ROCHESTER, Minn. — A multidisciplinary surgical team at Mayo Clinic has successfully treated an exceptionally rare and life-threatening cancer that invaded a patient's heart and airway. The procedure combined advanced cardiac surgery with complex airway reconstruction and represents a significant achievement in modern cancer care. 

Tami Channel's thyroid cancer was so advanced that her family had begun planning hospice care. The tumor had severely compromised her airway and had encased her carotid artery and jugular vein, two of the body's most vital blood vessels.  

Primary cancers of the heart are extremely rare. Most tumors that appear in the heart are benign, and malignant cardiac tumors such as sarcomas account for only a small fraction of all cancers. Airway tumors involving the throat or trachea are also uncommon and often detected late because early symptoms can resemble routine respiratory issues. When a malignant growth extends into both the heart and the airway, the risks multiply quickly because the tumor can narrow or block breathing passages and interfere with the heart's ability to function. 

Faced with a tumor that had grown into vital structures and left the patient's airway nearly the width of a toothpick, the care team, including Mabel Ryder, M.D., a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, and Eric Moore, M.D., a Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeon, recognized that conventional treatment would not be enough. Tami needed a highly complex surgery — and it needed to happen quickly. As a matter of priority, Tami would undergo an unscheduled thoracotomy and bypass, an emergency open-chest operation that requires opening the chest cavity, supporting circulation through a heart-lung machine, and working around critical airways and blood vessels. Few hospitals could coordinate such a demanding procedure so quickly. 

"We were able to make it happen because it needed to be done," Dr. Moore says. "That's the Mayo difference." 

The operating room reflected Mayo's integrated model: anesthesiology, perfusion, bronchoscopy, cardiothoracic surgery, and head and neck surgery, with each discipline contributing seamlessly. 

"It felt like a choreographed ballet," Dr. Moore says. "This kind of multidisciplinary precision doesn't just happen — it's the Mayo model in action." 

During the same operation, specialists reconstructed the airway to restore safe breathing. Procedures of this complexity rely on close coordination among cardiac surgeons, thoracic and airway surgeons, ear, nose and throat specialists, anesthesiologists, oncologists, and critical care teams. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center experts are uniquely positioned to manage these cases because they can move quickly from diagnosis to complex surgery and recovery. 

This successful intervention shows what is possible when specialists collaborate on rare cancers that cross organ systems.  

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center   
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives.  

Media contact:  

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu  

The post Mayo Clinic integrated care enables treatment for rare, complex cancer      appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic researcher Fergus Couch, Ph.D., has spent his career studying inherited breast cancer and cancer genetics. Early on, he saw that many families lived with uncertainty of their cancer risk, especially when genetic tests revealed variants no one fully understood. 

He set out to change that.  

Dr. Couch is a consultant in laboratory medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and holds the Zbigniew and Anna M. Scheller Professorship in Medical Research in Honor of Dr. Thomas J. McDonald. 

Mayo Clinic works with an international network of collaborators, which includes Dr. Couch and his team, who have helped identify many inherited gene alterations that contribute to breast cancer risk.  

"We interact on a thematic level — surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, geneticists and biochemists," Dr. Couch shares. "We all work together, focused on improving our knowledge of breast cancer and quickly developing treatments and cures for patients at Mayo Clinic." 

Earlier this year, Dr. Couch and other co-authors published a study in Nature, which included one of the most comprehensive functional maps to date of the BRCA2 cancer risk gene.  

By testing nearly every possible change in this gene, Mayo Clinic researchers can identify which patients are more likely to benefit from targeted cancer therapies.  

The work reclassifies previously uncertain genetic test results, helping care teams individualize cancer screening, prevention and treatment. Together, it shows how Mayo Clinic is turning complex genetic data into information clinicians can use now, a central goal of precision medicine. 

"It's the extra step that makes the difference, helping people use the findings immediately," Dr. Couch says. "The results of our paper are used to help patients in the clinic. My entire career has been focused on getting information to patients as quickly as possible." 

Today, Dr. Couch continues to explore why certain inherited changes lead to cancer, why some families develop breast cancer without known risk genes and how discoveries in the lab can translate to improved care. Just this month, Dr. Couch won the prestigious Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his significant work in advancing breast cancer research. 

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center 
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining new boundaries in possibility, focusing on patient-centered care, developing novel treatments, training future generations of cancer experts, and bringing cancer research to communities. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs that are changing approaches to cancer prevention, screening and treatment, and improving the lives of cancer survivors. Visit the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Blog for news, information and stories from Mayo Clinic's cancer experts and patients.  

