Smitha Krishnamurthi has been appointed as the new Co-Chair of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Colon Task Force at the NCI

The Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) is the program within the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) of de National Cancer Institute (NCI) that plans, assesses, and coordinates all asptects of clinical trials, including extramural clinical research programs, internal resorces, treatment methods and effectiveness, and compilation and exchange of data as it pertains to de development and evaluation of anticancer agents.

The mission of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) is to improve the lives of cancer patients by finding better ways to treat, control and cure cancer. CTEP accomplishes this mission by funding an extensive national program of cancer research and by sponsoring clinical trials to evaluate new anti-cancer agents, with a particular emphasis on translational research to elucidate molecular targets and mechanisms of drug effects.

CTEP uses a scientific process to accomplish its mission:

• promising basic science findings are identified and translated into clinical research, both by identifying new agents for evaluation and by identifying biologic characteristics of tumors that may be clinically exploited.
• novel anti-cancer agents with distinctive molecular targets, mechanisms of action, or properties are identified and introduced into clinical trials, with prioritization of agents based on scientific criteria and therapeutic needs.
• the anti-tumor activity of new anti-cancer agents is systematically evaluated in clinical trials.
• promising new cancer treatments are rigorously compared to best available treatments in hypothesis-driven clinical trials to reliably define superior treatments for specific types of cancer

CTEP attempts to forge broad collaborations within the research community and works extensively with the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry to effectively develop new cancer treatments. CTEP also seeks to involve outside experts and patients or their advocates in the formulation of research priorities. In the selection of clinical research for NCI sponsorship, CTEP attempts to fill critical gaps in the national cancer research effort and to avoid duplication of ongoing private sector efforts. In further efforts to control cancer, active new anticancer agents are made available as rapidly and widely as possible for patients.

Smitha Krishnamurthi, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, shared a post by Cathy Eng on X, adding:

Thank you so much Cathy Eng! My dear friend all these years! So grateful for the opportunity to work with Jonathan Lore and the NCI’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Colon Task Force to advance NCTN concepts!”

Quoting Cathy Eng’s post:

Congratulations to my longstanding friend and co-Vail AACR/ASCO workshop alumni Smitha Krishnamurthi for being elected by her peers as the new NCI’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program colon Task Force Co-Chair! Well deserved!!!!

Source: Smitha Krishnamurthi/X and Cathy Eng/X

Cathy Eng is a Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, and is the Co-Director of GI Oncology and Co-Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She also holds the David H. Johnson Endowed Chair of Surgical and Medical Oncology. Dr. Eng was previously a Professor of Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Her primary clinical research interests include clinical trials involving innovative drugs for the treatment of colorectal, anal, and appendiceal cancers. She has a specific interest in young colorectal cancer patients as well as the role of immunotherapy in HPV-associated cancers. Nationally, Dr. Eng has served in multiple leadership roles for ASCO, ASCO GI, ECOG, and the NCI Rectal/Anal Task Force. She has most recently been chosen to serve as the Vice-Chair for the SWOG GI Committee and the NCI GI Steering Committee.