DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Our neighbors were selling their home and had it tested for radon. The test was positive. Why should we be concerned about radon, and should we have our home tested too?

ANSWER: The positive test for radon in your neighbors' home has given you a heads-up that your home should be tested as well.

Radon is an odorless, invisible radioactive gas. It's naturally released from rocks, soil and water — and it can get trapped inside your home, office or school. There's no known safe level of radon. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms associated with radon exposure, unlike with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Why radon is so dangerous

Breathing high levels of radon over time can lead to lung cancer since this gas is a Class A carcinogen. It's the No. 1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall. Nationwide, 21,000 people die from radon-caused lung cancer each year.

Smoking and secondhand smoke, combined with exposure to high radon levels, increase your risk of lung cancer. If you or your family are experiencing breathing issues, consult with a pulmonologist.

Radon can be found in any home — old or new — and typically enters through cracks in the foundation caused by natural settling and windows. Radon levels often are higher in lower levels and basements. Across the U.S., 1 in 15 homes have elevated radon levels, and levels are higher in the Midwest. For example, radon levels range from 4.7 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) in Indiana to 9.6 pCi/L in North Dakota. The nationwide average is 1.3 pCi/L.

Testing for radon

There's a simple solution to this close-to-home health hazard: testing. That's what the Environmental Protection Agency urges all homeowners to do, especially those in high-radon areas. Testing is the only way to determine the radon level in your home.

You can find radon testing kits at hardware or other home maintenance stores and online. They cost around $20 or less and are easy to use. It typically takes two to seven days for results. Although there's no safe level of radon, look for test results of 4.0 pCi/L or less. 

If your home tests higher than 4.0 pCi/L, then you'll need to have a professional fix the radon issue, which includes installing venting equipment. The equipment looks like a big tube that reaches below the foundation of your home and vents radon up and out of the house. 

The cost of a radon mitigation system varies according to the size and design of your home, as well as the system being installed. Costs average $1,000-$2,000. Check with your local city and county housing agencies to see if they have funds available for low-interest loans or grants for radon mitigation, and learn if you're eligible for these funds.

Once the mitigation system has been installed, your home should be tested again to make sure the fix is effective. Even if your home passes the first test, you should retest every two years.

Also, radon testing isn't required when selling a home. However, if you're a buyer, you should insist on it. If levels are high, you may be able to negotiate the costs of the mitigation with the seller.

Radon testing and mitigation are investments in your home — and in your health.

Elizabeth Morton, Physician Assistant, Pulmonology, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: Why should I be concerned about radon? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: 
A close friend of mine recently had an abnormal result on a routine Pap test that led to a cancer diagnosis. I know cancer screenings are important, but it's hard to keep track of which ones I should prioritize. Could you help me better understand cervical cancer screening and other screenings I should consider now? 

ANSWER: 
Cancer screenings play a critical role in protecting long-term health. They can detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective, and in some cases help prevent cancer before it develops. While screening recommendations vary based on age, sex, family history and personal risk factors, several key cancer screening tests should be reviewed regularly.  

Cervical cancer screening is an important part of preventive care and has helped significantly reduce deaths from this disease. Understanding how screening works can help people stay up to date. 

Cervical cancer: Why screening is essential 

Cervical cancer is most often caused by long-term infection with certain high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is common, and while most of these infections are cleared by a person's immune system, other HPV infections can persist for years without causing symptoms. People also can become infected with HPV more than once in their lifetime. That's why routine screening is the best way to detect abnormal changes early. 

The Pap test and HPV test 

During a Pap test, a healthcare professional gently collects cells from the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. These cells are examined for abnormal changes that could develop into cancer if left untreated. The test is usually quick and can be done during a routine gynecologic visit. 

An HPV test is often done at the same time as a Pap test using the same cell sample, and it checks for high-risk types of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer. 

Cervical cancer screening does more than look for cancer. Pap tests and HPV tests can identify precancerous changes in the cervix. When these changes are found and treated early, cervical cancer often can be prevented. 

Cervical cancer screening recommendations 

• Ages 21 to 29: A Pap test every three years.  

• Ages 30 to 65: Several screening options may be appropriate: 
  • HPV test alone every five years. 
  • Pap test every three years. 
  • combined Pap and HPV (called co-testing) testing every five years. 