The post Mayo Clinic researcher brings new clarity to breast cancer risk through genetics research  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new Mayo Clinic study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has uncovered that an off-the-shelf, dual-antibody therapy can generate deep and durable responses in extramedullary multiple myeloma — one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of the disease. 

"We are seeing powerful responses in a disease that historically has resisted every therapy," says Shaji Kumar, M.D., a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center hematologist and senior author of the study. "By recruiting T cells in two distinct ways at once, this dual-target antibody strategy can generate responses in patients who have had very few effective options." 

The approach combines two engineered antibodies, talquetamab and teclistamab, that simultaneously engage T cells and force them to attack myeloma cells through two separate immune pathways. Unlike CAR-T cell therapy, which requires custom manufacturing, this regimen is delivered as a standard infusion-center injection. 

In a trial involving 90 patients, 79% responded to treatment, and 54% achieved no detectable disease by imaging or blood testing. Among responders, nearly two-thirds maintained disease control at one year, a striking improvement for a subtype that typically carries a months-long prognosis. 

This is the first large, prospective study defined specifically by PET/MRI scan and focused exclusively on true extramedullary myeloma, not a mix of para- and extramedullary disease. Serious side effects were common. Infection was one serious side effect and underscores the importance of comprehensive supportive care alongside immunotherapy. 

The next big questions are whether this dual-target strategy can be moved earlier in the disease course, how safety can be optimized further through infection monitoring and prevention, and whether similar "two-locks, one-key" immune designs can be applied to other hard-to-treat cancers. 

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study. 

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center  
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives. 

Media contact:  

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic researchers find new hope for toughest myeloma through off-the-shelf immunotherapy  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

• GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic launch GEMINI-RT, a strategic initiative to personalize radiation therapy by integrating imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) and patient monitoring across the cancer care continuum. 

• The collaboration focuses on four pillars — automation, predictive oncology, multi-modal therapies and outpatient monitoring — to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce clinician burnout and accelerate innovation in radiation oncology.
   
  

CHICAGO — GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic today are announcing the GE HealthCare-Mayo Clinic Initiative in Radiation Therapy, known as GEMINI-RT, an ambitious new collaboration that aims to transform personalized radiation therapy and cancer care. Building on decades of collaboration and the Strategic Radiology Research Collaboration signed in 2023, GEMINI-RT plans to drive innovation in prediction, planning, automation, workflow and monitoring for radiation oncology.  

GEMINI-RT combines Mayo Clinic's world-class clinical and research expertise with GE HealthCare's leading technical and engineering innovation in oncology care and radiation therapy. The initiative aims to deliver comprehensive, personalized care by exploring integrating imaging, advanced therapies, dosimetry and patient monitoring at every step of the patient journey — from detection and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. 

Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of cancer care, used in more than 50% of cases worldwide and for over 2 million U.S. patients annually^1,2. The rising rates of new cancer diagnoses worldwide, with 19.3 million new cases in 2022, continues to drive demand for this treatment³. Through GEMINI-RT, Mayo Clinic and GE HealthCare aim to make personalized radiation therapy accessible by integrating streamlined, data-driven solutions that will leverage Mayo Clinic's clinical expertise and patient outcomes data. 

"GEMINI-RT is grounded in the concept of 'twinning the patient, personalizing the beam' — a transformative approach made possible by Mayo Clinic's extensive clinical expertise and outcomes data," said Bryan Traughber, M.D., vice chair of innovation for radiation oncology at Mayo Clinic. "The combination of research and technological acumen could allow us to model individual patient journeys with precision, enabling radiation therapy treatments that are truly tailored to each patient." 

The collaboration will deepen efforts across four strategic areas: 

• Automation: Collaborating on AI-powered solutions to eliminate repetitive tasks and accelerate treatment planning. 

• Predictive oncology: Harnessing clinical insights to personalize cancer treatment decisions and improve outcomes. 

• Multimodal therapies: Exploring approaches that combine radiation with emerging treatments like targeted drugs and precision heating for more effective care.  

• Connected care: Using AI, biomarkers and sensors to monitor patients beyond the clinic — with the aim of predicting side effects early and supporting treatment at home.  

"This effort enables us to collaborate on solutions that are not only leading-edge but also clinically meaningful, helping shape the future of personalized radiation therapy. By integrating innovative technology and AI across the care continuum, we can improve clinician experience, support high-quality patient care and help reduce burnout among care teams," said Dr. Ben Newton, global head of oncology for GE Healthcare.  

