Hematology Oncology Centers of the Northern Rockies is a member of Accelerated Community Oncology Network (ACORN). ACORN research offers our patients access to the most promising new treatments anywhere. Our physicians are also involved in the Montana Cancer Consortium (MCC), a nonprofit organization that conducts clinical trials in Montana and Northern Montana sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Through ACORN and MCC, HOCNR has access to over 175 research opportunities.

We currently participate in the following clinical research areas:

• Brain
• Breast
• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Gynecologic
• Head and Neck
• Leukemia
• Lung
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Myeloma
• Sarcoma

Clinical research studies involve people helping doctors find ways to improve health and cancer care. A clinical study (trial) is the final stage of a long and careful process to bring new drugs or treatments to the public. Studies help find safe and effective approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

If a patient decides to participate in a clinical study, they will work with a research team consisting of doctors, clinical research coordinators, nurses, laboratory and other health care workers. The medical staff will provide care, monitor the patient's health carefully and give specific instructions about the study.

After a study is over, the researchers look at the data collected and decide whether to move on to the next phase or stop testing the drug. The medical community and public will receive information about the study's results. Once a treatment is proven safe and effective, it may become the new standard of care. Each such advance is part of an ongoing process that builds on itself to improve the quality of cancer care for all people.

Potential benefits of clinical studies include:

• Access to new drugs before they are available to the public
• Close monitoring of the patient's progress
• The patient takes an active role in their health care
• The opportunity to be among the first to benefit if the approach being studied is found to be beneficial
• The opportunity to make a valuable contribution to cancer research

Our physicians are committed to provided promising therapies to patients through innovative research. Our mission is to provide compassionate, high quality medical care to our patients, to contribute to medical research and ensure each patient access to the newest therapies available.