• Over age 65: Some people may be able to stop screening if they have consistently normal Pap or co-test results and no history of severe cervical precancer. The decision to stop cervical cancer screening should always be made together with a healthcare professional. 

If a Pap or HPV test shows abnormal results, additional evaluation may be recommended. This can include repeat testing, a colposcopy — a cervical exam done by a clinician using a special magnifying scope — or a cervical biopsy. While abnormal results can be concerning, they often detect changes long before cancer develops, allowing for effective treatment and careful follow-up. 

Other cancer screenings to review 

Depending on age and personal risk factors, other cancer screenings also may be recommended. A healthcare professional can help determine which screenings you should schedule. 

• Breast cancer screening with mammography is advised for many people beginning at midlife.  

• Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer for those with a significant history of smoking may be appropriate every year.  

• Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for most adults beginning at midlife and sometimes earlier for those with a family history or other risk factors. Screening options include colonoscopy and stool-based tests. These screenings can detect colorectal cancer at an early stage or remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. 

• Anal cancer is less common, but it's also associated with HPV infection. Routine screening isn't recommended for the general population. However, people with certain risk factors, such as a weakened immune system or a history of HPV-related precancers or cancers, may benefit from closer monitoring. Symptoms, including rectal bleeding, pain, itching or a lump, should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional. 

Make screening part of your routine 

An annual visit with a primary care clinician or gynecologist is a good opportunity to review your screening history, discuss vaccines and address new symptoms or concerns. Keeping track of when your last Pap test, HPV test, mammogram or colorectal screening occurred can help ensure that care isn't delayed. 

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder that prevention works. Through regular screening and timely follow-up, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Taking a proactive approach to screenings this year can help protect health now and in the future. 

Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, M.D., Gynecological Oncologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota   

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: What cancer screenings should I prioritize this year?  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — In a new pilot feasibility study, researchers from Mayo Clinic, the University of Washington School of Medicine, the University of California San Francisco, and Nextrast Inc. found that a new imaging oral agent, also known as a "contrast agent," helps radiologists better see bowel structures and disease in CT imaging when compared with the current oral contrast agents.

The introduction of a new oral contrast agent for CT imaging addresses common challenges in the diagnosis of bowel diseases, says by Joel Fletcher, M.D., lead author on the study and medical director of the Mayo Clinic CT Clinical Innovation Center. "The new oral contrast agent," he explains, "is ingested by patients prior to CT imaging and helps detect pathologies within and outside of the bowel wall in ways current imaging agents do not."

"We carefully designed this new class of oral contrast agent to overcome many of the diagnostic shortcomings of existing contrast agents for a broad range of diseases," says Benjamin Yeh, M.D., a co-author on the study, radiologist at the University of California at San Francisco and co-founder of Nextrast, which created the new agent. "The Clinical Phase 2 results confirm that our dark agent can reveal previously impossible-to-detect findings, including very small bowel tumors and subtle inflammatory conditions that are often missed with conventional agents at CT."

In their paper, the authors report findings that suggest this new agent significantly improves visualization of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or cancer within the abdomen, and may provide earlier and more confident diagnoses.

The study compared CT scans of 32 patients with the dark borosilicate oral contrast agent and scans with conventional water or iodine-based oral contrast agents, to look at anatomical structures and disease presence.

"The novel dark borosilicate contrast agent has the potential to improve the assessment of numerous pathologies, including the detection of cancer and inflammatory disorders," says Achille Mileto, M.D., a radiologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine and first author of the study.

Evaluators identified clinically relevant findings in seven patients that were not detected using the standard contrast.

"CT scans performed with the new agent will likely do a better job of displaying pathologies in the stomach and proximal small bowel, areas where CT with traditional oral contrast performs poorly," Dr. Fletcher says. "Pathologies within the lumen will be better displayed because the lumen is more distended, and the brightness of the pathologies on the CT images will be increased, making them more conspicuous.”

The researchers say further study using a larger patient population is needed, but the initial findings show promise.

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 providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contact:

• Ethan Grove, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post New CT imaging oral contrast agent improves visualization of bowel anatomy, clinical trial data show appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Our daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer. She's interested in participating in a clinical trial but doesn't really know what that means or how to get involved. Can you help?

