A routine screening turned into a life-changing diagnosis for Angela Tripido. After learning she had stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver, she faced months of treatment, multiple surgeries and uncertainty about what came next.

When the cancer returned, a liver transplant offered a new path forward.

Watch: A routine screening reveals stage 4 cancer, leads to life-changing transplant

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:35) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Screening

"I have lived a super healthy life. You know, always been an athlete, always working out," says Angela.

"I ended up having my, what I would just call, 50th (birthday) screening colonoscopy. The nurse said, 'The doctor will be over in a minute. We're just getting your husband.' I knew immediately that wasn't good," she says. "(The doctor) showed us some pictures and said, 'You have stage 4 colorectal cancer."

Additional imaging showed the cancer had spread to her liver.

Near her home in South Florida, Angela began treatment with chemotherapy and a series of surgeries to remove tumors.

But the cancer returned.

"(Another institution) identified some recurrent lesions in the liver," says Dr. Kris Croome, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon. She was not felt to be resectable because she didn't have adequate liver left."

That's when Angela turned to Mayo Clinic for another option.

"She was an excellent candidate for our liver transplant," says Dr. Croome. "She was otherwise a very young, healthy person, and so we felt that if we were able to do a liver transplant, we would be able to clear her of her disease."

"As scary as everything was that was on the plate of what was coming, I want to live, and I want no tumors in me," says Angela.

The wait

Once Angela's disease was confined to her liver and she completed a comprehensive evaluation, she qualified for transplant and was placed on the waiting list.

"My phone rang," Angela remembers. "The voice on the other end said, 'I'm calling to see if you are interested in liver that we believe will be a perfect match for you.'"

After an anxious night with little sleep, transplant day arrived on July 7, 2025. She remembers the final moments with the surgical team before the procedure began.

"I always say to the team, right before they put me under, 'Thank you all for taking really good care of me.' And there was this nice gentleman next to me, one of the nurses, and he was like, 'We've got you, don't worry,'" says Angela.

Good news

The surgery was a success.

"What the transplant has given me is there's a lot more hope for longevity — not having chemo in me, quality of life," says Angela.

Nearly a year after her transplant, Angela is getting back to the life she loves. She and her husband have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They're traveling again and raising awareness in the community.

"We were involved in a charity run locally to promote screening for colon cancer with one of the local health groups, and had the opportunity to run into her," says Dr. Croome. "Just to see her out and about enjoying her life disease-free, I think, really is why we do all this."

Angela also carries deep gratitude for the organ donor who made it possible.

"You can give someone a chance at a longer life and a healthier life, and that's a miracle," she says. "I will be writing that letter and thanking that family, and I hope they know what it's given me."

Related stories:

• How innovation is shaping the future of transplant care (VIDEO)
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: What is life like after an organ transplant or donation?
• Mayo Clinic Minute: How liver transplant is transforming care for patients with advanced colorectal cancer

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Momentum is growing in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), two devastating neurological diseases now understood to be closely connected. At Mayo Clinic, researchers and clinicians are turning scientific breakthroughs into progress for patients and their families.

Watch: Dr. Bjorn Oskarsson explains work of ALS researchers

Journalists: Broadcast-quality soundbites are available for download at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic."

ALS, also known as motor neuron disease and Lou Gehrig's disease, affects nerves, leading to progressive weakness and loss of movement. FTD is a group of brain disorders that affect behavior, personality and language. Although these related conditions usually occur separately, they can occur together and pose significant challenges for patients and families.

While effective treatments remain limited, new approaches are emerging. Patients can receive supportive care to improve quality of life and extend survival, and recent advances include therapies for some genetic forms of ALS. These developments are making diagnostic testing increasingly important to identify potentially treatable causes.

Tools to diagnose ALS

Diagnosis of ALS typically includes a physical exam, medical history and electromyography (EMG), a specialized test of muscles and nerves that detects lower motor neuron degeneration. Mayo Clinic physicians are also using newer tools to improve detection.

