The START Center for Cancer Care

What The START Center for Cancer Care does

The START Center for Cancer Care (legal entity South Texas Oncology and Hematology) is a private, multi-disciplinary oncology practice headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, operating five to seven clinic locations across the San Antonio metropolitan area and Boerne. The practice delivers comprehensive cancer care across four integrated pillars — medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and hematology — supported by an on-site specialty pharmacy and clinical trials program (StartResearch). It serves cancer patients across multiple tumor types with dedicated programs in breast, upper gastrointestinal, and skin cancers, including first-in-region capabilities such as melanoma genetic testing and injectable cancer vaccine therapy, plus a high-volume robotic surgery program.

The practice employs 30+ board-certified physicians trained at top institutions (MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, Harvard MGH) and 101–250 total staff. Its technology stack centers on advanced radiation therapy systems (IMRT/VMAT, SBRT, IGRT, SRS, GK Radiosurgery, EDGE), DaVinci Single-Site robotic surgery, SPECT CT imaging, and a clinical trials infrastructure that has achieved several first-in-world designations (melanoma immunotherapy, Libtayo for SCC). Patient services include financial counseling, rehabilitation through Methodist Healthcare, nutrition counseling (JTA Wellness), and wellness programs co-developed with the ThriveWell Cancer Foundation.

Revenue is generated through professional fees for clinical services, infusion and injection administration, radiation therapy delivery, surgical procedures, and dispensing of specialty pharmaceuticals from the on-site pharmacy. The go-to-market model is consultative and referral-driven: primary care physicians and specialists refer patients, the practice accepts most major insurance plans, scheduling is available via phone or online forms, and financial counseling is automatically scheduled with each new patient. A 2026 careers page hosted on OneOncology's Workday suggests affiliation with a national oncology platform.

Name

The START Center for Cancer Care

Legal name

South Texas Oncology and Hematology

Website

https://thestartcenter.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The START Center for Cancer Care is a private, multi-disciplinary oncology practice in San Antonio, Texas delivering medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, hematology, on-site pharmacy, and clinical trials across multiple clinic locations for adult cancer patients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology and Hematology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Ambulatory Oncology Centers (Outpatient Chemo/Radiation) (HLAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Oncology (HLAKAFAB), Surgical Oncology (HLAKAFAG), Breast Oncology (HLAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Oncology treatment services
• Radiation therapy
• Surgical oncology
• Hematology services
• Cancer clinical trials

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical Oncology Services: Revenue generated from comprehensive medical oncology consultations, chemotherapy administration, and ongoing cancer treatment management across all cancer types.
2. Hematology Services: Specialized blood disorder and disease treatment including anemia, sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma management.
3. Surgical Oncology Services: Surgical procedures including curative, staging, debulking, palliative, supportive, and restorative surgeries for various cancer types.
4. Radiation Oncology Services: Complete radiation therapy treatments including external-beam, IMRT, radiosurgery (EDGE), and various radiation techniques for cancer treatment.
5. On-site Pharmacy Services: On-site pharmacy providing medication dispensing, prior authorization processing, patient financial assistance, specialty medication home delivery via FedEx, and medication counseling.
6. Clinical Trials: Access to innovative cancer treatments through clinical trial participation, offering patients early access to emerging therapies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The START Center for Cancer Care is a multi-disciplinary oncology practice delivering comprehensive cancer treatment through Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Hematology services. The practice operates specialty programs for Breast, Upper GI, and Skin cancers, provides access to clinical trials, and offers an on-site outpatient pharmacy and financial assistance counseling to support patients across the continuum of cancer care.

