Cancer care

Welcome from Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil - Director, Abramson Cancer Center.

At Penn Medicine, our pioneering research is transforming cancer treatment for millions of patients around the world. And our compassionate clinical teams are providing personalized care to every patient who enters our doors. We aren't only advancing cancer care and research—we’re growing hope and saving lives.
– Robert Vonderheide
MD, DPhil Director, Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center
Director of the Abramson Cancer Center, Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, smiling at camera
Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

Opening new doors to the most advanced cancer care

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute are dedicated to delivering innovative and compassionate cancer care. These cancer centers bring together a committed team of specialists, including oncologists, surgeons, and researchers, to provide the latest advancements in cancer prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. Our faculty is devoted to ensuring that every one of our 300,000+ patients receive the highest standards of care.

Within the Penn Medicine cancer community, patients will find:

  • A specialized multidisciplinary team focused on each patient’s unique disease 
  • State-of-the-art facilities 
  • The latest in cancer prevention methods 
  • Disease-specific radiologists and pathologists ensuring the most accurate diagnosis leading to precision treatment plans 
  • Lifelong follow-up care 
  • Access to life-changing clinical trials
  • Leading ground-breaking basic science research
National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center badge on top of shot of hospital

Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.

Penn Medicine proton therapy researchers in lab

What’s next is happening right now

Cancer research is advancing rapidly thanks to innovative approaches uncovered through Penn Medicine’s translational research and clinical trials. Our goal is to bring these emerging therapies from the research bench directly to the patient’s bedside.

Richard Edmund Phillips, MD, PhD, at microcope in brain cancer research lab

Specialties

Cancer care at Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine’s Cancer System is led by the Abramson Cancer Center with locations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, and outpatient locations in the Philadelphia and NJ suburbs. Beyond the greater Philadelphia region, the system includes programs at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute at Lancaster General Health, Doylestown Health, and Princeton Medical Center.

Innovation lives here: Shaping the future of cancer treatment

As an academic medical center, Penn Medicine is leading the way in cancer treatment, offering our patients access to advanced therapies. Breakthrough treatments like CAR T cell therapy, which uses the patient’s immune system to target cancer cells, and TumorGlow® which aids surgeons in effectively identifying and removing cancerous tissues, were discovered by Penn Medicine researchers. Penn Medicine is home to the Basser Center for BRCA, the first comprehensive center for research, treatment and prevention of BRCA-related cancers.

Beyond developing new treatment options, our researchers are looking at ways to “intercept” hereditary cancer before it even develops. By studying the changes in cells as they become cancerous, the goal is to catch these changes from the very beginning to halt or reverse the process, effectively preventing cancer from developing.

We also offer the region’s only academic medical center dedicated to proton therapy, a non–invasive, incredibly precise cancer treatment that uses a beam of protons moving at very high speeds to destroy cancer cells. Our commitment to offering groundbreaking treatments puts Penn Medicine in the position to continually improve outcomes and enhance our patients’ day-to-day lives.

Cancers we treat

Seamless care at our expert cancer centers

Dedicated to providing both leading-edge and compassionate cancer care, the Abramson Cancer Center and Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute at Penn Medicine deliver extensive diagnostics, treatments, and support. With locations throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions, you can access the most advanced cancer care close to home.

Navigating cancer care

Penn Medicine cancer specialists ensure all patients receive care that addresses all their needs. From diagnosis through recovery, we provide leading services and support to optimize your health and well-being.
Friendly nurse helps patient during an outdoor health fair or free clinic event

Community outreach and engagement

Working together with community members, health care providers, and local leaders deepens our understanding of cancer risk factors and disparities. This insight inspires us to jointly develop research, strategies, programs, and policies aimed at increasing access to cancer care—from prevention and screening to treatment and survivorship. Our goal is to reduce the burden of cancer and improve health outcomes for all.

Related articles

Patient stories

After the hospital, support to help patients thrive at home

After the hospital, support to help patients thrive at home

A Penn-grown program offers low-income patients extra support after a hospital stay—with virtual teams knitting together a safety net to reduce readmissions.

A cancer dietitian, a survivor herself, keeps patients moving

A cancer dietitian, a survivor herself, keeps patients moving

Breast cancer treatments can upend a fitness routine. Cancer dietitian Dorris Piccinin, a survivor herself, is inspiring patients to keep at it.

Jamil Rivers leads women of color to better breast cancer care

Jamil Rivers leads women of color to better breast cancer care

Jamil Rivers is a full-time working mom, living with metastatic breast cancer, and leading an initiative to help other women of color navigate cancer care.

Tool measures tumor growth for less uncertainty between scans

Tool measures tumor growth for less uncertainty between scans

Neuroradiologists have developed the first-ever tool that gives a real-time assessment of an individual’s tumor, and relieves anxiety between scans.

A journey from battlefield to beating cancer

A journey from battlefield to beating cancer

Andrew Camponelli was a young Army helicopter pilot in Kuwait when he was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma.

A community hospital is a destination for cancer care

A community hospital is a destination for cancer care

At Lancaster General Health, receiving advanced treatments closer to home has changed the battle with cancer for patients across central Pennsylvania.

A woman's unique path to a lung cancer diagnosis

A woman's unique path to a lung cancer diagnosis

During pre-operative testing for breast cancer surgery, a patient was also diagnosed with lung cancer.

A breast cancer survivor at 28, she’s now a voice of hope

A breast cancer survivor at 28, she’s now a voice of hope

After her twin tested BRCA2-positive, Brooklyn Olumba got tested, leading to her own cancer diagnosis. Now she’s educating other young women of color.

A surreal surgery for an unexpected diagnosis: Tanner’s story

A surreal surgery for an unexpected diagnosis: Tanner’s story

Tanner McIntosh was shocked to learn a brain tumor was causing his debilitating back pain. And then his surgeon suggested he be awake for its removal.

Improving care for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Improving care for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia

A clinical trial gave Becky Yu access to treatment that would become the new standard of care for newly diagnosed acute lymphocytic leukemia.

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