"We now have an added blood test, neurofilament light, which is good at detecting ALS," says Bjorn Oskarsson, M.D., a neurologist and director of the ALS Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Florida. "The test measures a nerve protein that leaks into the blood and is significantly elevated in patients with this disease. Another test uses advanced imaging to detect a marker of upper motor neuron degeneration, allowing earlier diagnosis in some patients."

With ultra-high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI imaging, physicians and scientists can identify upper motor neuron degeneration in many people with ALS and help distinguish the disease from similar conditions. These tools, combined with genetic testing, help clinicians make more accurate diagnoses.

Research

Artificial intelligence shows promise in helping patients achieve greater independence. As ALS progresses, patients may lose the ability to speak. Voice-cloning technology recreates a person's voice from a previous recording, helping them continue communicating with loved ones through speaking devices.

This progress builds on a pivotal scientific discovery: In 2011, Mayo Clinic researchers helped discover that ALS and FTD can share a common underlying genetic cause, the C9orf72 mutation. This finding showed that the two conditions are part of a disease spectrum and transformed both research and clinical care. Neurogeneticist Rosa Rademakers, Ph.D., who was on the Mayo Clinic faculty from 2005 to 2019, received the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for this discovery during her research at Mayo Clinic. She continues to collaborate with colleagues as a supplemental consultant in the Department of Neurosciences at Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic researchers are developing new therapies that target the genetic and biological drivers of ALS and FTD. Clinical trials are underway that focus on treating the underlying disease mechanisms rather than symptoms alone.

Advances in genetic sequencing are providing new insights. Technologies that can read long stretches of DNA are allowing scientists to study the C9orf72 mutation in greater detail. Research led by Marka van Blitterswijk, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, shows that variations in the length of this genetic repeat are linked to when symptoms begin, how quickly the disease progresses and the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain.

"It is a very exciting time to investigate ALS and FTD," says Dr. Van Blitterswijk. "New advances in genetic sequencing now enable us to look at the DNA and RNA at unprecedented resolution, creating tantalizing opportunities that will undoubtedly uncover novel causes, as well as much-needed biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for these debilitating diseases in the foreseeable future."

Researchers are also using advanced RNA analysis to better understand how genes function in diseased brain tissue. These findings could lead to earlier diagnosis and new treatments.

Additional research led by Wilfried Rossoll, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic neuroscientist, is focused on proteins involved in disease progression. In ALS and FTD, a protein called TDP-43 forms clumps within brain cells. This pathology can disrupt essential functions, such as the cell's internal transport system, which can lead to cell damage or death. Mayo Clinic researchers have found that another protein, KPNB1, may help break apart these clumps and restore normal cell function.

Researchers are also working to identify additional genetic factors that influence ALS risk and progression. This work may improve understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and support the development of more precise clinical trials and targeted therapies.

A deeper understanding of ALS and FTD may lead to earlier intervention, more personalized care and improved outcomes for patients and families.

 Related:

• Mayo-clinic-researcher-awarded-breakthrough-prize-for-ALS-dementia-gene-discovery
• Florida dad receives first-in-world ALS treatment
• Mayo Clinic awarded federal grant to study experimental ALS drug
• Mayo researchers, collaborators affirm useful blood biomarker for group of brain disorders in new study

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Rosa Rademakers, Ph.D., a neurogeneticist whose work at Mayo Clinic led to a landmark finding in neurodegenerative disease, has been awarded the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for the discovery of the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which charted the path for new mechanistic studies of these diseases.

The Breakthrough Prize recognizes Dr. Rademakers' role in discovering the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion, a genetic mutation that fundamentally reshaped understanding of FTD and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and is the most common inherited cause of both conditions.

Watch: Dr. Rosa Rademakers explains ALS-dementia gene research and discovery

Journalists: Broadcast-quality soundbites with Dr. Rosa Rademakers along with b-roll of research are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network.”

The discovery, published in 2011 alongside complementary work by a separate research team, led by Bryan Traynor, M.D., Ph.D., at the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, revealed for the first time that these two conditions — long studied as separate diseases — shared a common genetic origin.

FTD affects behavior, personality and language, while ALS causes progressive loss of muscle control. By establishing a genetic link between the two, the discovery transformed how scientists now study, diagnose and treat these conditions.

