Cancer Commons
Non-profit organisation
Palo Alto
California, USA
Expert Guidance for Advanced Cancer
Cancer Commons is a non-profit organization providing personalized guidance and precision treatment options for advanced cancer patients.
Cancer Commons is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California, whose mission is to provide personalized guidance to advanced cancer patients so that every patient - regardless of location or financial means - can access the most promising diagnostic and treatment options available to them.
Founded in 2011, Cancer Commons pairs each patient with a team of nurse navigators and PhD-level scientists who review the latest research, interpret genomic test results, identify clinical trials, and produce personalized action plans. All services are provided free of charge to patients and caregivers, funded entirely by philanthropy.
To date, Cancer Commons has served more than 15,000 patients across 40+ distinct cancer types, reaching patients in nearly every U.S. state and more than 35 countries. Our largest patient populations are brain cancer (39%), colorectal cancer (13%), pancreatic cancer (11%), and breast cancer (9%).
Key activities and milestones include:
- CCCS001 Clinical Study: In February 2026, Cancer Commons opened enrollment in the CCCS001 N-of-1 Observational Clinical Study (NCT07343024), open to any advanced cancer patient at any U.S. hospital - with no travel required. The study evaluates genomic mutation matching, genomic pathway matching, and functional drug sensitivity tests (DSTs) to identify personalized off-guideline treatments from among the ~90% of FDA-approved cancer drugs that fall outside standard guidelines for any given cancer type.
- Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA): Launched in July 2024 with the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information and Head for the Cure Foundation, providing dedicated nurse navigator and scientist support to brain cancer patients. In FY2025, the BCSSA supported more than 500 brain cancer patients and caregivers.
- Patient Navigation & Expert Guidance Support: Approximately 1,200 new and returning patients served in FY2025, each paired with a scientist-navigator team.
Cancer Commons holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025), reflecting our commitment to governance, accountability, and public disclosure.
Cancer Commons is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California, whose mission is to provide personalized guidance to advanced cancer patients so that every patient - regardless of location or financial means - can access the most promising diagnostic and treatment options available to them.
Founded in 2011, Cancer Commons pairs each patient with a team of nurse navigators and PhD-level scientists who review the latest research, interpret genomic test results, identify clinical trials, and produce personalized action plans. All services are provided free of charge to patients and caregivers, funded entirely by philanthropy.
To date, Cancer Commons has served more than 15,000 patients across 40+ distinct cancer types, reaching patients in nearly every U.S. state and more than 35 countries. Our largest patient populations are brain cancer (39%), colorectal cancer (13%), pancreatic cancer (11%), and breast cancer (9%).
Key activities and milestones include:
- CCCS001 Clinical Study: In February 2026, Cancer Commons opened enrollment in the CCCS001 N-of-1 Observational Clinical Study (NCT07343024), open to any advanced cancer patient at any U.S. hospital - with no travel required. The study evaluates genomic mutation matching, genomic pathway matching, and functional drug sensitivity tests (DSTs) to identify personalized off-guideline treatments from among the ~90% of FDA-approved cancer drugs that fall outside standard guidelines for any given cancer type.
- Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA): Launched in July 2024 with the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information and Head for the Cure Foundation, providing dedicated nurse navigator and scientist support to brain cancer patients. In FY2025, the BCSSA supported more than 500 brain cancer patients and caregivers.
- Patient Navigation & Expert Guidance Support: Approximately 1,200 new and returning patients served in FY2025, each paired with a scientist-navigator team.
Cancer Commons holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025), reflecting our commitment to governance, accountability, and public disclosure.
