Center for Cancer and Aging

The Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope is focused on three core goals:

1. Integrate basic science with translational biology to better understand how cancer and its treatment affect aging, and how aging influences cancer care.
2. Continue building the infrastructure needed to drive innovative, team-based, translational cancer and aging research.
3. Implement scalable, evidence-based care models grounded in geriatric assessment and older-adult-centered care.

Research Focus Areas

The Center’s current research initiatives include:

• Practical geriatric assessment and risk prediction
• Decision-making and patient preferences
• Cancer and accelerated aging
• Therapeutic trials in older adults with cancer
• Cognitive effects of cancer therapy
• Care models for older adults, including telemedicine and related innovations

Clinical Translation and Care Delivery

A major strength of the Center is translating research into clinical practice through innovative care models and clinical research programs.

• OASIS (Older Adults Specialized Interdisciplinary Services). Learn More About OASIS
• SOCARE Clinic (Specialized Oncology Care and Research for Elders). Explore SOCARE
• Aging Wellness Consult Clinic
• Aging and Blood Cancers Clinic
• City of Hope's leadership in clinical trials supports the development and evaluation of innovative approaches to improve outcomes for older adults with cancer. Explore Clinical Trials

Global Collaboration

The late Dr. Arti Hurria founded the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG), a global network of geriatric oncology investigators. Complementing the Center’s work, CARG connects researchers across institutions to design and implement clinical trials, foster collaboration, and advance the field of geriatric oncology. Explore CARG

What We Offer

The Center provides:

• Specialized expertise in geriatric oncology, aging biology, and supportive care for older adults
• Multidisciplinary collaborations across clinical, scientific, and behavioral teams
• Infrastructure to support aging-focused studies from concept development through implementation
• Evidence-based tools and assessments that support safer, more tailored treatment planning
• Training and educational opportunities for clinicians, researchers, and staff 

Why This Work Matters

Cancer disproportionately affects older adults, with approximately 60% of diagnoses and 70% of cancer-related deaths occurring in individuals aged 65 and older. Yet, older adults have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials that guide cancer care, leaving critical gaps in evidence to inform treatment decisions.

As the population continues to age, the need for research and care models tailored to older adults is rapidly growing. Older patients often present with complex medical conditions, take multiple medications, and have unique priorities that influence treatment decisions and outcomes.

Recognizing that chronological age alone does not define health status, the Center for Cancer and Aging advances research and clinical approaches—such as geriatric assessment—to better understand functional age and guide more personalized, safe, and effective cancer care.

The City of Hope community was deeply impacted by the untimely passing of Dr. Arti Hurria, founding director of the Center for Cancer and Aging. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Lee, M.D., and her daughter, Serena, as well as her lasting legacy at City of Hope, where she pioneered the field of geriatric oncology and transformed care for older adults with cancer. 

“Dr. Arti Hurria was known by many and loved by all who had the pleasure to work with her,” said Robert Stone, president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. “Her passion for her patients, her team and her colleagues was only surpassed by her passion for her family, especially her daughter.”

“I am always cautious to use the term ‘perfect’ for my colleagues in academic medicine,” said Sumanta Pal, M.D., co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope. “Some might excel in clinical medicine, but lack in research expertise – some may excel in hospital politics, but they lack interpersonal skills that guide day-to-day interactions with peers. Dr. Hurria was flawless. She was perfect in every way.”

Dr. Hurria, the George Tsai Family Chair in Geriatric Oncology, specialized in the care of patients aged 65 and older. A trained geriatrician and oncologist who completed fellowships at Harvard and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she dedicated her career to improving treatments for older adults while minimizing side effects and preserving quality of life.

Her vision and leadership continue to shape the Center’s mission and its commitment to advancing research, clinical care, and education in cancer and aging.