The Formation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Development of a Medical Specialty, 1964-1973

In April 1964, seven physicians met to discuss the formation of a new medical society for clinicians interested in the management of patients with cancer. Chemical warfare research during World War II had led to the advent of chemotherapeutic agents, a new, systemic approach toward cancer treatment. While skeptics questioned the benefits of chemotherapy, some internists viewed these drugs as promising new tools. Founders of the American Society of Clinical Oncology built their organization upon the importance, despite potential dangers, of utilizing chemotherapy as an essential component of cancer treatment, and positioned themselves as best qualified to manage the care of patients with cancer. The establishment of a new professional organization helped to anchor medical oncology as a distinct field during a time of increasing medical specialization in the United States. This essay examines the Society's early history within a broader context of the development of new chemical agents and cooperative groups, the formation of a new subspecialty, and increasing federal involvement in health care policy and funding, and describes the struggle of medical oncologists to solidify their authority over clinical cancer research and patient care.