A specialized branch of medicine, medical oncology focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer using non-surgical methods, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biologics, and targeted therapies. Our renowned and compassionate medical oncologists at Tampa General Hospital collaborate with you or your loved one to oversee treatment plans, working closely with radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, and other specialists to coordinate highly effective cancer care.
The medical oncology program at the TGH Cancer Institute offers options to address the full spectrum of solid organ and soft tissue cancers, integrating advanced diagnostic imaging, molecular testing, and precision-targeted therapies to develop treatment plans tailored for each patient’s unique disease. At the TGH Cancer Institute, we are proud to offer a full range of the latest treatment options, including cutting-edge immunotherapies, targeted drugs and gene therapies.
The Tampa General Difference
Medical oncology is one of the most rapidly evolving fields in medicine, and our team at TGH is helping lead the way to provide more personalized options designed to improve outcomes for our patients. Our partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine positions us as a leading academic health system, blending the best medical teaching, ground-breaking research, and clinical trial leadership to help bring the latest advances in cancer care from the lab to you. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care in 2024-25, our Cancer Institute is at the forefront of innovation as one of Florida’s best cancer institutes.
At TGH, our patients have access to chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drugs, and immunotherapies, as well as access to cutting-edge clinical trials that may not be available at other cancer hospitals.
Using Academic Medicine to Bring Advanced Options to Patients
QOPI® Certification Reflects the Highest Standards
The TGH Cancer Institute has achieved Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), demonstrating adherence to rigorous quality and safety standards in oncology care delivery. This certification was awarded following a comprehensive evaluation of core oncology practice standards, including treatment planning protocols, staff competency requirements, chemotherapy management procedures, and patient monitoring systems.
State-of-the-Art Infusion Center at the TGH Outpatient Center in Brandon
Tampa General Hospital’s Cancer Institute has further expanded cancer care for the rapidly growing communities of Hillsborough County and beyond with the opening of a state-of-the-art, 26-bay Infusion Center at the TGH Outpatient Center, located in Brandon, Florida. This facility expansion provides our patients with more options for infusion treatments closer to home.
The Infusion Center is designed to encourage therapeutic connection and camaraderie with spacious semi-private, private, and shared treatment bays for the administration of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusions and other treatments. A separate space with beverages and light snacks is also available for our patients’ family members.
Our Medical Oncologists
Our team includes award-winning medical oncologists from across the country who are committed to providing compassionate, innovative patient care.
Schedule an appointment with our world-renowned oncologists.
Cancers & Other Conditions We Treat
Medical oncology is one of the broadest treatment umbrellas for cancer care and can be a part of almost all cancer treatment plans.
TGH’s medical oncologists specialize in treating a broad range of cancers, including, but not limited to:
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
- Genitourinary cancers, including kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers
- Head and neck cancer
- Hematologic malignancies, including lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma
- Lung cancer and other thoracic cancers
- Skin cancers, including melanoma and non-melanoma disease
- Sarcomas
- Neuroendocrine tumors
Medical Oncology Treatment Options
TGH’s Medical Oncology Program offers three main categories of cancer treatment:
Chemotherapy
A systemic treatment, chemotherapy involves the intravenous (IV) or oral administration of powerful anti-cancer (cytotoxic) medications. After entering the bloodstream, the drugs circulate throughout the body to target and destroy rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. There are many types of chemotherapy, which vary in terms of their chemical structure and how they work. Different types are used to treat different cancers.
Immunotherapy
Also known as immune oncology, cancer immunotherapy harnesses the innate ability of the body’s immune system to fight disease. By helping your body to recognize cancer cells as ‘bad’ or potentially harmful to your body, immunotherapies allow your immune system to attack and destroy these ‘bad’ cells while preserving healthy tissues of the ‘good’ cells.
The types of immunotherapy include:
- Adoptive cell transfers, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies
- Bone marrow transplantation (BMT)
- Cancer vaccines
- Cytokines
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Immunomodulators
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Oncolytic viruses
Targeted Therapy
In targeted therapies, specialized drugs are administered via IV infusion or in pill form. These medications work by targeting certain enzymes and proteins that are specific to cancer cells to prevent their growth or replication. This approach causes the cancer cells to self-destruct without affecting healthy cells.
Cancers evolve and change. So does our approach to treating them. Following the most recent medical guidelines and industry standards, Tampa General's world-class medical oncology program provides access to new ways to treat these diseases.
Cancer Support Services
We know there’s a lot more to cancer than just the actual treatment. With this in mind, we offer comprehensive support services to ensure that patients receive world-class care far beyond diagnosis and treatment.
Starting with our nurse navigator who will be with you every step of the way, our support services include financial assistance, genetic counseling, nutrition, oncology psychology, an outpatient rehabilitation program (including physical, occupational, speech, lymphedema, and biofeedback therapy), palliative care, patient advocacy and education, patient and caregiver support groups, social work, spiritual care, a survivorship program and financial assistance.
Our goal at TGH is to provide you with unparalleled clinical care and more.
Testing & Diagnostics
TGH provides a standard work-up to our patients at the beginning of assessment and treatment. These tests can include, depending on your type of cancer:
- Surgical biopsies
- Standard blood tests and panels
- Pathology
- Molecular testing
- Genetic testing
- Imaging (such as MRIs, PET and CT scans).
Your care navigator and physician team will work with you to identify the testing needed by your particular cancer and help you with scheduling and what to expect.
Medical Oncology Research & Clinical Trials
We further demonstrate our continued commitment to world-class care through active participation in clinical trials, which can provide our patients with access to advanced therapies and technologies.
To see how we are positively impacting patients, learn more about research and clinical trials at Tampa General.