Product overview

The START Center for Cancer Care is a multi-disciplinary oncology practice providing comprehensive cancer care through integrated core services: Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Hematology. The center operates specialty cancer programs for Breast, Upper GI, and Skin cancers, offering advanced treatments including clinical trials access. Support services include an on-site outpatient pharmacy and financial assistance counseling. The organization is part of South Texas Oncology and Hematology with multiple clinic locations across San Antonio, Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Oncology Comprehensive cancer treatment using medication-based therapies including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy administered by board-certified medical oncologists for all cancer types.
• Surgical Oncology Cancer surgery services including diagnostic, staging, curative, debulking, palliative, supportive, and restorative surgical procedures performed by specialized surgical oncologists.
• Radiation Oncology Advanced radiation therapy treatments including external-beam radiation, IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, IGRT, SRS, GK Radiosurgery, EDGE radiosurgery, and brachytherapy delivered by radiation oncologists using linear accelerators.
• Hematology Specialized care for blood disorders and diseases including anemia, sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and coagulation disorders.
• Clinical Trials Access to innovative cancer treatments through clinical trial participation, offering patients early access to emerging therapies shaping the future of cancer care, operated through StartResearch.
• Breast Cancer Program Comprehensive breast cancer care including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy), survivorship support, genetic testing and counseling, and wellness programs such as DIVA/DUDE exercise and nutrition programs.
• Upper GI Cancer Program Personalized treatment plans for upper gastrointestinal cancers including pancreatic, gastric, biliary, and periampullary cancers, combining oncology, surgery, and therapy expertise.
• Skin Cancer Program Advanced skin cancer care including melanoma genetic testing, injectable cancer vaccines, and comprehensive treatment for melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. First in South Texas to use melanoma genetic testing.
• Outpatient Pharmacy On-site pharmacy providing medication dispensing, prior authorization processing, patient financial assistance, specialty medication home delivery via FedEx, and medication counseling for cancer patients.
• Financial Assistance Services Financial counseling and assistance including help with insurance, co-pay and coinsurance costs, and obtaining additional funding to reduce patient financial burden, automatically scheduled with each new patient.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 250 new skin cancer patients annually, including 80% of melanoma cases in San Antonio
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ThriveWell Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit foundation providing funding for cancer research and financial assistance for cancer patients. START co-developed the DIVA (Deriving Inspiration and Vitality through Activity) wellness program dedicated to improvement of breast cancer patients and survivors through exercise and nutrition. Also co-developed the Dude wellness program. Partnership includes annual Paint the Parkway Pink fun run and Iron Strong Golf Tournament fundraising events.
• Methodist Healthcare SystemcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMethodist Cancer Care Rehabilitation Center provides rehabilitation services for START patients including chemotherapy rehabilitation, functional movement restoration, lymphedema management, pain control, and prehabilitation. START physicians serve on Cancer Governance Board and participate in Methodist Breast Cancer Network and Methodist GI Cancer Network.
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient support organization providing resources for pancreatic cancer patients. Referenced as a resource for upper GI cancer patients.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of leading cancer centers dedicated to improving quality and effectiveness of cancer care. Provides patient resources and guidelines.
• Wonders & WorriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing support for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. Helps families navigate the emotional and practical challenges during treatment.
• JTA WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition counseling services provider for cancer patients. Offers personalized nutrition guidance as part of comprehensive cancer care.
• Overcomers Breast CancerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreast cancer support organization providing community and resources for breast cancer patients and survivors.
• StartResearch (Clinical Trials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trials program providing patients early access to innovative cancer treatments and shaping the future of cancer care. First group in South Texas to conduct clinical trials for oral melanoma therapy and first group in the world to treat melanoma patient with immunotherapy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Northwest Medical Specialties: Pacific Northwest community oncology practice offering medical oncology, hematology, and infusion services. Comparable in independent multi-specialty model but serves a different geography.

Direct peers

• Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute: Large multi-specialty, community-based oncology group providing medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, and clinical trials across Florida. Comparable in scale, service breadth, and private-practice operating model.
• Tennessee Oncology: Multi-site community oncology practice offering medical oncology, hematology, radiation, and clinical trial access across Tennessee. Mirrors START's physician-led, multi-specialty private oncology model.
• Texas Oncology: Largest independent oncology practice in the US with multiple Texas locations. Multi-specialty medical, surgical, and radiation oncology with clinical trials, offering a directly comparable community oncology model to START's operating structure.
• New York Cancer & Blood Specialists: Independent, multi-location oncology and hematology practice on the East Coast. Highly comparable in offering breadth (medical oncology, radiation, hematology, clinical trials) and community-practice scale.
• Compass Oncology: Community-based oncology practice in Oregon and Washington providing medical, surgical, and radiation oncology plus clinical trials. Comparable integrated multi-specialty private oncology operating model.

Broad incumbents

• MD Anderson Cancer Center: NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Houston with deep specialty oncology programs. Competes for complex cases and clinical trial referrals originating from South Texas, including START's catchment.
• Methodist Healthcare System: Major San Antonio-area health system operating Methodist Cancer Care and rehabilitation services that partner with START. Competes for oncology referrals in the same primary geography.
• OneOncology: Platform organization partnering with leading community oncology practices (including START, via its careers portal) to deliver shared services, capital, and clinical programs. Platform-level peer relationship.
• US Oncology Network (McKesson): Large national network of community oncology practices offering practice management, technology, and clinical trial infrastructure. Comparable in business model and scale, though operating as a network rather than a single clinic brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The START Center for Cancer Care