M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, located in Houston, Texas, is the most renowned cancer hospital in the United States and among the most respected cancer institutions in the world. Founded in 1941 by the Texas Legislature, MD Anderson was created with a singular mission: to eliminate cancer through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, and prevention. The institution is part of The University of Texas System and is affiliated with the UTHealth Houston academic campus.

MD Anderson operates more than 700 inpatient beds and is one of the largest cancer centers in the world by patient volume, treating approximately 150,000 patients each year — including tens of thousands of new cancer cases annually. The center sees patients from across the United States, all 50 states, and more than 130 countries globally, cementing its reputation as a destination for patients with the most complex and difficult-to-treat cancers.

The center has been designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest level of NCI recognition awarded to institutions with exceptional depth in cancer research, clinical care, and prevention programs. MD Anderson has held this designation continuously and is considered one of the premier NCI-designated centers in the nation.

For many consecutive years, MD Anderson has ranked number one in cancer care in the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals — Specialty Rankings, a distinction that reflects the center's unparalleled concentration of cancer expertise, clinical volume, research productivity, and patient outcomes. Its research enterprise generates hundreds of millions of dollars in external funding annually and has contributed to fundamental advances in cancer biology, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation oncology.

MD Anderson Cancer Center provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for all types of cancer, with dedicated disease-specific programs organized by cancer site rather than by physician specialty. This model ensures that patients receive coordinated input from medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and supportive care specialists who focus exclusively on their particular cancer type.

Key disease programs include leukemia (one of the largest leukemia programs in the world), lymphoma and myeloma, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma (a world leader in melanoma research and treatment), head and neck cancer, brain tumors including glioblastoma, ovarian and gynecologic cancers, liver and pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, and bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.

MD Anderson operates one of the most active bone marrow transplant programs in the United States, performing hundreds of allogeneic and autologous transplants each year. The Proton Therapy Center at MD Anderson was among the first hospital-based proton therapy centers in the country and remains a leader in this precision radiation technology, which delivers high doses of radiation to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

The center's Moon Shots Program, launched in 2012, is a flagship initiative aimed at dramatically accelerating the pace of cancer research and converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances for the cancers with the greatest impact. Clinical trial enrollment is exceptionally high at MD Anderson, with hundreds of active trials available to patients seeking access to novel therapies before they achieve broader regulatory approval.

MD Anderson's main campus in the Texas Medical Center in Houston encompasses more than 700 inpatient beds spread across multiple clinical towers, including the Mays Clinic outpatient facility — one of the largest cancer outpatient buildings in the world. The campus totals millions of square feet of clinical, research, and administrative space, making it one of the largest cancer-focused medical complexes on earth.

Radiation oncology facilities include multiple linear accelerators capable of delivering IMRT, VMAT, and SBRT, as well as the Proton Therapy Center equipped with multiple treatment rooms for precision proton beam delivery. Surgical suites include dedicated operating rooms for robotic-assisted surgery, minimally invasive procedures, and complex open operations across all surgical oncology disciplines.

The research infrastructure spans dozens of laboratory buildings adjacent to or integrated with clinical facilities, enabling rapid translational science. Genomic and molecular pathology capabilities include next-generation sequencing, circulating tumor DNA analysis, and tumor profiling services that guide precision oncology treatment decisions for patients. Advanced imaging includes PET-CT, MRI with spectroscopy, interventional radiology, and nuclear medicine capabilities optimized for oncology applications.

The bone marrow transplant unit maintains specialized transplant rooms with HEPA filtration and laminar airflow for infection control. The Blood Bank and Apheresis services support one of the nation's busiest stem cell transplant programs. Pharmacy services include an oncology-specialized pharmacy providing chemotherapy preparation, investigational drug management, and clinical pharmacist consultation integrated into the multidisciplinary care teams.

MD Anderson Cancer Center welcomes patients from around the world and has extensive experience serving international patients seeking the highest level of cancer care. The myMDAnderson International program provides dedicated international patient coordinators who assist with appointment scheduling, medical record review and translation, visa documentation, financial counseling, and arrival logistics.

International patients traveling to the United States for cancer treatment typically require a B-2 medical visa. MD Anderson's international team can provide physician letters and supporting documentation to assist with the visa application process. Interpreter services are available in numerous languages through professional interpreters and telephone interpretation services, ensuring that language barriers do not impede communication between patients and their care teams.

Houston is a major international hub with a large, cosmopolitan population and a well-developed network of hotels, extended-stay facilities, and patient housing resources designed to serve the needs of patients and their families during extended cancer treatments. The International Center at MD Anderson provides additional support including assistance with local housing, transportation, and community resources. Spanish-speaking staff are widely available throughout the center, serving the large Latin American patient population that seeks care at MD Anderson.

MD Anderson Cancer Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), the primary accreditation body for US hospitals, verifying compliance with national standards for patient safety and care quality. The center is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center — the highest NCI designation available — recognizing its depth and breadth of cancer research, clinical programs, and cancer prevention and control activities.

For numerous consecutive years, MD Anderson has ranked number one in cancer care in the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals Specialty Rankings, a distinction achieved by no other hospital in any specialty for as long a period. This ranking reflects physician peer assessments, patient outcome data, nurse staffing ratios, and a range of patient safety metrics.

The center's research programs have earned recognition from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and numerous international cancer research bodies. MD Anderson researchers have contributed to the development of therapies that are now standard of care for multiple cancers, including landmark advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and combined modality treatment. The Proton Therapy Center and the bone marrow transplant program hold additional specialty accreditations from their respective professional societies.