View source for Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine

{{short description|Medical research organization in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH
|logo            = 
|logo_size       = 
|logo_caption    = 
|picture         = 
|picture_width   = 
|picture_caption = 
|formed          = {{start date and age|1998}}
|preceding1      = 
|dissolved       =
|budget = $105&nbsp;million (2011) 
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    =
|headquarters    = {{nowrap|[[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]], Maryland, U.S.}}
|chief1_name     = Jeffrey D. White
|chief1_position = Director
|parent_agency   =  [[National Cancer Institute]]
|child1_agency   =
|website         = [https://cam.cancer.gov/ OCCAM] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20090923204628/http://www.cancer.gov/cam/index.html archive])
|footnotes       =
|region_code     = US-MD
}}
{{Alternative medical systems|fringe}}

The '''Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine''' (OCCAM) is an office of the [[National Cancer Institute]] (NCI) in the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis. OCCAM was founded in 1998 and is responsible for NCI's research agenda in pseudoscientific [[alternative medicine|complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)]], as it relates to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and symptom management.<ref>{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1046/j.1523-5394.2000.81010.x
| issn = 1065-4704
| volume = 8
| issue = 1
| pages = 45–48
| last = Richardson
| first = Mary Ann
|author2=Jeffrey D. White
| title = Complementary/Alternative Medicine and Cancer Research. A National Initiative
| journal = Cancer Practice
| year = 2000
| pmid = 10732539
}}</ref> The OCCAM differs from the [[National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health]] (NCCIH, formerly NCCAM or National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in that it is exclusively focused on cancer, while the NCCIH funds a much broader program of NIH research into CAM for all diseases and disorders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2002_08_02/noDOI.8477598065884474238 |author=Katie Cottingham |title=Funding for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medical Approaches (NIH) |publisher=Science |year=2002 |access-date=September 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210072126/http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2002_08_02/noDOI.8477598065884474238 |archive-date=February 10, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It last produced an annual report in 2011 and spent $105&nbsp;million on CAM research in 2011.<ref name="2011A">{{cite report|title=Annual Report on CAM 2011 |url=https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/cam_annual_report_fy11.pdf |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226225553/https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/cam_annual_report_fy11.pdf |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="name-change">{{cite web |title=NIH complementary and integrative health agency gets new name |url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-complementary-integrative-health-agency-gets-new-name |website=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |access-date=4 October 2022 |language=EN |date=22 July 2015}}</ref>

== Organization ==
OCCAM funds scientists who are interested in researching CAM. Its stated mission is to improve the quality of care for cancer patients, as well as those at risk for cancer and those recovering from cancer treatment. It aims to achieve this by helping advance [[evidence-based medicine]] in CAM practice and research. OCCAM also tries to supply reliable information about the possible risks and benefits of alternative medicine to the health care community, scientists, and the general public.<ref name=CMAJ>{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1503/cmaj.060228
| issn = 1488-2329
| volume = 174
| issue = 7
| pages = 956–957
| last = Assouline
| first = Sarit
|author2=Wilson H Miller
| title = High-dose vitamin C therapy: renewed hope or false promise?
| journal = Canadian Medical Association Journal| date = March 28, 2006
| pmid = 16567756
| pmc = 1405871
}}</ref>
OCCAM is organized into three main programs:

*The Research Development and Support Program analyzes the CAM research portfolio, to aid funding and policy decisions. It also advises researchers on how to prepare grant applications based on review committee comments.
*The goal of the Practice Assessment Program is to improve the quality of care of cancer patients by a rigorous scientific evaluation of cancer CAM interventions. The PAP also reviews case summary data from patients who use CAM therapies for the treatment of cancer through the NCI Best Case Series Program. This program tries to identify successful applications of CAM therapies with anti-cancer effects. 
*The Communications and Outreach Program aims to acquire and develop high-quality information about cancer and CAM for NCI and for dissemination to the health care community, researchers, patients, and the general public.  As of January 2018, the last public lecture communicated was in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cam.cancer.gov/news_and_events/lectures.htm|title=Lectures|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064219/https://cam.cancer.gov/news_and_events/lectures.htm|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> the last annual report was published in 2011<ref name="2011A"/> and the last semiannual newsletter was produced in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cam.cancer.gov/news_and_events/occam_newsletter.htm|title=Events|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064203/https://cam.cancer.gov/news_and_events/occam_newsletter.htm|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Research grant funding==