A mutation in the C9orf72 gene causes a segment of DNA to repeat excessively, disrupting normal cellular function and damaging nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

The discovery provided long-sought answers for families affected by inherited forms of ALS and FTD — enabling more accurate diagnosis, informing genetic counseling and accelerating global research efforts focused on targeted therapies.

"The Breakthrough Prize is a powerful affirmation that the work happening at Mayo Clinic is changing the trajectory of human health," says Vijay Shah, M.D., Kinney Executive Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic. "This global recognition underscores the importance of relentless curiosity, scientific rigor and a commitment to improving lives."

Today, genetic testing for the C9orf72 mutation is incorporated into the clinical evaluation for some patients and families, helping clinicians identify people at risk. At the same time, therapies now in clinical trials are designed to target the underlying biology uncovered by this discovery.

Dr. Rademakers made this discovery while leading a neurogenetics laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The work was made possible through access to the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank, which includes patient samples paired with detailed clinical and family histories; the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center; and additional patient samples collected across Mayo Clinic, including from individuals with FTD, ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions.

The research highlights Mayo Clinic's integrated model of care and discovery, bringing together clinicians and scientists to accelerate advances in understanding and treating complex neurological diseases. That collaborative approach continues to drive progress in genetic screening and translational research for ALS, FTD and related conditions today.

Dr. Rademakers served on the Mayo Clinic faculty from 2005 to 2019 and continues to collaborate with colleagues as a supplemental consultant in the Department of Neurosciences. She is currently the director of the VIB Center for Molecular Neurology at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

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Related:

• Mayo Clinic Researcher Honored for ALS Genetic Discovery- Mayo Clinic News Network
• Mayo Clinic Receives $6 Million for ALS, FTD Research
• Neuroscience powerhouses at Mayo Clinic in Florida
• Florida Scientist to Receive International Award for Advances in Dementia 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. 

Media contact:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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Some severe headaches aren't migraines. They may be caused by a nerve being pinched. When other treatments don't work, surgery may offer relief. Learn more from Dr. Antonio Forte, a Mayo Clinic microvascular plastic and reconstructive surgeon with deep experience in migraine surgery.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:14) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Often called trigger site-induced headaches, pain from compressed nerves can last all day and be resistant to treatments like medication.

"Headaches that originate from compression of the occipital nerve will usually have a pain that starts on the back of the neck and radiates to the side of the head," says Dr. Forte. "Patients who have headaches that originate from compression of the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve, they will usually start with a pain site that is above their eye, and that pain will radiate to their forehead."

Evaluation and care

Nerves can be compressed by surrounding tissue or muscle. At Mayo Clinic, patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team that gathers the necessary data and imaging to develop a personalized care plan, which may include surgical nerve decompression.

Dr. Forte explains that occipital nerve decompression starts with a 5-centimeter incision made along the hairline.

"We are able to then identify your greater occipital nerve and then remove the adjacent muscle and fascia that may be compressing the nerve," he says. "When patients undergo surgery for decompression of the supraorbital or supratrochlear nerve, we then perform an incision that is similar to the incision that we do when we are performing a cosmetic eyelid surgery."

Surrounding tissue is removed to relieve pressure on the nerve. Dr. Forte says many patients feel relief within weeks of nerve decompression surgery.

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Dancing is more than just a hobby or passion for 22-year-old Reagan McDaniel. It's her life's calling. When she entered the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Jacksonville University in Florida as a dance major, Reagan felt like she was on her way to the life she had dreamed about. 

But after finishing a challenging dance routine during the fall recital of her freshman year, Reagan felt a sharp ache in her left hip. She stretched, and it felt better the next day. However, when the pain kept returning sharper and lasting longer, Reagan got the nagging sensation that something was wrong.

"I continued to dance on it for months," says Reagan. "I know a lot of dancers have chronic pain. I thought this hip pain might just be something I would have to learn to live with."

After five months of progressive pain, Reagan finally mentioned it to her mother, who works in the medical field. Her mom, who previously underwent surgery for a hip labral tear, recognized the signs and made an appointment for Reagan with a sports medicine and orthopedic specialist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, where she works.

