Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) announced that research from nearly 20 FCS clinical trials was presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, held in Chicago, IL, June 2 - 6, 2017. The ASCO annual meeting, which was attended by over 30,000 oncology professionals from around the world, included discussions on state-of-the-art treatment modalities, new therapies, and ongoing research.

Over half of the FCS co-authored presentations were from research done through the FCS Phase 1 Drug Development Unit (DDU) in Sarasota, FL, led by Dr. Manish Patel, Director of Drug Development Sarasota, and Dr. Judy Wang. Dr. Patel said, "A high percentage of the presentations from the DDU trials included early and senior authorships. It is particularly gratifying that the DDU has contributed so much to the body of knowledge about new cancer treatments. Our strong relationship with Sarah Cannon is pivotal to this success."

Additional FCS physician investigators included Dr. Lowell Hart (FCS Scientific Director of Clinical Research), Dr. William N. Harwin (FCS Founder and Managing Partner) and Dr. David Wright, who practices in the greater Tampa Bay area.

Brad Prechtl, CEO of FCS, said, "As a statewide strategic partner of Sarah Cannon Research Institute, one of the leading clinical trial organizations in the world, Florida Cancer Specialists is dedicated to refining the science and the study of malignancies and sharing knowledge and new findings that will rapidly advance and improve cancer treatments for our patients. The fact that we had so many presentations accepted at ASCO is a reflection of the strong commitment to clinical research at FCS."

FCS President and Founder Dr. William Harwin added, "The research program at Florida Cancer Specialists rivals that of many academic medical centers. With the drug development unit in our network, there is a dedicated program of Phase 1 Clinical Trials that puts FCS on the cutting-edge of identifying newer targeted and immunotherapies that are changing the future of cancer treatment. In 2016, for example, 84% of all new cancer drugs were studied in clinical trials offered by FCS prior to FDA approval. This means that, as a community practice, we are able to bring these potentially life-saving advances to our patients in their own communities."

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute: (FLCancer.com)

Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is the largest independent medical oncology/hematology practice in the United States. With over 200 physicians, 160 nurse practitioners and physician assistants and nearly 100 locations in our network, we are committed to providing world-class cancer care in community-based settings close to home.

Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, FCS offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. 84% of new cancer drugs approved in 2016 for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials conducted with FCS participation*. Our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.Trained in such prestigious medical schools and research institutes as Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, M.D. Anderson, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the physicians of Florida Cancer Specialists provide leadership and consultation in the state's leading hospitals.

FCS serves patients on the Gulf Coast from Naples to the greater Tampa Bay area, north as far as Tallahassee, in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida communities, and on the East Coast from Jacksonville/Fleming Island to Palm Beach County.

Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research and cutting-edge technologies that help advance targeted treatments and genetically-based immunotherapies, and embodied by our outstanding team of highly-trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.