Cancer Research Center

About

Our research in oncology encompasses the full spectrum of cancer care including cancer prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as part of the Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium (MMCORC). Areas of focus for our group include electronic monitoring of symptoms and use of cannabis in oncology patients. Aims of the center are to promote access to clinical trials, to share the results this research, and to advance the science of cancer treatment and care delivery. 

Affiliation

people

Faculty Position
  • Anderson, Daniel M., MD, MPH, Principal Investigator, Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium 2003 -
  • Blazar, Michael B., MD, Research Investigator & Oncologist 2019 -
  • Chen, Cathleen, MD, Hematologist/Oncologist
  • Demel, Kurt C., MD, MBA, Investigator, Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium
  • Ganesan, Chitra, MBBS, Hematologist/Oncologist
  • Publications While At HealthPartners

    selected publications

    Journal Article
  • Association of financial wellness with patterns of medical cannabis use and patient-reported outcomes in adults with cancer
    Cannabis (Research Society on Marijuana). 2025
  • Feasibility of structuring electronic health record data to facilitate real-world data research: ICAREdata methods applied to multicenter cancer clinical trials
  • Symptom monitoring with electronic patient-reported outcomes during cancer treatment: final results of the PRO-TECT cluster-randomized trial
  • Data quality in a survey of registered medical cannabis users with cancer: nonresponse and measurement error
  • PRESTO: a phase III, open-label study of intensification of androgen blockade in patients with high-risk biochemically relapsed castration-sensitive prostate cancer (AFT-19)
  • Editorial Article
  • Response to: Challenges for clinical cannabis and cannabinoid research in the United States [editorial]
    Supportive Care in Cancer.  30. 2022
  • Smoking cessation, weight gain, and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among postmenopausal women [editorial]
  • Chapter
  • Anemia and red blood cell disorders
    Immigrant Medicine. 2007
  • Conference Poster
  • Impact of diabetes and hyperglycemia on health care utilization, infection risk, and survival in patients with cancer receiving glucocorticoids with chemotherapy [poster]
    2018
  • Incidence of diabetes and hyperglycemia among patients receiving glucocorticoids with chemotherapy [poster]
    2018
  • Lung nodule care, a multidisciplinary approach to the Triple Aim [poster]
    2014
  • Validation of colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) data within the HMORN Virtual Data Warehouse [poster]
    2014
  • Psychological and spiritual well being of breast cancer survivors in a community-based cancer survivorship clinic [poster]
    2010
  • Review
  • Effective strategies for the prevention and mitigation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor-associated hyperglycemia: optimizing patient care [review]
  • The impact of cannabis on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: a systematic review of immunomodulatory effects of cannabis in patients with and without cancer [systematic review, review]
  • Cannabis as an anticancer agent: a review of clinical data and assessment of case reports [review]
  • A comprehensive review of cannabis in patients with cancer: availability in the USA, general efficacy, and safety [review]
  • A systematic review of the impact of pain on overall survival in patients with cancer [review, systematic review]
  • Abstract
  • A randomized trial of topical cannabis balms for the treatment of aromatase inhibitor–associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) [abstract]
    Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024
  • Cannabis use for cancer-related symptoms in rural versus urban Minnesota [abstract]
    Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024
  • A novel cannabis education clinic for patients with cancer: patient characteristics from initial visit [abstract]
    Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022
  • Self-reported efficacy and usage of cannabis among patients with cancer within the Minnesota Cannabis Program [abstract]
    Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022
  • From novice to expert: simulation-based learning raise confidence and competency levels of oncology nurses in chemotherapy-biotherapy administration [abstract]
    Oncology Nursing Forum. 2016
  • Quick Info