Crushing news 

Reagan met with Dr. Luke Spencer Gardner, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip surgery. As Reagan's mom suspected, an MRI revealed a torn hip labrum, the cartilage lining the hip joint socket. 

Dr. Spencer Gardner explained that Reagan had femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI occurs when the ball-and-socket of the hip joint don't fit together properly, and the hip bones rub together. In Reagan's case, a bony protrusion on the ball caused the misalignment. It's not uncommon for extra bone to develop during natural growth and development, but when it pinches the labrum, it can lead to tearing. Repetitive or twisting motions, like those used in dancing, are also a contributing factor and can make tearing more likely.

"I remember getting the news that I had been dreading," says Reagan. "I was so upset. But my mom assured me that Dr. Spencer Gardner would take good care of me, and sure enough, he did."

Hip preservation surgery times 2 

Reagan tried physical therapy to reduce the pain, but between her dance schedule and the severity of her tear, she was not making good progress. Dr. Spencer Gardner suggested hip preservation surgery to fix Reagan's structural hip injuries and eliminate her pain so she could get back to dancing. Hip preservation also has added long-term benefits by helping prevent early onset osteoarthritis and delaying the need for hip replacement.

In November of her sophomore year, Reagan underwent a hip arthroscopy and labral repair. Dr. Spencer Gardner fixed the tear and shaved down the bone spur, operating through small incisions using a tiny camera called an arthroscope and specialized instruments. 

The minimally invasive surgery was an outpatient procedure, and Reagan went home the same day with no complications. The expected recovery time for the procedure is typically six months. 

But less than two months later, Reagan once again experienced the nagging feeling that something was wrong. This time, the pain was in her right hip.

"I had just started my spring semester and was still using a crutch to recover from the first surgery, when I felt the same kind of pain," says Reagan. "I told myself that my hip was just sore from overcompensating during my recovery, but soon I was back in front of Dr. Spencer Gardner and getting another MRI." 

Imaging showed a similar labral tear and smaller FAI in her right hip. At the end of January, less than eight weeks after her first surgery, Dr. Spencer Gardner performed a second hip preservation surgery (arthroscopy and labral repair) on Reagan's other hip.

"I remember being in that hospital the second time and wondering whether I was ever going to dance the same way I had before," says Reagan. "Then I locked in and made the decision that I wanted to be back dancing by six months from my first surgery."

The road back to dancing 

Physical therapy was critical to Reagan's recovery. The physical therapists at Mayo Clinic guided and supported Reagan as she pushed to regain her strength and restore flexibility. Four months after the second surgery, Reagan started easing back into dance.

"I was worried I might get injured again, but I know my body well enough to know when to start," says Reagan. "I began with marking, a dance term for performing movements on a much smaller scale to mentally rehearse and then working yourself up to bigger and bigger movements."

Reagan spent time learning choreography and teaching at several local studios. She worked hard to make up for all the dance training she missed. Somewhere along the way, she found herself drawn to hip-hop.

"While I was not fully back by the six-month mark, I was doing hip-hop at that point," says Reagan. "Hip-hop doesn't require as much leg lifting and floorwork as other dance styles, so it was easy to start with it. But I realized how much I loved it."

Dancing toward a bright future 

Reagan is forever thankful to her entire team at Mayo Clinic. The nurses helped calm Reagan when she was nervous about anesthesia. The physical therapists pushed her and supported her quick recovery. Dr. Spencer Gardner gave Reagan back the gift of dancing.

After college graduation, Reagan has plans to move to Los Angeles, where she will be pursuing a career in professional dancing.

"I'm finally back to where I was before my surgeries," says Reagan. "I may not be as flexible as I used to be, but I have the same strength and movement quality I had before. And my passion for dancing is stronger than ever."

Related post:

• Mayo Clinic in Florida expands shoulder arthroplasty with robotics, scaling capability across sites

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Mayo Clinic in Florida recently performed its first robot-assisted shoulder arthroplasty, marking the arrival of enhanced, precision orthopedic care for patients in the Southeast and bolstering Mayo Clinic's commitment to advancing models of care across the organization.