GEMINI-RT research and activities will be based at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, leveraging both organizations' strengths in clinical practice, research and product development. This initiative will build on the accomplishments of 2023 Strategic Radiology Research Collaboration in which GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic are collaborating on projects in advanced magnetic resonance (MR) technologies and techniques, theranostics treatment for cancer, and diagnostic and interventional ultrasound. 

• [1] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). 2023. “Expanding Global Access to Radiotherapy.”
• [2] American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). 2020. “Geographic Access to Radiation Therapy in the United States.” ASTRO Press Kit.
• [3] World Health Organization (WHO). 2024. “Global Cancer Burden Growing Amidst Mounting Need for Services.” WHO News Release.

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About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. 
GE HealthCare is a trusted partner and leading global healthcare solutions provider, innovating medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and integrated, cloud-first AI-enabled solutions, services and data analytics. It aims to make hospitals and health systems more efficient, clinicians more effective, therapies more precise, and patients healthier and happier. Serving patients and providers for more than 125 years, GE HealthCare is advancing personalized, connected and compassionate care, while simplifying the patient's journey across care pathways. Together, its Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions, Patient Care Solutions and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics businesses help improve patient care from screening and diagnosis to therapy and monitoring. GE HealthCare is a $19.7 billion business with approximately 53,000 colleagues working to create a world where healthcare has no limits. 

GE HealthCare is proud to be among 2025 Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies.  

Follow GE HealthCare on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Insights for the latest news, or visit its website or more information. 

About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contacts: 

• Caitlin Lamey, GE HealthCare, caitlin.lamey@gehealthcare.com
• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu  

The post GE HealthCare and Mayo Clinic unveil GEMINI-RT, a bold research collaboration in radiation therapy and advanced cancer care       appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — For many people living with cancer, symptoms such as pain, anxiety or insomnia can quickly spiral into an emergency room visit. Such visits can be financially costly and take an emotional toll on patients and their caregivers.  

A new study led by Mayo Clinic researchers found that using digital check-ins and a remote care team can help patients manage symptoms before they reach a crisis point.

"Our goal was simple but ambitious," says study lead Andrea Cheville, M.D., professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We wanted to see if automating symptom check-ins and care through the electronic health record could improve patients' lives without adding to the burden on oncology teams. What we found is that this approach not only eased symptoms like anxiety and depression but also kept thousands of patients out of the hospital. That tells us technology can help us successfully extend the reach and efficacy of care." 

For Becky Johnson, participating in the Enhanced EHR-Facilitated Cancer Symptom Control Trial (E2C2) meant better sleep — despite the anxiety she felt about her double breast cancer diagnosis in 2022 at the age of 40. 

"I was continually Googling for more information about treatments, prognosis, new terminology and the experiences of others. And the steroid medications I took for treatment prior to chemo messed with my ability to sleep, too. It got to a point where my body's norm was to wake in the middle of the night and not fall back asleep, taking a toll on my ability to heal," says Johnson, program director for the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Sonography Program. 

As part of the trial, Johnson regularly submitted digital surveys about various aspects of her health. Insomnia quickly rose to the top, prompting a phone call from a nurse, who counseled Johnson on ways to get a better night's rest. The nurse also gave Johnson a link to a self-paced online class with sleep strategies based in cognitive behavioral therapy.  

"A virtual or phone call visit, especially when I didn't have anything physically wrong, was so convenient and efficient," says Johnson. The intervention helped, and her sleep improved.  

To make such interventions possible, the researchers developed automations in the Plummer Chart, the software system that manages patients' electronic health records (EHRs) and helps Mayo teams coordinate care. Between 2019 and 2023, just over 50,200 patients across 15 cancer specialties at Mayo Clinic enrolled in the E2C2 trial. Like Johnson, they filled out short surveys about pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety and other symptoms before clinic visits or monthly between visits. The system automatically sorted their responses. Mild scores were simply logged, moderate ones triggered the system to send the patient self-care tips, and severe scores prompted outreach by a remote symptom care manager — a nurse or social worker who could work with patients via phone or video. 

Behind the scenes, the software became both an automated traffic controller and safety net. For care teams, it routed information to patients automatically so they could focus on the work that required their expertise. For patients, it made getting support easier, with no additional appointments or travel. 

