Association of Community Cancer Centers Launches Pioneering Immuno-Oncology Program for Community-Based Cancer Care Providers

Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology Helps Community Providers Integrate New Treatment Paradigm into Practice

News provided by

Association of Community Cancer Centers

Jul 07, 2015, 08:00 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) today launches the Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology (ICLIO), the first of its kind initiative aimed to rapidly facilitate the adoption of immuno-oncology in the community cancer setting.

Immuno-oncology (I-O), a transformational paradigm in cancer treatment, puts the body's own immune system to work to fight cancer. To help with the rapid uptake of I-O at the community level, the ACCC developed ICLIO as the premier source for I-O implementation resources. ICLIO enables medical professionals to offer their patients cutting-edge cancer care by educating on the best practices for I-O integration into all aspects of care: clinical care, deciphering reimbursement, insurance, social work, and supporting patient access to emerging treatment options.

"I-O is becoming increasingly integral to cancer treatment, and education on its adoption in clinical practice is a critical need for providers and patients," said Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, FACP, and chair of ICLIO. "ICLIO resources will help guide multidisciplinary cancer teams through the practical application of immunotherapy to provide the best care possible for cancer patients."

ICLIO educational tools focus on five primary domains: clinical optimization, coverage and reimbursement, management best practices, patient access and advocacy, and training and development. ICLIO is open to all providers through ACCC, whose membership boasts more than 2,000 cancer programs and 20,000 providers nationwide. It is estimated that more than 60 percent of all cancer patients in the U.S. are treated by someone in the ACCC network.

"ACCC is committed to being a leader in cancer care education by providing the most up-to-date and innovative cancer treatment resources and information to our members," said ACCC President Steven L. D'Amato, BSPharm, BCOP. "We recognize the critical need for offering immunotherapy in community cancer centers and established ICLIO to empower cancer care providers to address the dynamic intricacies of I-O real-world treatment and delivery."

The ICLIO website is now live at accc-iclio.org, offering a wealth of resources. ICLIO will host its First Annual National Conference in Philadelphia, PA on October 2, 2015 to explore the challenges and opportunities within the emerging clinical and operational applications of cancer immunotherapy.

An Advisory Committee overseeing the planning and development of ICLIO is chaired by Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, FACP, Chief, Division of Hematology Oncology and Professor of Medicine at The University of Tennessee, and will be comprised of ACCC members and other I-O leaders. Meet the ICLIO Advisory Committee here.

Bristol-Myers Squibb provided ACCC with a charitable contribution to develop the comprehensive ICLIO program.

About the Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology
The Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology (ICLIO) is a pioneering new initiative from the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) to help integrate immuno-oncology in community cancer centers. ICLIO's comprehensive website (accc-iclio.org) serves as a hub of curated immunotherapy information and provides one-stop access to novel resources including monthly e-courses and e-newsletters, ICLIO Scholars Program, policy publications and more. Follow ICLIO on Twitter at @ACCC_ICLIO.

About the Association of Community Cancer Centers
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading advocacy and education organization in multidisciplinary cancer care with an estimated 60 percent of the nation's cancer patients being treated by a member of ACCC. Approximately 20,000 professionals from 2,000 hospitals and practices nationwide are affiliated with ACCC, which has been helping oncology professionals adapt to and navigate the complex changes of delivering quality care since 1974. For more information, visit our website at accc-cancer.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and read our blog, ACCCBuzz.

SOURCE Association of Community Cancer Centers