The only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Arizona, the University of Arizona Cancer Center is part of Banner–University Medical Center Tucson. With 50 years of excellence, it is the No. 1 cancer center in Tucson, ranked by U.S. News & World Report for four consecutive years, and remains Tucson’s only accredited breast cancer center and one of just three in Arizona. With three outpatient sites, the center sees over 220,000 patient visits annually, including more than 60,000 medical oncology and 17,000 radiation oncology treatments, with over 3,800 surgeries performed at hospital locations each year. About 3,000 newly diagnosed patients are registered annually, drawing from the five southernmost counties of Arizona and from across the U.S. as a destination for cancer care. Its multidisciplinary care model unites specialists across teams and departments to deliver individualized, evidence-based treatment. The center’s research enterprise spans the full translational continuum across 16 disease categories, with 11 clinical research teams averaging approximately 786 accruals per year. The center’s lung cancer screening and incidental findings programs reflect a deep commitment to early detection and improved patient outcomes. Deeply committed to its community, the center’s catchment area covers 1.8 million people, representing 25.6% of Arizona’s population, with significant diversity including 39% Hispanic and 4.1% American Indian populations. From 2023 to 2025, the center engaged 68 community partners across 8 counties, hosted 205 outreach events, and reached over 12,000 people through education and engagement initiatives.