ANSWER: A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and often comes with a long list of decisions to make. 

Many people are surprised to learn that clinical trials aren't just for people who have run out of standard treatment options, but are an important part of cancer care at every stage and most aspects of diagnosis and treatment. They help physicians study new and better ways to diagnose, treat and improve the quality of life for people. They also give patients access to promising treatments that they might not otherwise receive.

What happens in a cancer clinical trial?

During a clinical trial, participants may receive specific interventions or potentially the standard treatment. Researchers measure how safe and effective the interventions are and usually compare them to standard treatments. These may include:

• New cancer drugs or drug combinations.
• New medical procedures or devices.
• New surgical techniques.
• New ways to use existing treatments.
• Lifestyle or behavioral approaches.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that joining a trial means you might not receive treatment or be given a placebo. Most clinical trials compare a new treatment with the current standard of care.

Who's eligible for a trial?

Your daughter’s care team is the best starting point. Feel free to ask if she is a candidate for any trial. Physicians at Mayo Clinic routinely review whether patients qualify for available trials. If there's a study that's potentially right for your daughter, your team can connect her with research coordinators and help navigate eligibility, consent, scheduling and next steps.

How do people find and sign up for trials?

Patients can find out about trials in several ways:

• Direct referral from their care team (medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist to name a few).
• Search tools, such as the Mayo Clinic clinical trials website and ClinicalTrials.gov.
• Trial navigators or research coordinators who help determine eligibility and guide enrollment.
  

When a clinician identifies that a patient may be a good candidate for a study, they review the study purpose, what participation involves, potential risks and benefits, and available alternatives. Patients can take time to decide whether to participate and may bring family members or caregivers into these conversations.

Clinic Trials Beyond Walls: Expanding who can participate

Participating in a clinical trial typically has meant frequent trips to a major medical center, which is something that can be difficult for people balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, transportation needs or facing financial strain. 

Mayo Clinic's Cancer Trials Beyond Walls is an initiative that brings elements of cancer clinical trials closer to home, such as lab draws, remote patient monitoring and virtual visits. This brings the benefits of research directly to patients' doorsteps and makes trial participation more manageable for families.

Mayo Clinic's decentralized research initiative uses telehealth, remote monitoring, mobile phlebotomy and home-based services so patients can complete parts of a clinical trial without traveling. 

The care of these patients being managed at home, with the support of a dedicated clinical team, may include vital sign monitoring, symptom reporting, medication administration or follow-up assessments.

Why do clinical trials matter so much?

Every cancer therapy available today exists because patients such as your daughter volunteered to participate. Volunteering for trials is a crucial way to advance medical treatment.

Joining a trial may give your daughter access to cutting-edge care and contribute to future breakthroughs.

Judy Boughey, M.D., Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Rochester 

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: What does it mean to be in a cancer clinical trial? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — To help meet the potentially complex needs of patients after prostate cancer treatment and offer the precision and care necessary in the follow-up journey, Mayo Clinic’s Department of Radiation Oncology developed the PSA Control Tower. This is an intelligent monitoring tool designed to support clinicians in keeping a close, ongoing watch over patients after treatment.

Traditionally, the follow-up care for prostate cancer patients follows a standard schedule and relies on manual review. This process can be time-consuming and may delay care due to administrative steps. Subtle but important changes in test results can be missed or recognized too late. Because of this, patients often need faster intervention and a more personalized approach to care.

Prostate cancer follow-up depends on understanding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) trends over time. Each PSA test is important, but spotting early signs of recurrence requires regular contact and ongoing monitoring. As patient numbers grow and care becomes more complex, this process can be difficult to manage. Health systems are under increasing pressure to provide reliable follow-up without adding strain to care teams.

The PSA Control Tower brings together clinical information and PSA trends, using intelligent tools to support care teams in understanding which patients may need attention and when. By bringing potential concerns to light earlier, the system helps teams stay connected to patients. Throughout the process, clinical expertise, thoughtful judgment, and human connection continue to guide every decision.

Behind the scenes, the PSA Control Tower is powered by Mayo Clinic Platform, which provides a secure environment where Mayo Clinic staff have access to large amounts of de-identified patient data. This enables teams to study patterns over time and build predictive models using information such as lab results, clinical notes, imaging and pathology.