Shoulder arthroplasties — also known as shoulder replacements — are reserved for patients with shoulder osteoarthritis whose symptoms are not manageable with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, injections and medications. Shoulder replacements have traditionally been performed using manual instrumentation and surgeon-estimated alignment. While this approach has been effective, it is inherently limited by visual estimation and anatomic variability in patients. 

"What's happened over the past 10 to 15 years in orthopedics is we've started using computer navigation and now robotic assistance," says Dr. Erick Marigi, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon. "In the hip and the knee, they've been doing robot-assisted replacements for years, but for the shoulder (because it’s a smaller complex joint), it's just been harder to develop, until now."

In manual shoulder replacements, surgeons make an incision and use guides to position implants. Though 3D computer planning has been available and is helpful, execution in the operating room has remained manual.

"We're no longer limited by our eyes and using a guide, which has a few millimeters of variance," says Dr. Marigi. "Now it's one degree of variance and under a millimeter of precision."

Another key advantage of robot-assisted shoulder replacements is improved consistency and reproducibility, particularly in complex cases. The technology simplifies procedures for patients with significant bone wear or other challenges that make conventional techniques difficult, allowing surgeons to achieve more predictable results. 

Long-term efficacy data for robot-assisted shoulder replacements are emerging, but evidence from robot-assisted hip and knee replacements is promising. Cases once considered highly complex can now be approached more like standard procedures.

Innovation and integration

Dr. Marigi says the adoption and integration of robot-assisted surgery is a testament to Mayo Clinic's spirit of bridging innovation into action.

"It is the spirit of Mayo Clinic in general: constantly pushing the envelope and providing solutions that help patients," he says.

Dr. Marigi's mentors, Drs. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo and John Sperling, both orthopedic surgeons at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, laid the foundation for robot-assisted orthopedic surgeries across Mayo Clinic. 

"Collaborative efforts have never been better across Mayo Clinic as a healthcare enterprise," says Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo. "The implementation of robot-assisted shoulder arthroplasty across all campuses allows us to offer the same quality care to all our patients, regardless of geography. It also facilitates lines of collaboration for innovation and research across our institution."

Dr. Sperling, who in April 2024 completed the world's first robot-assisted shoulder surgery, says, "Robotic shoulder arthroplasty has the potential to significantly improve our ability to enhance the quality of care for our patients worldwide."

Later that year, Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo also performed a robotic total shoulder replacement. 

"Our new generations will embrace robot-assisted surgery and enjoy iterative processes through which digital enabling technology will only continue to improve," says Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo.

Among that new generation is Dr. Jeff Hassebrock, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, who performed the first robot-assisted shoulder replacement in the Southwest, extending the site's leadership in robotic orthopedic surgery. He believes that the intersection of artificial intelligence, preoperative planning and robotic procedural execution will lead to a renaissance in how standard shoulder replacements are performed.

"Mayo Clinic's investments in advanced technologies reflect our commitment to providing innovative, patient-centered care," says Dr. Hassebrock. "Robotics improves the precision and execution of surgical plans that meet the evolving needs of orthopedic care. The era of pre- and postoperative measurement is at hand."

Dr. Marigi believes Mayo Clinic surgeons will continue shepherding this next phase of innovation in orthopedic care. Now, for patients in the Southeast, the technology offers access to innovation closer to home.

"Patients will all have access to this internationally renowned technology locally. That was a big deal for our team," says Dr. Marigi. "I think this is going to be one of our pillars in the future, and the people leading that charge will be Mayo Clinic surgeons."

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As golfers head back to the course during peak golf season, Mayo Clinic sports medicine and orthopedic experts are available to discuss the most common early-season golf injuries, how to prevent them, and when to seek medical attention.

While headlines may focus on injuries affecting professional golfers, including Achilles tendon, back and ankle issues, most golf injuries are not sudden. They develop over time and are often preventable with proper warm-up, strength and mechanics.

What causes most golf injuries?