The trial results showed that the automated surveys and responses built into the EHR made care more efficient and, ultimately, improved patients' symptoms.  

• Patients reported less anxiety and depression, with modest improvements in other symptoms. 

• Patients had 40% to 60% fewer acute care encounters, including emergency visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. 

All of this was achieved with just 2-3 full-time care managers plus 20 percent of one physician's time supporting more than 50,000 study participants. 

The E2C2 trial showcases a new approach to using digital tools in cancer care. By automating routine monitoring and triaging of patient symptoms and well-being through the patient's electronic health record, a small care team can support a large patient population. 

"The gains we saw are encouraging and point to a scalable way to extend supportive oncology care beyond the clinic walls, meeting patients where they are," says Dr. Cheville. "The next step is to ensure that these tools are available to healthcare teams, enabling them to efficiently reach every patient who needs supportive care." 

The E2C2 trial was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of the Cancer Moonshot℠. The study was conducted as part of NCI’s IMPACT Consortium. Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and additional funding.

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic  is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.   

Media contact:   

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu  

The post Small team, big impact: Automation helps relieve symptoms to keep cancer patients out of the ER  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — For some patients with the most common type of lung cancer, known as lung adenocarcinoma, there's new hope. In a new study published in Cell Reports, Mayo Clinic researchers have found several previously unknown genetic and cellular processes that occur in lung adenocarcinoma tumors that respond well to immunotherapy.

A recently approved group of drugs — immune checkpoint inhibitors — can boost the body's ability to eliminate a tumor and even keep the cancer from coming back. However, while the medications work well for some people, the drugs aren't effective for many other patients with the disease — and researchers are trying to determine why. 

"Our study describes the events that occur when a patient's tumor harbors only one copy of a cancer-causing gene, which occurs in 20% of cases," says Alan P. Fields, Ph.D., a cancer biologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and the principal investigator of the study. 

The research team found that the missing tumor-driving gene, known as PRKCI, results in tumors that are less aggressive. The missing gene also cultivates a more powerful immune response to tumors. Surprisingly, the research team found the improved immune response occurs with help from unexpected players: senescent tumor cells, also known as "zombie cells," which are typically associated with negative consequences of disease and aging. 

The study identified markers that may predict a positive response to immunotherapy and "ultimately may help clinicians stratify patients who are candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitors," says Joey Nguyen, a graduate student at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and lead author of the publication. 

Addressing the nation's leading cause of cancer death

Lung adenocarcinoma represents 40% of lung cancers in the U.S. and is the leading cause of cancer death. It's strongly associated with smoking, but it's also the most common type of lung cancer to occur in people who have never smoked, likely because of a combination of genetics and other environmental factors.  

Dr. Fields' lab at Mayo Clinic in Florida has long studied the effect of the PRKCI gene, which drives tumor growth. The gene also suppresses the immune system, keeping cancer-killing immune cells at bay. Because lung tumors depend on the gene to proliferate, Dr. Fields' team was surprised to find that in cases where a copy of the gene is missing, lung adenocarcinoma tumors still occur. Nguyen, who was studying PRKCI in the lab, was inspired to try to learn more about those unusual tumors.  

Early experiments found that the tumors without PRKCI grow less aggressively. The team also found that when PRKCI is missing, lung adenocarcinoma cells behave in an unusual way in their very early development, acquiring characteristics of lung cells that regenerate lung tissue after damage. 

The team collaborated with the lab of systems biology researcher Hu Li, Ph.D., to examine the process at a single cell level. "We found that the loss of PRKCI forces tumor cells to hijack a lung regeneration process to generate a tumor," Nguyen says. 

Tracking the effects of a missing gene

Nguyen also noticed that the tumors without PRKCI showed elevated levels of organized clusters of immune cells, called tertiary lymphoid structures. The presence of those clumped cells can be a sign that immune checkpoint therapy might work for a patient. But were they a result of the single copy of the PRKCI gene? 

Nguyen presented his research at a graduate school seminar where the project caught the attention of postdoctoral fellow Luis Prieto, Ph.D., who had an idea. Dr. Prieto wondered whether the clusters of immune cells might be connected in some way to senescent cells, those that enter a state of arrested development and don't die off. Dr. Prieto works in the lab of researcher Darren Baker, Ph.D., who investigates therapies to eliminate senescent cells in various disease processes.

