Fl. - The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will receive nearly $10 million for continued cancer research as a result of the 2010 Legislative Session. Learn more.

How many people does Sylvester treat? What does National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation mean and how is it achieved? Find the answers on our Frequently Asked Questions page. Learn more.

Florida needs a second National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center. With an NCI designation, Sylvester can expand Florida's access to cutting-edge research and treatment. Learn more.