New Center at KU Cancer Center Aims to Improve Life After Cancer

A new endeavor at The University of Kansas Cancer Center is revolutionizing cancer care by undertaking groundbreaking research to address the unique challenges survivors face. The new Center for Survivorship and Patient-Oriented Research (CSPOR) will focus on improving survivorship and enhancing quality of lives for patients and their families. Supported in part by the Johnson County Education Research Triangle, CSPOR is led by Dr. Anthony Sung, a respected cancer researcher.

“Our goal is simple but profound: to ensure every cancer patient not only survives but thrives,” Dr. Sung said. “We focus on improving quality of life throughout the cancer journey, because survivorship is more than just beating the disease. It’s about living well.”

Dr. Sung was recruited to direct the CSPOR and brings a wealth of expertise to The University of Kansas Cancer Center. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School, his career has been dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients. He previously spent 10 years on the faculty at Duke University, where he served as associate director of the Duke Microbiome Center and played a leading role in survivorship research. Dr. Sung’s work has focused on reducing complications from stem cell transplants and improving life through clinical trials.

The Future of Cancer Survivorship
With better treatments, the number of cancer survivors in the U.S. is expected to rise from 18 million in 2022 to 26 million by 2040. As the number of cancer survivors grows, so does the opportunity for cancer research. CSPOR will study the long-term effects of cancer treatments to better serve this growing group.

One of CSPOR’s study areas will be the correlation between cancer treatments and accelerated aging. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, make patients age faster. CSPOR will look at how treatments impact things like memory and the immune system and how to prevent these effects.

Wearable devices, mobile health tools and artificial intelligence are transforming how researchers collect data and monitor patients outside traditional clinical settings. By using these tools, CSPOR can gather real-time data, especially from rural and underserved areas, to make sure all cancer survivors are represented in their research.

“We are excited about what CSPOR means for cancer survivors and their families,” Dr. Sung said. “By addressing the long-term challenges of survivorship, we are improving cancer outcomes and also ensuring our patients live healthy, fulfilling lives after treatment.”