The collaborating labs were amazed to find that senescent tumor cells actually activate the immune system, leading to the clusters of immune cells that combat the tumor. "The idea that senescent cells may be beneficial in certain settings like this is new to the field, as these 'zombies' are commonly associated with detrimental outcomes," says Dr. Baker, who is a co-corresponding author on the study.

The findings reveal three tumor characteristics that may be used to help clinicians identify candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitors: loss of the PRKCI gene, the presence of senescent tumor cells and an abundance of clustered immune cells. 

Further, says Dr. Fields, his team previously identified an approved drug that can inhibit PRKCI signaling, making a tumor that has the PRKCI gene act more like a tumor without it. 

"Now that we understand how PRKCI is working in a lung tumor, it may be possible to couple a PRKCI inhibitor with immunotherapy, so a future clinical trial that combines these approaches will certainly be an important avenue to explore," he says.

See the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post Mayo Clinic researchers identify why some lung tumors respond well to immunotherapy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As a "Cake Wars" champion, Ann Alaboud knows that victory takes determination. While facing her biggest foe — stage 4 stomach cancer — she chose Mayo Clinic as her ally.          

Although it was February, Ann Alaboud was decked out for Christmas — green apron, bright red lipstick and a sparkly elf hat. She was filming an episode of Food Network's "The Big Bake: Holiday," and her team had just constructed a towering Christmas tree cake. 

As Ann walked off set, she suddenly veered left — her only warning before fainting.    

"I woke up to the paramedics trying to figure out what was wrong with me," recalls Ann.  

They chalked it up to fatigue. But Ann had a deepening sense that something wasn't right. For years, she'd been breaking out in hives, and she was perpetually exhausted. Not long after filming ended, she noticed a strange pinching sensation in her stomach.  

As a Minneapolis baker running two cupcake shops, it'd been easy to blame her symptoms on her busy lifestyle. After fainting, Ann knew she needed to seek care.  

Despite multiple hospital visits, the only diagnosis she received was reflux.  

When her 9-year-old daughter asked, "Mommy, do you have cancer?" Ann pushed harder for answers. On April 8, 2022, she woke up from an endoscopy to terrifying news. Her stomach was riddled with tumors. "They said it had already spread, and they couldn't do anything," she says.  

A scan on her birthday confirmed the diagnosis — stage 4 stomach cancer.  

"It was the shock of a lifetime. I'm a very health-conscious person," says Ann. "My family was like, 'What? You get stomach cancer?'"  

From ambition to uncertainty  

Before Ann was a baker, she was a business analyst. Then, in 2011, she made her first artistic cake for her baby shower. As she shaped a pair of sugary booties, she felt inspired to turn her unused culinary degree into a career.  

Five years later, Ann had opened her first bakery and won Food Network's "Cake Wars," which led to "The Big Bake: Holiday" in 2022. Shortly after filming, she added another bakery location — just a week before finding out she had cancer.    

"That's when everything went downhill," she says. 

Instead of investing in her business, Ann found herself fighting for her life.  

Moving to Mayo 

Due to the severity of her disease, Ann's local oncologist referred her to Mayo Clinic. While others deemed her stomach cancer inoperable, Dr. Travis Grotz, a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, still saw hope.    

With gastric cancer spiking among younger people, his patients are often in the prime of life, facing late-stage disease with little chance of a cure through traditional treatments.    

"For stage 4 gastric cancer, it's usually indefinite chemotherapy," he says. "But with research and a multidisciplinary team, I thought we could safely push the envelope."  

He designed an innovative care plan based on a clinical trial.  

Back at home, Ann started chemotherapy and immunotherapy to shrink her tumors. She closed her bakeries as needed and traveled to Mayo for laparoscopic operations to track her progress. 

Often arriving with cupcakes for the care team, Ann also brought ample gratitude and positivity — even as her number of procedures climbed into the double digits. 

She was willing to do whatever it took to have a good outcome," says Mary Dorn, one of her nurses. 

At times, Ann was tempted to waver. She recalls writing down account numbers to prepare her husband for her passing. "I started crying and said, 'You know what? I'm going to get better. I can't die young,'" she says. "So I just powered through one surgery after the next."  

As one part of her innovative care plan, Dr. Grotz used hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to wash her abdomen with heated drugs, destroying lingering cancer cells. He also removed her stomach to prevent a relapse. It was during this surgery that Dr. Grotz made a startling discovery — Ann had new tumors in her esophagus. 

She'd recently begun experiencing crushing chest pain during chemotherapy. Now Ann wondered: Had this been a warning sign? She'd thought treatment was nearly over, but the next day, she'd need surgery to remove her esophagus and add a feeding tube.  

