The Challenge

Cancer touches all of us, directly or indirectly. In the U.S., one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer. In 2025, over two million new cases will be diagnosed, and over 600,000 people will die. Additionally, the number of cases of colorectal, breast, and some other cancers is increasing in much younger people than has been typical historically.

Treating cancer is particularly challenging. Cancer cells aren’t pathogens we can neutralize or malfunctioning organs we can repair — they are our own cells that mutate and proliferate uncontrollably. Treatment must target cancerous cells without damaging healthy ones. Cancer is remarkably adept at developing resistance to treatment and can recur if treatment leaves even a single cancer cell behind.

Why Duke?

Duke Cancer Institute is the No. 1 cancer center in North Carolina.

It is staffed by leading cancer specialists who provide comprehensive care to more than 80,000 people every year and work at the forefront of innovative scientific discovery and clinical care to improve outcomes across all cancers, including breast, colorectal, prostate and urologic cancers, and brain and spine metastases.

At Duke, we work every day to advance the future of cancer care by:

• providing the highest-quality, multi-disciplinary care that supports both patient and family and integrates primary care to improve outcomes during and after cancer care.
• developing treatments that more precisely prevent, treat, and cure cancer, including cutting-edge immune therapies and personalized medicine.
• advancing our understanding of cancer biology to make transformative discoveries that lead to new therapies and treatments.
• reducing disparities in cancer outcomes.
• drawing from Duke’s pool of world-class talent and resources to share knowledge and innovation quickly and efficiently.

Duke trains the world’s best and brightest oncologists to serve future generations. We develop new approaches to improve the health of all patients through innovation and cutting-edge research.

Among our recent highlights:

• Research at Duke paved the way for the development and approval of the first new endocrine therapy for breast
• cancer in over 20 years.
• Duke’s expertise in minimally invasive surgical techniques with enhanced recovery has improved patient outcomes after tumor removal.
• Duke researchers’ discovery of how testosterone both promotes and inhibits prostate cancer progression sets the stage for clinical trials based on this new knowledge.
• Building on Duke discoveries, clinical trials have begun to test novel immunotherapy approaches to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers like non-small cell lung cancer.

Duke is at the forefront of care for both primary cancer and secondary cancer when the disease spreads to other organs. The Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis is an international leader in innovative, cutting-edge technologies that have dramatically changed the landscape of care.

The Opportunity

Duke Cancer Institute scientists are working to advance research, treatment, and prevention for all cancers —including breast, colorectal, prostate, and urologic cancers and brain and spine metastases — and making oncology and primary care seamless.

We invite you to join us in this important work. With your help, we will develop new and more effective therapies, treat more patients, and serve society as a global leader in advancing transformative changes in cancer care.

You Can Make a Difference

Philanthropic partners are essential to our success. Every expendable, endowed, or planned gift makes a difference. You can help Duke Cancer Institute change lives by:

Investing in Tomorrow's Leaders

An endowment of $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 will create lasting support for trainees and faculty, helping us attract great physicians and scientists, and provide them with the resources necessary to advance innovative research and deliver tomorrow’s treatments.

Fund Transformative Research

Gifts of $100,000 or more will advance cutting-edge research and clinical trials, pioneering new approaches to improve the lives of cancer patients.

Invest in Patient Support and Education

Gifts of $100,000 or more to support our patients and their families will directly improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Advance Technology for Patient Care

Gifts of $100,000 or more will expand the use of advanced technology and equipment to ensure delivery of the most innovative care.