"Golf may appear as low-impact, but the repetitive, rotational nature of the swing places stress on the spine, shoulders, hips and forearms," says John Tokish, M.D., a Mayo Clinic sports medicine specialist. "Over time, limited mobility, poor mechanics or lack of strength can lead to overuse injuries, especially early in the season when activity levels increase."

Common injuries include:

• Low back pain
• Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
• Elbow injuries, including golfer’s elbow
• Wrist and forearm strain
• Hip and ankle instability

Many golf injuries are preventable

The majority of golf-related injuries are linked to doing too much, too soon or returning to play without proper preparation. Three key prevention strategies:

Warm up before every round
A dynamic warm-up prepares muscles and joints for the rotational demands of the golf swing. Learn more: Mayo Clinic Minute: Dynamic golf warmup to prevent injuries

Build strength off the course
Resistance training improves stability, balance and control. Strengthening the core, shoulders and lower body helps protect joints and supports a more efficient swing. Learn more: Mayo Clinic Minute: 4 physical therapist-recommended golf exercises

Focus on proper mechanics
Poor mechanics can increase wear and tear over time.

Golfers experiencing persistent or concerning symptoms should consult a qualified healthcare professional.

When is pain not normal?

Muscle soreness can be expected, especially early in the season. However, certain symptoms may indicate a more serious issue:

• Pain lasting more than a few days
• Pain that wakes you at night
• Pain that affects your swing or performance
• Sharp or worsening pain with activity

Early evaluation by a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist can help prevent minor issues from becoming more serious injuries. With proper preparation, golf remains a safe and lifelong sport for players of all ages.

Expert sources:

• Rochester, Minn.: Adam Tagliero,  M.D., Sports medicine/orthopedic specialist, Mayo Clinic
• Phoenix: John Tokish, M.D., Sports medicine specialist
• Jacksonville: Matthew Crowe, M.D., Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Mayo Clinic Health System: Bradley Kruckeberg, M.D., Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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:

Carey Stanton, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic researchers developed an experimental nanotherapy that delivers two cancer drugs directly to brain tumors, according to a study published in Nature Communications Medicine. The strategy extended survival in preclinical models of glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

The nanotechnology-based approach packages two existing cancer drugs into tiny particles engineered to cross the brain's protective blood-brain barrier and target tumor cells. In preclinical models using patient-derived tissue, combining the treatment with radiation more than doubled survival compared with untreated controls.

Glioblastoma is notoriously difficult to treat. Patients typically survive for about 15 months after diagnosis, even with the latest therapies such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One major challenge is that many drugs cannot effectively reach tumors in the brain, and those that do often lose effectiveness as tumors develop resistance.

The new approach uses small lipid-based particles, known as liposomes, to carry and deliver a combination of drugs — everolimus or rapamycin and vinorelbine — directly to cancer cells, using a new tumor-targeting strategy. By ensuring both drugs reach the same cells at the same time, researchers aim to improve tumor-killing effects while reducing the toxic side effects associated with higher drug doses.

"Glioblastoma remains extremely difficult to treat due to drug resistance and limited drug delivery to the brain," says Debabrata (Dev) Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Dr. Mukhopadhyay, a nanotechnologist, is a senior author of the study. "Our approach is designed to improve both by targeting the tumor directly and combining therapies in a way that enhances their impact."

The drug combination includes agents that interfere with tumor growth pathways and disrupt the cancer's ability to repair DNA damage, making tumors more sensitive to radiation. 

"This represents a promising direction for treating patients with glioblastoma and advancing new technologies and therapies, so we can one day improve the survival of patients with brain cancer by delivering novel cancer therapies to the brain," says Alfredo Quinones-Hiñojosa, M.D., dean of research emeritus and chair emeritus of the Department of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic in Florida and a senior author on the study. "Further research will be needed to determine whether these results translate to patients."

Researchers are conducting additional safety and dosing studies required before clinical trials can begin. If successful, the approach could eventually be an oral or intravenous medication used alongside standard treatments or as an option for patients whose tumors do not respond to existing therapies.