“Our hope is that the PSA Control Tower will be a rare win-win-win for patients, physicians and hospital systems,” says Mark Waddle, M.D. “The ‘Control Tower’ will allow each and every patient to be monitored 24/7 — for peace of mind that all patients are being followed per guidelines and that abnormal PSA values are acted upon.”

As new data are introduced, the predictive models continue to learn and improve. Through Mayo Clinic Platform technology, clinicians will be able to easily view PSA trends and recurrence risk through clear dashboards, giving them timely information to support informed conversations and personalized care while keeping clinical expertise and compassion at the center.

A scalable vision for the future

The PSA Control Tower reflects Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. vision for precision oncology, which includes combining advanced analytics, secure data access, and seamless clinical integration. As this model expands beyond Mayo Clinic, it offers a path toward earlier detection, more efficient workflows, and scalable, data-driven follow-up care for prostate cancer patients nationwide.

“This allows our care providers to see more new patients, treat more complex patients, and focus effort related to prostate cancer follow-up on the patients that truly need their expertise and time,” says Dr. Waddle.

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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 Predicting prostate cancer recurrence through power of AI appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

PHOENIX — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and evaluated MedEduChat, an electronic health record (EHR) that works with a large language model to provide accurate, patient-specific prostate cancer education.  

The findings are published in Nature Portfolio Digital Medicine and highlight a new approach to delivering timely, individualized guidance for people navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis.  

Cancer patients often face uncertainty as they process complex information about their diagnosis and treatment options. Limited time with clinicians can make it difficult for patients to receive the detailed answers they need to understand decisions that shape their care.  

This MedEduChat study demonstrates how advanced AI, grounded in Mayo-validated clinical data, can help bridge these gaps by delivering clear, conversational explanations based on each patient's own health record.  

Understanding the patient experience using AI 

Fifteen prostate cancer patients interacted with MedEduChat for 20 to 30 minutes as part of a mixed-method usability study conducted at Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona and Minnesota. 

Patients reported higher confidence after using the tool, with Health Confidence Scores increasing from 9.9 to 13.9 on a 16-point scale. Usability scores were also high; average survey responses ranked MedEduChat 83.7 out of 100.  

Patients noted that MedEduChat helped them understand their diagnosis in a more accessible way. The tool provided relief by explaining unfamiliar or complex terms in a clear and concise manner.  

The conversational format helped participants replace incorrect assumptions with medically accurate information derived from their own EHR.  

Clinician-evaluated accuracy and safety 

Wei Liu, Ph.D., a radiation oncology medical physicist, and three Mayo Clinic clinicians independently reviewed 85 anonymized question-and-response pairs. They rated MedEduChat's answers as highly correct (2.9 out of 3), complete (2.7 out of 3) and safe (2.7 out of 3). 

Clinicians also noted strong patient-readiness and moderate personalization, reflecting MedEduChat's ability to tailor explanations to each person's age, treatment history and cancer stage.  

Although MedEduChat delivered accurate and clinically aligned information, clinicians emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring to prevent errors that could arise from incomplete or inconsistently documented EHR data.

The research team incorporated a multilayer approach to address these concerns and guide future system enhancements.

Combining patient-centered education with AI 

MedEduChat was designed with a structured educational model that combines closed-domain clinical data, semi-structured guidance and personalized interaction.

Patients can explore diagnosis details, learn about treatment options and side effects, and review lifestyle considerations and follow-up expectations. The tool draws only from validated sources, such as Mayo Clinic materials and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.

"This research demonstrates how large language models can be safely and effectively integrated into real clinical systems to improve cancer education," according to Dr. Liu. "By combining advanced AI with Mayo Clinic's electronic health records, MedEduChat delivers personalized, accurate and easy-to-understand explanations tailored to each patient's medical history."

Expanding AI cancer research 

The study team plans to translate this work into clinical use across all three Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Next steps include expanding MedEduChat beyond radiation oncology to additional cancer specialties. These efforts aim to make personalized AI-assisted education a routine part of cancer care.

This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for AI Research and Innovation, the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, and The Kemper and Ethel Marley Fund in Cancer Research.

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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.  

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 New Mayo Clinic study advances personalized prostate cancer education with an EHR-integrated AI agent  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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. 

###

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.