Representatives of Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Tampa, Fla.-based Moffitt Cancer Center last week announced an expansion of a partnership formed in 2011.

Alan List, M.D., Moffitt's president and CEO, and Suresh Nair, LVHN's senior medical director of academic oncology programs, said LVHN's participation in the Moffitt Oncology Network, which is designed to help Moffitt develop a premier cancer care delivery system, focused solely on providing patients, including those in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area, the best personalized cancer care.

"The Moffitt Oncology Network extends Moffitt's knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers with the goal of offering the best personalized cancer care. Lehigh Valley's physicians will collaborate with Moffitt physicians on patient care and novel clinical research," Nair said.

Key elements of the relationship include joint clinical research-driven cancer care; utilization of Moffitt Clinical Pathways; quality management strategies including physician education and audits; and development of strategic centers of excellence.

"Since our initial affiliation was announced two years ago, we have had a very fruitful collaboration with the faculty and researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the national leaders in cancer gene discovery," Nair said. "The Moffitt Oncology Network will continue to open many new possibilities for our patients with the close ongoing link to one of the top five cancer centers in the country."

In 2011, Lehigh Valley announced a partnership with Moffitt to bring advanced cancer care to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities. Collaborations include an ovarian cancer trial to test choices of chemotherapy treatment based on the tumor DNA, and a smoking cessation pilot project targeted at pregnant women.

More than 50 patients from Lehigh Valley have been involved in the two projects.

Research with the Moffitt Oncology Network is expected to include additional tumor DNA study of various advanced-stage cancers and testing of a new drug for advanced stages of melanoma.

"It was natural for Moffitt to work with Lehigh Valley because our vision is aligned," List said. "Our goal at Moffitt is to utilize pathways and evidence-based medicine to bring high-quality, cost-effective cancer care and top-notch research closer to patients, so we can all be closer to a cure.

"As the importance of quality grows in health care reform, this partnership will position both organizations to better provide the best care in a changing environment. Through use of Moffitt's evidence-based clinical pathways and the novel quality measurement and feedback projects, Lehigh Valley and Moffitt will be well positioned for the future," List said.