As Ann reeled, Dr. Grotz reassured her that long-term survival was still the goal. "I trusted everything he told me because everything he'd done so far was great," says Ann. "He's phenomenal."  

Restoring normalcy  

After her esophageal surgery, the focus shifted to restoring Ann's quality of life. Dr. Grotz wanted to give her back as much normalcy as possible. He turned to his colleagues for help.  

Two surgeons — one thoracic, the other plastic — created a new esophagus from part of Ann's small intestine, called the jejunum. After severing several attachments in her abdomen, they stretched it to her neck and connected it to her intact upper esophagus. Delicate microsurgery linked the intestinal blood vessels to those in her neck and upper chest.  

The complex, several-hour surgery was a success.  

Ann now had a working gastrointestinal tract, despite two missing organs, so she no longer needed the feeding tube that made her feel so sick. At last, Ann was able to eat again. 

"This kind of care is not possible without collaboration between our teams," says Dr. Samir Mardini, Ann's plastic surgeon. "So many people — surgeons, nutritionists, physical therapists, nurses — worked together to create an outcome that would be hard to achieve any other way."   

During her two-week stay in Rochester, Ann witnessed this care in action. "All the doctors, all the nurses — everybody — went above and beyond," she says. "I've never said, 'Thank you,' as many times as I did while at Mayo."    

Life beyond stomach cancer 

Three years later, Ann remains cancer-free. Now a long-term survivor, she's been able to hold onto the identities she cherishes most — mom, wife, baker, small-business owner.  

With her new GI tract, there have been changes. Ann has to slowly eat small portions, often while standing to keep the food moving. It takes effort to remember to chew every bite thoroughly.  

While this can be challenging, her most consistent feeling is gratitude.  

Ann is thankful for the prayers and support of loved ones. The customers who contributed to fundraisers. The landlord who gave her grace. The Mayo care team who fought alongside her.  

Most of all, she's grateful to be alive.  

"Winning 'Cake Wars' validated that I am a pastry chef. I can do anything I want, right?" Ann says. "But having cancer, thinking I wouldn't make it, then coming out OK — that is more victorious than anything."  

The post Minneapolis baker, ‘Cake Wars’ winner, defeats ‘incurable’ stomach cancer   appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Clinicians typically classify meningiomas — the most common type of brain tumor — into three grades, ranging from slow-growing to aggressive.

But a new multi-institutional study suggests that appearances may be deceiving. If a tumor shows activity in a gene called telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), it tends to recur more quickly, even if it looks low-grade under the microscope.

The findings, published in Lancet Oncology, could significantly change how doctors diagnose and treat meningiomas.

"High TERT expression is strongly linked to faster disease progression," says Gelareh Zadeh, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study. "This makes it a promising new biomarker for identifying patients who may be at greater risk of developing aggressive disease."

This research was presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology conference on Nov. 22.

"This is one example of how precision diagnostics of cancer may ultimately improve patient outcomes," says Kenneth Aldape, M.D., Mayo Clinic pathologist and study co-author.

An early warning sign

Meningiomas — tumors of the meninges, the protective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord — are generally considered benign. But a small subset of these tumors has a mutation in the TERT gene, which is linked to faster growth and a shorter time before the tumor returns after treatment.

TERT is the active part of telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes. In most healthy adult cells, TERT is switched off. But if it becomes switched back on, it can fuel cancer development by driving unchecked cell growth.

In this study, the researchers wanted to see whether high TERT expression, even in the absence of the TERT genetic mutation, also predicted worse outcomes. They looked at more than 1,200 meningiomas from patients across Canada, Germany and the U.S., and they found that nearly one-third of them had high TERT expression despite not having the mutation.

These patients had earlier tumor regrowth compared to those without TERT expression, though their outcomes were better than patients with full-blown TERT mutations.

"TERT-positive tumors behaved like they were one grade worse than their official diagnosis," says Dr. Zadeh. "For example, a grade 1 tumor with TERT expression acted more like a grade 2."

Guiding treatment decisions

The findings suggest that testing for TERT activity could help doctors predict which patients are at higher risk for recurrence and may need closer monitoring or more intensive treatment.

"Because meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor, this biomarker could influence how thousands of patients are diagnosed and managed worldwide," says Dr. Zadeh.