OCCAM does not conduct clinical or basic research but sponsors both types with grants. It coordinates NCI's CAM research activities and attempts to assist the growth of CAM research within the NCI. It attempts to integrate with other research in related areas (e.g. nutrition, natural products, and behavioral sciences). As of January 2019, there are no active clinical trials listed on the department's website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cam.cancer.gov/research/clinical_trials.htm|title=Clinical Trials|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129122947/https://cam.cancer.gov/research/clinical_trials.htm|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The department's budget has grown from $20&nbsp;million at its start in 1998.<ref name="2009report">{{cite web |title=2009 Annual Report |url=https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/nci_cam_annual_report_fy09.pdf#search=%22annual%20report%22 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226225619/https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/nci_cam_annual_report_fy09.pdf#search=%22annual%20report%22 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In FY 2011, the last year that an annual report was published, OCCAM supported approximately $105,341,737&nbsp;million in CAM-related research in 382 projects covering topics such as [[acupuncture]] and [[vitamin C]].<ref name="2011A"/> In 2009 and 2010 the NCI used about $6.5&nbsp;million each year in funds from the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act]] (ARRA).<ref name="2009report"/><ref name="2010 report"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  Fiscal Year !! NCI's CAM Expenditures !! # Projects
|-
| 2003 || $119,900,000|| ?
|-
| 2004 || $128,671,113|| ?
|-
| 2005 || $121,076,919 ||400
|-
| 2006 || $123,076,167 ||461
|-
| 2007 || $121,932,765 || 456
|-
| 2008 || $121,264,507 || 444
|-
| 2009||$114,441,501+ || 429
|-
|2010|| $114,460,116+ || 406
|-
|2011|| $105,341,737 || 382
|-
|2012 - 2023|| Unknown||?
|}
<ref name="2007B">{{cite web |title=2007 Budget |url=https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/CAMAnnualReportFY2007.pdf#search=%222007%22 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227014005/https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/CAMAnnualReportFY2007.pdf#search=%222007%22 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="insolence">{{cite web|url=https://respectfulinsolence.com/2008/05/06/why-arent-there-more-trials-studying-the/|title=Why aren't there more trials studying CAM?|access-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129235855/https://respectfulinsolence.com/2008/05/06/why-arent-there-more-trials-studying-the/|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=live|date=May 6, 2008}}</ref><ref name="2008report">{{cite web |title=2008 Annual Report |url=https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/fy2008_CAM_annual_report.pdf#search=%222008%22 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226224529/https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/fy2008_CAM_annual_report.pdf#search=%222008%22 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="2010 report">{{cite web |title=2010 Annual report |url=https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/cam_annual_report_fy10.pdf#search=%22annual%20report%22 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227014207/https://cam.cancer.gov/docs/annual_report/cam_annual_report_fy10.pdf#search=%22annual%20report%22 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="2005 Report">{{cite web |title=2005 Annual Report |url=http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/CAMAnnualReportFY2005-508_final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216152118/http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/CAMAnnualReportFY2005-508_final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="2006Report">{{cite web |title=2006 Annual Report |url=http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/CAMAnnualReportFY2006-508.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216142319/http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/CAMAnnualReportFY2006-508.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2013 }}</ref>

