Cooper-MD Anderson cancer center partnership becomes official

Cooper University Health Care of Camden and MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston have cemented their partnership by officially signing an agreement to create a new, $100 million, cancer center.

The announcement that the two health care facilities planned to integrate forces was first made in June.

The new center, set to open Oct. 7, will be known as the Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper in Camden. The integrated cancer center marks the first partnership for MD Anderson in the Northeast. MD Anderson is recognized as one of the nation's top cancer research and treatment facilities. It will manage the center on the Cooper Health Sciences Campus.

MD Anderson will utilize its own treatment protocols, and its physicians will participate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Patients at Cooper will at the same time have the opportunity to enroll in MD Anderson's extensive clinical trials of new medications and treatments.

"Today, our partnership becomes a reality and a beacon of hope for cancer patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and beyond," said George E. Norcross III, Cooper's chairman, in a press release. "MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper will take cancer care in our region to a new level by bringing the best proven methods of cancer treatment and an increased access to MD Anderson clinical trials right here in New Jersey."

Norcross is an owner of Interstate General Media, parent company of Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.

Anderson's president, Dr. Ronald DePinho, added: "We're proud to unite with Cooper University Health Care to offer the highest quality cancer care in the region."

In the long term, Cooper officials also hope to open satellite facilities in central New Jersey and the Philadelphia suburbs.