"TERT expression can help us more accurately identify patients with aggressive meningiomas," Chloe Gui, M.D., a neurosurgery resident at the University of Toronto, Mayo Clinic research collaborator and the study's lead author, explains on a podcast hosted by The Lancet Oncology. "This information allows us to offer treatment tailored to the tumor's behavior."

The team is currently investigating ways to incorporate TERT expression into the clinical workflow. The research is part of a larger effort at Mayo Clinic called the Precure initiative, focused on developing tools that empower clinicians to predict and intercept biological processes before they evolve into disease or progress into complex, hard-to-treat conditions.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding. 

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and to providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 39-year-old brother was just diagnosed with gastric cancer. The diagnosis was especially shocking because of his age. Is this becoming more common? Does age affect the approaches to treatment?

ANSWER: Stomach cancer, also referred to as gastric cancer, was once thought of as a disease of older adults. However, it is increasingly affecting people under the age of 50, mirroring a similar shift that is observed with colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers. It's important to note that while this shift in early-onset stomach cancer is unsettling, the overall incidence of stomach cancer remains relatively stable. 

A changing risk profile

Researchers are investigating the reasons behind these trends, and several factors appear to play a role. 

Diet is among the most likely contributors to the increase in early-onset stomach cancer. Over the past several decades, the typical American diet has shifted dramatically toward ultra-processed foods. These foods can promote chronic inflammation and alter the gut microbiome, which is the ecosystem of microbes that live in your intestines. The microbiome supports digestive health. Both inflammation and microbiome changes have been linked to a greater risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers over time. Other possible mechanisms include direct DNA damage and carcinogenesis from harmful food additives, as well as the displacement of protective nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.

Traditional risk factors for stomach cancer remain relevant as well. Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that can cause inflammation of the stomach lining or ulcers, is a significant risk factor. Smoking, frequent consumption of smoked or preserved foods, obesity and heavy alcohol use can also increase risk.

Younger people diagnosed with stomach cancer often lack these classic risk factors, making their diagnoses more perplexing. This difference has prompted increased attention to lifestyle, dietary and environmental influences that might contribute to the disease.

The challenge of early detection for stomach cancer

Early detection of stomach cancer remains difficult, particularly in younger adults. The symptoms of this disease can be subtle, including persistent indigestion, bloating, and mild upper abdominal pain or heartburn that does not respond to over-the-counter remedies. These nonspecific symptoms are often mistaken for minor gastrointestinal issues.

When symptoms persist for several weeks or when additional warning signs appear, such as unexplained weight loss, vomiting or severe abdominal pain, further evaluation is needed. An upper endoscopy with biopsy is the standard method for diagnosing stomach cancer.

Because early symptoms may be overlooked, younger patients are sometimes diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease.

Treatment approaches and innovations

Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the tumor's stage, location and molecular characteristics rather than the patient's age. 

Surgery remains a cornerstone of care for localized disease. In recent years, surgical techniques have advanced significantly, with more minimally invasive and robotic approaches that can reduce recovery time and improve long-term quality of life. In addition to these less invasive techniques, novel reconstructive procedures, such as J-pouch and double-tract reconstructions, are helping restore digestive function and reduce long-term complications after partial or total removal of the stomach. These approaches aim to improve nutrition absorption, reduce reflux and help patients return to eating habits that more closely resemble those before their diagnosis.

Oncologists can also analyze tumors for biomarkers such as HER2, PD-L1 and markers of microsatellite instability to guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes, especially in patients with advanced stomach cancer. Identifying these biomarkers helps determine whether targeted therapy or immunotherapy may be appropriate. This approach allows treatment to be more personalized for increased precision and efficacy.

For patients whose disease has spread within the abdominal cavity, an innovative therapy called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) offers a promising option. In this procedure, following surgical removal of visible tumors, heated chemotherapy is circulated throughout the abdominal cavity to destroy remaining cancer cells. 

Because stomach cancer is relatively uncommon, outcomes tend to be better when care is provided at multidisciplinary centers, like Mayo Clinic, that have extensive experience treating this disease. Collaboration among surgical, medical and radiation oncologists ensures that each patient receives an individualized treatment plan.

A reason for optimism

Stomach cancer remains a serious disease, but progress in early recognition and treatment is improving outcomes. Advances in surgery, precision medicine and supportive care have made it possible for many people to live longer and with a better quality of life after treatment.

It is essential that anyone experiencing persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, especially those that do not respond to routine, over-the-counter care, seek out a timely medical evaluation. Awareness, early detection and access to expert, coordinated care can make a meaningful difference.