==May 2016 conference==

In May 2016, OCCAM held a two-day workshop on the state of CAM on Cancer treatments. The workshop identified many problems specific to CAM research for cancer treatment.<ref name="workshop">{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/jncimonographs/lgx003|pmid=29140484|title=State of the Science: Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapeutics Research—NCI Strategic Workshop Highlights of Discussion Report|journal=JNCI Monographs|volume=2017|issue=52|year=2017|last1=Xi|first1=Dan|last2=Bao|first2=Ting|last3=Chen|first3=Qi|last4=Chen|first4=Sushing|last5=Cheng|first5=Yung-chi|last6=Cullen|first6=Joseph|last7=Frank|first7=David A.|last8=Friedberg|first8=Jonathan W.|last9=Kronish|first9=Ian|last10=Lee|first10=Jeffrey E.|last11=Levine|first11=Mark|last12=Li|first12=Pingping|last13=Li|first13=Shao|last14=Lu|first14=Weidong|last15=Mao|first15=Jun J.|last16=o'Keefe|first16=Stephen|last17=Rubinstein|first17=Larry|last18=Shah|first18=Manish A.|last19=Standish|first19=Leanna|last20=Paller|first20=Channing J.|last21=Chu|first21=Edward|pmc=6061228}}</ref>

==Criticism==
A 2005 report in the ''[[Journal of Clinical Oncology]]'' analyzed the research portfolio of OCCAM and the grant applications it received and identified serious challenges in the design and performance of research into CAM therapies for cancer: notably the lack of standardized products or protocols for CAM therapy and the inherent difficulty in studying products with no known mode of action.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1200/JCO.2005.10.728
| volume = 23
| issue = 27
| pages = 6682–6689
| last = Buchanan
| first = David R.
| author2 = Jeffrey D. White
| author3 = Ann M. O'Mara
| author4 = Joseph W. Kelaghan
| author5 = Wendy B. Smith
| author6 = Lori M. Minasian
| title = Research-Design Issues in Cancer-Symptom-Management Trials Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Lessons From the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program Experience
| journal = J Clin Oncol
| date = September 20, 2005
| pmid = 16170176
| df = mdy-all
| doi-access = free
}}
</ref>

In 2012, the ''[[Journal of the American Medical Association]]'' (JAMA) published a criticism that study after study had been funded by OCCAMS' sister organization,  NCCAM, but these studies "failed to prove that complementary or alternative therapies are anything more than placebos".<ref name=ITPWS/> The ''JAMA'' criticism pointed to large wasting of research money on testing scientifically implausible treatments, citing "NCCAM officials spending $406,000 to find that coffee [[enema]]s do not cure pancreatic cancer."<ref name=ITPWS>Is taxpayer money well spent or wasted on alternative-medicine research?, Susan Perry, August 5, 2012, [[MinnPost]], [https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2012/05/taxpayer-money-well-spent-or-wasted-alternative-medicine-research] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206235629/https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2012/05/taxpayer-money-well-spent-or-wasted-alternative-medicine-research/ |date=December 6, 2018 }}</ref> It was pointed out that negative results from testing were generally ignored by the public, that people continue to "believe what they want to believe, arguing that it does not matter what the data show: They know what works for them".<ref name=ITPWS/> Continued increasing use of CAM products was also blamed on the lack of FDA ability to regulate alternative products, where negative studies do not result in FDA warnings or FDA-mandated changes on labeling, whereby few consumers are aware that many claims of many supplements were found not to be supported.<ref name=ITPWS/>

In 2018, it was shown that cancer patients who choose alternative medicine over proven cancer treatments are more likely to die. Patients who choose herbs, homoeopathy or other alternative treatments are twice as likely to die of cancer.<ref name="harm">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna892841 |first=Maggie|last=Fox|title=Cancer patients who use alternative medicine die sooner, study finds Complementary therapies may sound good, but they don't cure cancer.|accessdate=February 11, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]
*[[Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://cam.cancer.gov/ Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine]
*[http://dctd.cancer.gov/ Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis]

{{National Institutes of Health}}
{{Pseudoscience}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Office of}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category: Cancer organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Medical research institutes in Maryland]]
[[Category: National Institutes of Health|Cancer Institute]]
[[Category: Alternative medicine organizations]]