A Proud Legacy and a Future of Optimism: Celebrating 50 Years of Fox Chase Cancer Center

For Better Cancer Care: We Discover, We Deliver ™

With deep roots as one of the nation's first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase Cancer Center has paved the way since the early 20th century in making groundbreaking discoveries that deliver better cancer care. Through a singular focus on advancing our understanding of cancer, Fox Chase has made a powerful and lasting impact in research, prevention and treatment, benefiting patients in the local community and around the world.

Now, in 2024, we are celebrating a 50-year milestone that represents the beginning of Fox Chase as we know it today, through the merger of American Oncologic Hospital and the Institute for Cancer Research. In addition, 50 years ago Fox Chase became one of the first centers to receive designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center – a testament to our work and a prestigious honor we have received many times since. 

From the discovery of the Philadelphia Chromosome and the identification of the hepatitis B virus to our role in transforming biomedical research and bringing forward the most cutting-edge treatments, Fox Chase researchers and physicians have earned international recognition for their vast expertise in reducing the burden of cancer. By promoting our climate of innovation, we are increasing research grant awards, scholarly publications, academic presentations and more. 

But although we are very proud of what we have accomplished – including our partnership and collaboration since 2012 with Temple University Health System, an elite R1 institution – the Fox Chase team is looking forward to the new developments and breakthroughs that surely lie ahead.

"The work we do at Fox Chase is sophisticated, and our focus is multipronged," says Dr. Robert Uzzo, President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. "An emphasis on quality of life, adaptability in treatment planning, organ preservation, diverse representation in research, improved access and awareness, and prevention in high-risk patients are just some of the areas where we are making important advances."

Our spirit of teamwork, our culture of innovation, and our dedication to culturally competent care for our diverse patient populations drive our momentum for the future. At Fox Chase Cancer Center, where the brightest minds come together to create better medicine, we celebrate the difference we have made every day – throughout our memorable past and into a promising future.

Our Early Beginnings and Evolution

Ours is really two histories in one. Fox Chase Cancer Center evolved from American Oncologic Hospital (AOH), founded in 1904 as one of the nation's first hospitals devoted exclusively to cancer care, and the world-renowned Institute for Cancer Research, which grew from a research enterprise begun at Lankenau Hospital shortly after World War I.

AOH was established by a group of Philadelphia physicians and businessmen who wanted to address the city's rising cancer rates. At the time, prevailing public perceptions held that most cancers were incurable, contagious and caused by trauma. The only two treatments were surgery and radiation therapy. 

In 1917, Dr. Stanley P. Reimann collaborated with biochemist Frederick S. Hammett on a research program at Lankenau Hospital to study the fundamental processes involved in cancer. By 1927, the program had officially evolved into its own facility called the Lankenau Hospital Research Institute – one of the nation's first research institutes dedicated to cancer, with Dr. Reimann as founding director. 

Dr. Reimann led with the novel belief that research of normal cell growth and development, as opposed to studies of tumor tissues, held the key to understanding cancer. His personal and professional contributions to the Lankenau Hospital Research Institute helped support it through the Great Depression, and in 1945, it was formally incorporated as the Institute for Cancer Research.

Then, after his appointment as the Institute's scientific director in 1957, Dr. Timothy R. Talbot Jr. championed the move of AOH to the Institute's campus in the Fox Chase neighborhood of lower northeast Philadelphia and led the subsequent formation of Fox Chase Cancer Center, becoming its first president. The Fox Chase vision: to bring cancer research, treatment and prevention under one roof.

Historic Milestones and Innovations

Not only did 1974 mark the official founding of Fox Chase Cancer Center, but Fox Chase also became one of the first centers to earn NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. NCI-designated cancer centers meet rigorous standards for state-of-the-art research focused on developing cutting-edge approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. 

Fox Chase is one of only 57 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, recognized for its scientific leadership, resources, and an added depth and breadth of basic, clinical and/or prevention research, cancer control and population science, using a highly multidisciplinary approach.

"In the highly competitive, sometimes harsh world of scientific and clinical research, Fox Chase investigators have access to a haven for free thinking, collegiality and scholarship," says Dr. Jonathan Chernoff, Director of Fox Chase Cancer Center. "We support each other in our common goal to prevail over cancer, and at times, our work has implications that enrich even broader areas of science."

The historic impact in science and medicine by Fox Chase, which became a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in 1995, cannot be overstated. Although not an exhaustive list, following are some of the most significant innovations and discoveries by Fox Chase researchers through the years:

• Dr. Jack Schultz and his study of genetics in relation to cancer, forming some of the basic concepts underlying what became known as molecular biology.
• Dr. Arthur Lindo Patterson of the "Patterson function" and his collaboration with biochemist Jenny Glusker in applying X-ray crystallography to biological molecules such as DNA to get a better understanding of protein structure and shed light on disease.
• The work of developmental biologists Robert Briggs and Thomas King in successful transfer of undifferentiated, embryonic nuclei to an embryonic cell, stimulating development. This was considered the first successful nuclear transplantation, and Briggs is credited with the first successful cloning.
• Fox Chase graduate student David Hungerford and his collaboration with pathologist Peter Nowell from the University of Pennsylvania uncovered the Philadelphia Chromosome in 1959, providing the first conclusive evidence that cancer is a genetic disorder of somatic cells. Their research led to the development of imatinib, a targeted drug therapy that blocks the growth of cancer cells.
• Dr. Beatrice Mintz as a pioneer of genetic engineering techniques and her vast contribution to the understanding of genetic modification and cellular differentiation in cancer.
• Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg's identification of the hepatitis B virus – a major cause of primary liver cancer, the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Dr. Blumberg and Dr. Irving Millman then developed the first blood test to screen for the hepatitis B virus and patented the first hepatitis B vaccine – the first "anti-cancer vaccine."
• Dr. Irwin Rose and his team's discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, or how proteins are broken down and recycled – establishing a new paradigm in biology and forming the basis for the development of drugs approved to treat multiple myeloma.
• Dr. Paul Engstrom establishing the first cancer prevention and control program at an NCI-designated cancer center.
• Melvin and Gayle Bosma's discovery of a mouse strain with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), which has served as a valuable tool to study the immune system and its role in cancer, HIV, malaria and more.
• Dr. Mary Daly establishing one of the country's first risk assessment programs to serve individuals with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer through genetic counseling and testing, screening, and participation in prevention studies. The program has since expanded to include prostate, gastrointestinal, melanoma, kidney and endocrine cancers.
• The identification made by Drs. Joseph R. Testa, Philip Tsichlis and Alfonso Bellacosa of the protein AKT, which hinders the process that kills abnormal cells. The findings marked the first evidence of a recurrent genetic alteration in a cell signaling pathway that plays a central role in tumor development. Dr. Testa also has found that inherited mutations of the BAP1 tumor suppressor gene predispose affected families to developing mesothelioma, melanoma, meningioma and other cancers.

