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The Oregon Comprehensive Cancer Program began out of interest in forming an Oregon Cancer Center. The group, initially referred to as the Committee for the Development of an Oregon Cancer Center, first met in December of 1971 in anticipation of a visit by the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute to Portland that month. The main goal was to unite Oregon hospitals under a cooperative partnership to form a united cancer center, which could then seek funding from the federal government for research and education. The cooperative program would also allow for improved use of facilities, establishment of a tumor registry and a tumor bank, facilitate the collection and dissemination of information, explore how care could be made available to a diverse and scattered population; and provide better opportunities for student education and professional training. While many were involved at this early stage, those leading the effort appear to have been Drs. Edward Goldblatt and J. S. Reinschmidt (Oregon Regional Medical Program), Dr. Marvin Rittenburg (University of Oregon Medical School), and Drs. Harvey Baker, William Fletcher, and Leroy Groshong.

In 1972, the center's name was changed to the Oregon Clinical Cancer Research Center, with Dr. Alfred C. Hutchinson named as the Chairman of the Steering Committee. It was hoped that one representative from each hospital in the state, with a cancer program and at least 200 patients, would serve on the Planning Group. By the end of 1972, the name had changed again, to the Oregon Comprehensive Cancer Program (OCCP). In 1973, an agreement was reached between OCCP and the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) whereby MRF would serve as the fiscal agent for the Program; the Foundation soon oversaw all financial matters relating to the Program.

In 1975, OCCP released the first annual statistical report of the statewide cancer registry, with financial assistance from the American Cancer Society. The statewide registry provided computerized services to hospitals for assistance with their registries and provided a uniform database for the study of cancer and evaluating the effectiveness of cancer control programs. In 1976, MRF awarded OCCP a four-year grant to support core services.

OCCP also operated the Oregon Cancer Data Program (OCDP), which served as a centralized tumor registry for hospitals in Oregon (as well as some in Washington). OCDP served roughly 40 hospitals and transmitted cancer data to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Data System (RMCDS). However, in 1983, all agreements were amended to allow the participants to negotiate directly with RMCDS, and OCCP terminated their data collection activities as of January 31, 1984.