Aspirus Cancer Care Brings Leading-Edge Clinical Trials and Advanced Therapies to Local Communities
2/26/2026
Dr. Thomas Oliver, Aspirus Medical Oncologist
Advances in cancer research are moving quickly and understanding how to apply that research to real patients is critical to improving outcomes. At Aspirus Cancer Care, specialists are not only staying current with the latest data, but they are also helping bring new treatments directly to the communities they serve.
“We want to provide the best and most up-to-date treatments for our patients,” said Dr. Thomas Oliver, Medical Oncologist with Aspirus Cancer Care. “Understanding the clinical trial data for a new drug is so important, so we can pair the right drugs with the right patients for the best outcomes.”
Cancer research often makes headlines for new drugs and breakthrough therapies. Behind every advance is careful evaluation of clinical trial data, weighing both statistical findings and real-world impact for patients. That process is central to how care is delivered at Aspirus.
“Here at Aspirus, we work as much as we can in a multidisciplinary fashion,” Dr. Oliver said. “We meet weekly with Medical Oncology and Pharmacy to discuss opportunities together, as well as with Surgical, Radiology, and Pathology. We’re all together, and we come out with a decision and the best treatment plan for our patients.”
This level of weekly, multidisciplinary collaboration is rare for a community-based cancer program of Aspirus’ size. It allows patients to benefit from collective expertise across specialties, leading to highly personalized, coordinated treatment plans close to home.
Aspirus Cancer Care is also actively involved in expanding access to new therapies. The team recently opened a Phase II clinical trial for small cell lung cancer involving a new drug entering the U.S. market. Aspirus is the first site in the United States to open the trial and begin enrolling patients, bringing early access to promising new therapy to local patients.
“We at Aspirus Cancer Care just opened a Phase II trial for small cell lung cancer with a new drug to the U.S. market,” Dr. Oliver said. “We’re the first site in the entire United States that has opened it, and we’re beginning to enroll patients now.”
In addition, Aspirus has expanded access to advanced cellular therapies, including T cell engager treatments for conditions such as small cell lung cancer and multiple myeloma. These therapies are often associated with large academic or tertiary care centers, but they are available locally through Aspirus.
“We’re doing a lot more cellular and T-cell engager therapy for different diseases like small cell lung cancer and multiple myeloma,” Dr. Oliver said. “That’s available right here at Aspirus. You don’t have to go to a tertiary care center. We’ve been doing that for almost two years now, and we were the first community site in Wisconsin and Minnesota to make that available.”
Having access to advanced treatment options close to home is so important to patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis. Aspirus Cancer Care is proud to continue to invest in research, innovation, and collaborative care models to ensure our patients receive the highest level of care, personalized to their needs.
To learn more about cancer care services and available treatment options, visit aspirus.org/cancer-care-blood-disorders.
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