Strategic Positioning and Key Initiatives

Fox Chase is guided by a robust strategic plan aimed at maximizing its impact on cancer treatment and research. Our mission is to prevail over cancer through bold scientific discovery, pioneering prevention and compassionate care. This mission is underpinned by a vision to translate cutting-edge research into effective cancer prevention and treatment strategies that benefit a diverse patient population.

Many of our key initiatives are in collaboration with Temple Health and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, which supports Fox Chase in significantly expanding our scope in research, treatment and prevention programs. Temple is among only 4 percent of universities classified as R1 institutions, representing a tremendous commitment to advancements in research and development. That means we are working together at the leading edge of innovation.

"It takes all of us – across campuses and specialties – offering insights that reflect vast expertise in various fields to effect positive change," Dr. Uzzo says. "Each of us has a contribution to make, and when we join together, we can go further than any one of us can alone."

Fox Chase offers access to some of the country's most renowned experts, advanced technology, innovative cancer treatments and next-generation clinical trials. By pioneering new approaches to our clinical trial operations, improving access to these potentially lifesaving studies and streamlining processes, we are increasing recruitment and allocating resources more effectively.

Some of these new approaches include the creation of a clinical trials council to enhance the overall infrastructure that supports clinical research at Fox Chase – improving the ways in which its clinical trials are selected, launched and run, as well as to how patients are cared for and data is collected. Through a new system called TRACSS (Trial Resource Allocation and System Support), Fox Chase has increased enrollment while also narrowing the focus of clinical trials by helping the research teams determine which trials have the best chance of success.

Fox Chase is also developing new tools to ensure that physicians are better equipped to match the best candidates with the appropriate trials. Within the past year, these changes have not only helped to increase the number of accrued patients but have also led to trials opening more quickly.

Another key collaboration with Temple Health is the Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute, a groundbreaking initiative that concentrates on both benign and oncologic urology. The institute will be home to one of the world's busiest upper urinary tract reconstructive centers, offering cutting-edge clinical trials, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and advanced radiation therapies from one of the largest fellowship-trained genitourinary cancer teams in the country.

"Collaboration has long been a hallmark of Fox Chase Cancer Center," Dr. Chernoff says. "We know that when we band together, we can achieve greatness."

Commitment to Diversity and Community Outreach

Because Fox Chase cares for a highly diverse patient population – and because people in such communities are often clinically underserved and underrepresented in studies – we are dedicated to providing culturally competent care and making important discoveries that guide treatment for various groups with unique characteristics and needs.

Prioritizing collaboration between Fox Chase and Temple has helped impact diversity at both institutions. Working with students at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine are researchers like Dr. Camille Ragin, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Fox Chase. With her leadership, students are exposed to novel approaches to research that can have effects not only in their immediate communities but internationally as well. Dr. Ragin's development of award-winning programs like the Cancer Prevention Project of Philadelphia and the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium highlights the importance of collaboration in science and helps students learn to provide culturally competent, interprofessional care.

In addition, leading the way in driving greater awareness and education in our local communities is Dr. Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for Fox Chase. She integrates community-engaged research across scientific programs at Fox Chase and Temple; prioritizes educational outreach focusing on cancers with the highest incidence and mortality in our catchment areas; and supports community-based lifestyle interventions that lower risk and potentially improve survival. She also brings tremendous research expertise in cancer disparities and structural barriers to care for vulnerable populations.

Determination and Excitement for What's Ahead

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Fox Chase Cancer Center, we stand as a beacon of hope and innovation in the fight against cancer. We see our legacy continuing and growing through a broad range of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, as well as special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship and community outreach.

Our singular focus on cancer – as we combine discovery science with state-of-the-art clinical care and population health – defines who we are. It also sets us apart in what we are able to achieve in the lab, at the bedside, and in our shared quest to cure cancer once and for all. 

"Our work is not for accolades or fame. It is not for financial compensation or ego. It is purely to advance our understanding of cancer for the benefit of our patients," Dr. Uzzo says.

The crux of our strategy to achieve our mission and vision is to remove impediments and invest in the unique strengths of Fox Chase and Temple Health to maximize our impact on reducing the burden of human cancer. As we look back upon the past 50 years, we are immensely proud of what we have achieved together and look to the future with optimism and determination.

"As we steward the legacy of Fox Chase and build its exciting future, we think of the many people who have contributed to our mission thus far, as well as the countless patients and families who we have cared for along the way," says Dr. Chernoff. "It is for all of them that we do the work we do — to conduct groundbreaking science, to provide the latest advances in cancer medicine, and to offer ourselves in the purest sense to bring about a new day for all."