UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

24/07/2025

BIG News for Rural Arkansas! The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and ARcare have launched a new partnership to boost in seven rural counties where late diagnoses are far too common. The initiative sets a BOLD goal: screen 80% of eligible patients within a year — and save lives through early detection. When caught early, colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. 💙

LITTLE ROCK — A new partnership between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and ARcare aims to dramatically improve colorectal cancer screening rates in seven rural Arkansas counties where late-stage diagnoses and cancer disparities are o...

23/07/2025

GET A SCREENING
The UAMS Mobile MammoVan is visiting ARcare in Des Arc and McCrory.

It will provide on-site mammogram screenings for women aged 40 and older.

This is not a walk-up event — you MUST schedule in advance.

Des Arc ARcare clinic — Wednesday, July 30
McCrory ARcare clinic — Thursday, July 31

Visit https://uamshealth.com/location/mammovan/ or call 1-800-259-8794. Please bring your insurance information with you. If you do not have insurance, assistance programs are available.

21/07/2025

Please save the date for UAMS Partners Card 2025.

21/07/2025

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is home to Arkansas’ only Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trials Unit and offers access to cutting-edge trials for breast, lung, colon, ovarian, prostate, blood cancers and more.

📞 501-686-8288
📧 CancerClinicalTrials@uams.edu
🔎 Learn more: cancer.uams.edu/clinical-trial/find-a-clinical-trial

15/07/2025

🌟 Congratulations to Tiffany Watts, RN! 🌟
We’re proud to share that Tiffany has been named one of the Great 100 Nurses in Arkansas by the Arkansas Nurses Association!

Tiffany serves in our Medical Oncology Clinic at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute — home to Arkansas’ only Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program.

Her journey into oncology nursing was inspired by two courageous women: her Sunday School teacher, who bravely fought metastatic breast cancer, and her mother-in-law, a breast cancer survivor. Tiffany became a nurse to be a “beacon of light in someone’s darkness,” and every day, she brings compassion, strength and hope to her patients.

Join us in celebrating Tiffany’s well-deserved recognition! 💙

11/07/2025

10/07/2025

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐙𝐄 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has officially enrolled its first patient in a landmark national clinical trial designed to make bone marrow transplants safer and more effective for patients without a fully matched donor. Known as the OPTIMIZE trial, this study is sponsored by the National Marrow Donor Program through the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. 𝐔𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 — 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥.

The study focuses on patients with such as , and myelofibrosis who receive stem cell transplants from partially matched unrelated donors. These patients, often from minority backgrounds, face significant challenges due to limited donor matches in existing registries.

OPTIMIZE is evaluating whether a reduced dose of the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) can lower the risk of life-threatening infections while still preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious complication in which the donor's immune cells attack the recipient’s body.

"Transplant patients come to us looking for hope,” said Principal Investigator Cesar Gentille, M.D., the hematologist oncologist leading the clinical trial in the UAMS Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program. “If we can reduce the toxicity of treatment without sacrificing effectiveness, we can improve outcomes and quality of life for a very vulnerable group of patients.”

The first patient enrolled at UAMS has acute myeloid leukemia. The trial helps lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs in medicine, particularly for patients who lack access to fully matched donors. https://cancer.uams.edu/kb/nct06001385/

09/07/2025

Testing for certain features in cancer (called biomarkers) can tell doctors about what’s causing the cancer to grow. The study is for adults just diagnosed with acute ( ) or syndrome ( ). It uses advanced biomarker testing to try to match patients with a myeloMATCH clinical trial for cancer treatment.

Ask your doctor to learn more or call our Clinical Trials Office at 501-686-8288.

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

We’re thrilled to celebrate Sharon Martin, who received the Naomi Cottoms Community Health Worker Distinguished Service Award at this year’s Arkansas Community Health Worker Association Summit in Hot Springs! Sharon serves as a cancer patient navigator and outreach coordinator for seven counties in Arkansas — Arkansas, Cross, Crittenden, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and St. Francis. Her tireless dedication, compassion and deep commitment to helping patients get the care and resources they need to prevent and treat cancer are what this award is all about. Congratulations, Sharon! Your work inspires us all! 🏆🎉

07/07/2025

The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has officially launched the OnCore Clinical Trials Management System — a game-changer for cancer clinical trials in Arkansas.

This $2.4 million investment puts the Cancer Institute in line with the top cancer centers in the country, using the most advanced system to manage trials and bring cutting-edge treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

With more than 300 active cancer clinical trials and a growing focus on groundbreaking therapies, OnCore will:
✔️ Streamline research operations
✔️ Expand access to early-phase trials
✔️ Enhance care for patients across the state

Learn more about how we’re transforming cancer research at cancer.uams.edu. https://news.uams.edu/2025/07/07/oncore-clinical-trials-system-is-live/

The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute launched July 1 the Advarra OnCore Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS), a powerful new platform that will enhance cancer clinical trials oversight and support cutting-edge research across the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The $2...

01/07/2025

📍 You're Invited! Free Community Town Hall
🗓 Tuesday, July 8
🕛 Noon
📍 Paragould Community Center
🍴 Lunch provided for the first 50 guests!

Come learn how we're expanding access to cutting-edge cancer treatments and patient support services across Arkansas. No registration needed — just show up!

ARcare Main Street - Downtown Paragould Jonesboro Sun St. Bernards Healthcare

The public is invited to attend a community town hall meeting featuring community outreach and education programs on cancer at noon, Tuesday, July 8, at the Paragould Community Center, 2404 Lindwood Drive, in Paragould, Arkansas. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Roc...