 The decade 1980-1990 changed the institute from being a nondescript hospital treating cancer patients to a well-known comprehensive regional center for cancer treatment and research.At that time, it was capable of offering state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services to cancer patients from Karnataka to neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra.The institute was the first medical college in India to start a full-fledged post-graduate course in paediatrics.