Dr. Tate Thigpen named a Giant of Cancer Care
Dr. Tate Thigpen, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Division of Oncology at UMMC, is among the 14 inductees in OncLive’s 14th Annual Giants of Cancer Care awards program.
CCRI’s Dr. James “Tate” Thigpen Grand Rounds is named in his honor. The award was presented May 28 in Chicago.
The establishment of the Section of Oncology within the Division of Hematology at UMMC in 1973 brought solid-tumor care, including lung, breast and gynecologic cancers and sarcomas into the Department of Medicine. In 1980, the section became a stand-alone division. Alongside clinical research in solid tumors, the division developed a fellowship program that has trained oncologists serving Mississippi for more than 50 years.
Thigpen was co-chair of the Protocol Committee of the Gynecologic Oncology Group, one of 10 National Cancer Institute cooperative clinical research groups, for 35 years. During his tenure, the Protocol Committee became the major scientific committee of the group, and the number of potential study ideas increased dramatically.
He also served as the study chair of the GOG’s phase II study of doxorubicin in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma. Doxorubicin remains an important part of the therapy for patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma.
He served as the study chair for the GOG phase II trial evaluating cisplatin in gynecologic cancers. The study produced several important findings. Cisplatin was shown to have significant activity in a wide range of gynecologic malignancies, including squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine sarcomas, ovarian germ cell tumors and several rare tumor types.
The study also reinforced that cisplatin — and its related drug, carboplatin — remains a central part of treatment for cervical cancer. Both drugs continue to be key components of chemotherapy regimens and are widely used as radiation sensitizers in gynecologic cancers.
He also chaired the initial phase II trial of paclitaxel in ovarian carcinoma at the request of the National Cancer Institute.
Beginning in 1992, the GOG Protocol Committee launched pro‑con debate symposia to address controversies in gynecologic cancers. The format quickly proved valuable, giving GOG members an efficient way to stay current on emerging evidence and improving the quality of discussions during protocol development. Over the past 30 years, these symposia have strengthened study design, improved the sharing of information and ultimately enhanced patient care.
Thigpen served as the founding president of the Southern Association for Oncology, created in partnership with the Southern Medical Association. The organization hosted annual debate‑style meetings focused on continuing education for practicing oncologists across the southern states. Its success was reflected in the rapid growth of membership, which soon expanded well beyond the region over more than two decades.