Texas hospitals are making big strides in the fight against cancer, and San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center at UT Health is leading the charge. The Northwest Side medical center just earned a spot on Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 list of the nation’s top 100 oncology programs.
The healthcare business journal accepted nominations from healthcare professionals to help compile its list. The final, unranked honor roll represents “cancer centers led by world-renowned experts who are driving innovation, ensuring patient safety, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer treatment and research,” according to the magazine.
Becker’s noted that UT Health San Antonio is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in South and Central Texas. The medical center also leads in drug research and clinical trial opportunities, including first-in-human studies of promising new treatments.
“Earning this recognition marks a defining moment not only for our institution, but for the future of cancer care and research in our nation,” said Francisco Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system at The University of Texas at San Antonio, in a release. “It affirms the Mays Cancer Center’s place among the country’s most distinguished cancer centers — advancing discovery, delivering unparalleled care and transforming outcomes for patients across South Texas and beyond.”
Founded in 1974, the Mays Cancer Center has been a designated National Cancer Institute cancer center since 1991. In 2017, it joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center partner program, giving it even more access to cutting-edge oncology experts and research. In its time, Mays has developed 20 different new cancer drugs that have been approved for treatment and sees roughly 35,000 patients annually.
In 2022, Mays gained Food and Drug Administration approval for developing pacritinib to treat the chronic leukemia known as myelofibrosis. It was the fifth leukemia drug Mays had developed since 2011. This history of active drug trials leading to approved pharmacological treatments is a core reason Mays has risen in acclaim.
“This distinction is a tremendous honor,” said Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, executive director of Mays Cancer Center, via a statement. “It represents years of investment, collaboration, and a testament to the dedication of our entire team. Most importantly, it means families in South Texas have access to nationally recognized cancer care, research, and clinical trials close to home.”
The University of Texas Health Systems did exceptionally well according to Becker’s. The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas also made the list thanks to its extensive research arm. Unsurprisingly, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston was also included, remaining one of the top cancer hospital systems in the world.
Other hospitals in Texas that made the list are Baylor Scott & White in Dallas and the DeTar Hospital Cancer Center in Victoria. The latter is especially impressive as it only opened in 2023. The state-of-the-art facility specializes in being a kind of cancer crossroads, delivering care to patients who mostly see oncologists closer to home.