Travis Grotz, M.D., Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: Is stomach cancer on the rise in young adults? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Tailor Hofman, originally from St. Peter, Minnesota, was in middle school when her great-grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.

"My great-grandma and I shared a close bond," Hofman says. "Her experience had a significant emotional impact on our family, particularly because we're a family of many women." 

Years later, Hofman was inspired to train for a career where she could help other women through breast cancer screening. She applied to the radiography program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences to become a radiologic technologist — also known as a radiographer — working with doctors in assessing and evaluating patients, often using breast imaging. 

Across the schools of Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, programs are training future leaders in approaches that address the breast cancer journey, from the first moment of screening to the years after a diagnosis. Often inspired by the cancer diagnoses of family and friends, students are learning cutting-edge approaches and bringing Mayo Clinic's primary value — the needs of the patient come first — to breast cancer care.  

Making a difference in testing and treatment 

Today, Hofman's work as a Mayo Clinic radiographer allows her to build relationships with patients starting from their first screenings. 

"The team in breast imaging has unique insight into the care they provide," says Jessica Lodermeier, director of the radiography program in Rochester, Minnesota, which graduates up to 34 students a year. "They understand the emotional stress and anxiety that can accompany this very important yearly exam for women." 

Radiographers perform medical exams using X-rays and other technology to create images that are interpreted by doctors for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Mayo's program allows them to add specialized training in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), mammography and other areas. 

The School of Health Sciences has radiography programs on Mayo campuses in Rochester and Florida and offers a radiography internship program in Arizona. Instructors are experienced radiologic technologists, working side by side with students to share their expertise. 

"Our faculty is devoted to each student learner, and building on their interests in specific areas, such as various breast imaging technologies," says Lodermeier, who is also an alumna of the program. "For many students who choose radiography, it's to make a difference — caring for patients by assisting in testing and treatment of breast cancer and other serious diseases." 

Combining advanced techniques and compassionate care

Programs at Mayo Clinic also are training clinicians in specialized care for patients with breast cancer. One such program is a fellowship that focuses on breast imaging, offered through Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. A fellowship program exists on each of Mayo's campuses, admitting a total of about six trainees a year. 

Fellows learn numerous advanced imaging technologies, including modalities not offered at many institutions, such as contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) and molecular breast imaging (MBI). These approaches can improve cancer detection.

In Florida, the Breast Imaging Fellowship program — which accepts one fellow a year — involves rigorous training rotations that take place in the state-of-the-art facilities of the Duan Family Building. The training  emphasizes compassion, says program director Kristin Robinson, M.D. Among recent trainees in Florida was Michael Villalba, D.O., who completed the program and was hired to join Mayo staff as a physician in diagnostic radiology specializing in breast imaging. 

The compassionate care Dr. Villalba provided during a biopsy made an impression on patient Shelley Norwood. "His passion shines through in how he engages with patients," Norwood says. "You can see it in his face and hear it in his voice. He exemplifies the Mayo mission and values." 

This approach is embedded in the fellowship training, says Dr. Robinson. "We're not just reading images,” she says. "We're caring for people." 

Improving outcomes for patients

Mayo is also training students who have an eye on patients' futures. Anna Detry is a fourth year Ph.D. student at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Training under the mentorship of cancer researcher John Hawse IV, Ph.D., she aims to improve outcomes for patients who have recurrent breast tumors that have become resistant to treatment.

Detry took interest in studying breast cancer after family friends faced cancer diagnoses. Her studies focus on a form of breast cancer classified as estrogen receptor positive (ER+), which is usually treated effectively by drugs that block estrogen pathways. However, when tumors do recur, they may no longer respond to the same treatments. 

So far, her research has identified a previously unstudied protein, highly prevalent in metastatic ER+ tumors, that appears to help recurrent tumors thrive. "We're looking specifically at that protein to figure out how it's driving drug resistance and how we can target it," says Detry. The research team is now testing approaches to disable or eliminate the protein and restore the tumor's sensitivity to treatment.

Interacting with clinician collaborators at Mayo Clinic has helped shape Detry's thinking as a researcher-in-training who's zeroed in on what's next for patients. "When I was applying to graduate school, what drew me to Mayo was the patient-centric focus of everything, even very basic science studies," she says. "Being in a hospital setting and working with clinicians here constantly keeps the patient centered in all our work and in the forefront of our minds."

The post Shaping the future of breast cancer care–one trainee at a time appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.