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01. History

History of The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

Located on the South Side of Chicago, University of Chicago Medicine is an academic medical center on the campus of the University of Chicago, a private research university. The medical center includes Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital, an adult patient facility; Comer Children’s Hospital; Chicago Lying-in Hospital, a maternity and women’s hospital; Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, an ambulatory-care facility; the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the United States; and affiliated doctors offices and hospitals across the Chicago metro area.

While the University of Chicago was founded in 1892, it took several decades for dreams of a medical campus to be realized. In 1916, the university’s trustees set aside more than $5 million for the construction and endowment of a hospital, but World War I waylaid the process, and it was not completed until 1927. But once the University of Chicago Hospitals was dedicated on Halloween 1927, it wasted no time before expanding. The Home for Destitute and Crippled Children was added in 1928, and the Country Home for Convalescent Children and Chicago Lying-in Hospital were integrated within about a decade.

A tremendous period of growth followed in the 1950s and 1960s with the addition of cancer research centers, research laboratories, a children’s hospital, and other facilities. More recently, University of Chicago has added the Brain Research Pavilion, the Aeromedical Network, the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, and the newest addition, University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital.

Since the founding of University of Chicago Medicine, history has been there made time and time again. A University of Chicago doctor discovered a way to preserve blood and established the first civilian blood bank. Sleep research began at the university in the late 1920s when a doctor established the world’s first sleep laboratory. In the early 1930s, the University of Chicago opened one of the first nurseries for premature infants. Cancer research has also grown immeasurably inside the University of Chicago’s walls; hormone treatments, chemotherapy and genetic links to cancers have all been discovered or advanced by groundbreaking research there.

02. Mesothelioma Care

Mesothelioma Care at The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center treats patients with a variety of cancers, including malignant mesothelioma. UChicago uses a team-based approach to create personalized treatment plans for each patient.

Mesothelioma treatment at UChicago Medicine may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or clinical trials for those who are eligible, with experience with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). They are also dedicated to developing and practicing emerging treatment methods to improve the prognosis for mesothelioma patients. New approaches to chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgeries have been a primary focus.

The UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center understands the struggles that patients and their families have when facing a mesothelioma diagnosis. As a result, they assign each patient with a nurse navigator to offer comprehensive support throughout their treatment journey.

03. Specializations

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center Specializations

  • Emerging treatments
  • HIPEC
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mesothelioma
04. Accreditations

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center Accreditations

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield Distinction for Specialty Care
  • Cellular therapy accreditation
  • Joint Commission full accreditation
  • National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Top Teaching Hospital
05. Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

The following clinical trials are in progress or actively recruiting participants at The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center:

Testing the Addition of Targeted Radiation Therapy to Surgery and the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Pemetrexed and Cisplatin [or Carboplatin]) for Stage I-IIIA Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma


Conditions: Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Malignant, Lung Neoplasms

Last Updated: March 28, 2023

Status: Recruiting

Locations: Coral Gables, FL. Deerfield Beach, FL. Miami, FL. Tampa, FL. Tampa, FL. Tampa, FL. Chicago, IL. Boston, MA. Rochester, MN. Basking Ridge, NJ. Middletown, NJ. Montvale, NJ. Commack, NY. Harrison, NY. New York, NY. New York, NY. Uniondale, NY. Cleveland, OH. Columbus, OH. Houston, TX. Seattle, WA.

Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma


Conditions: Mesothelioma

Last Updated: August 25, 2022

Status: Recruiting

Locations: Phoenix, AZ. Chicago, IL. Danville, IL. Effingham, IL. Matoon, IL. Urbana, IL. Lexington, KY. Boston, MA. Bemidji, MN. Edina, MN. Minneapolis, MN. Rochester, MN. Bismarck, ND. Fargo, ND. Columbus, OH. Oklahoma City, OK. Pittsburgh, PA. Sioux Falls, SD.

Pembrolizumab With or Without Anetumab Ravtansine in Treating Patients With Mesothelin-Positive Pleural Mesothelioma


Conditions: Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Malignant

Last Updated: December 2, 2021

Status: Recruiting

Locations: Birmingham, AL. Phoenix, AZ. Scottsdale, AZ. Duarte, CA. La Jolla, CA. Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA. Newport Beach, CA. Aurora, CO. Aventura, FL. Coral Gables, FL. Deerfield Beach, FL. Jacksonville, FL. Miami, FL. Miami, FL. Plantation, FL. Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL. Lexington, KY. Baltimore, MD. Baltimore, MD. Boston, MA. Boston, MA. Rochester, MN. Creve Coeur, MO. Saint Louis, MO. Saint Louis, MO. Saint Peters, MO. Durham, NC. Pittsburgh, PA. Dallas, TX. Salt Lake City, UT.

06. Hospital Services

Patient and Family Services at The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center offers many support resources for patients and family members through their Supportive Oncology department. These services include palliative care, cancer nutrition resources, physical/occupational therapy, social work services, psychology/psychiatric services and smoking cessation. The Cancer Center also has a Pain Clinic to help with pain management.

07. Offsite Services in Chicago

Patient and Family Services in the Chicago Area

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center is located in the major metropolitan area of Chicago. As a result, many services are easily accessible for mesothelioma patients and their families during or after treatment. These offsite services include counseling, hospice care, housing and pain clinics.

Cancer Nutrition
Cancer Support Groups
Hospice Care
Housing
One-On-One Support
Pain Clinics
Stress Management Programs
Survivor Wellness Programs
Transportation