"While this work is still in development, it represents an important step toward developing more precise cancer treatments that are both more effective and less toxic, potentially improving quality of life for patients," says Dr. Mukhopadhyay.

This study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01NS129671. Read the study for a full 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.

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 experimental dual-drug nanotherapy crosses the blood-brain barrier and improved survival in preclinical glioblastoma models appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

5-year, multisite Mayo Clinic study finds high diagnostic accuracy, low complication rates — and a shift toward earlier-stage detection

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As lung cancer screening identifies an estimated 1.6 million suspicious lung nodules each year in the U.S. alone, physicians face a challenge. Most peripheral pulmonary lesions are benign, yet the malignant minority represent the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.

A five-year, multisite study from Mayo Clinic suggests robotic-assisted bronchoscopy may provide a less invasive and more precise approach to diagnosing lung cancer.

The study evaluated 2,115 lung lesions in 1,904 patients across Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville; Phoenix; and Rochester, Minnesota, between 2019 and 2024. Researchers reported 85% sensitivity for malignancy and 76.9% accuracy, or a strict diagnostic yield, under newly standardized national criteria. They also reported a complication rate of 2.8%.

Since adoption of robotic bronchoscopy, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed at an early stage at Mayo Clinic increased from 46% in 2019 to nearly 69% by mid-2024. While lung cancer was caught earlier, diagnoses at advanced stages decreased from 54% to 31% in 2024.
 
"Lung cancer survival depends heavily on early detection," says Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy, M.D., the James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida and the lead author of this Mayo Clinic Proceedings study. "Technologies that allow us to diagnose and even treat disease earlier — and with fewer complications — can help improve survival."

Watch: Dr. Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy discusses robotic-assisted broncoscopy study

Journalists: Broadcast-quality soundbites with Dr. Fernandez-Bussy along with b-roll of a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network.”

A complex diagnostic decision

Lung cancer generally starts with a suspicious pulmonary nodule. When that is detected through screenings, a lung biopsy may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019, allows physicians to perform as many biopsies needed to be able to gather enough tissue for diagnosis and molecular markers that will further guide an individualized treatment approach. This technology provides physicians the precision and stability to sample multiple suspicious nodules throughout both lungs. By adding endobronchial ultrasound, physicians also can perform precise staging for the immune system glands, or mediastinal lymph nodes, all in one procedure.

When combined with real-time 3D imaging or cone beam CT scans, the system also helps physicians confirm the precise placement of the small tool within lesions before biopsy.
 
"This technology really has been a game-changer for diagnosing lung cancer earlier," says Dr. Fernandez-Bussy.

In this study, the researchers reported that 56% of lesions sampled were malignant. Twenty-one percent were definitively benign, and 23% were nondiagnostic under strict criteria.

The study applied updated strict diagnostic yield definitions from the American Thoracic Society and American College of Chest Physicians, which exclude certain follow-up data that previously reported higher success rates.

Looking ahead

Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platforms are increasingly being paired with endobronchial therapies, including pulsed electric field ablation, a minimally invasive treatment for patients who are not eligible for surgery or radiation. Mayo Clinic has begun to offer diagnosis, staging and treatment during a single procedure.
 
"I call this the 'single anesthetic lung surgery pathway,' and it means fewer trips to the hospital, less time away from family and shorter recovery times," says coauthor Janani Reisenauer, M.D., chair of thoracic surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who has been involved in clinical trials that deliver cancer treatment within minutes of diagnosis.

Five-year survival for localized lung cancer approaches 67%, compared with approximately 12% for metastatic disease. National guidelines recommend timely evaluation and treatment after diagnosis. As lung cancer screening expands and more nodules are detected, demand for precise, minimally invasive diagnostic approaches is expected to grow.
 
This study illustrates the impact of research with patient-contributed biospecimens, and their associated data, in driving discoveries and advancing cures. Mayo Clinic's Bioresource initiative is now accelerating the pace of such discoveries by expanding researcher access to valuable biospecimens.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding.
 
Additional Link: Dr. Bussy's work reduces need for transplant in advanced lung disease patients - Mayo Clinic

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Media contact:

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

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When surgery isn't an option, a liver transplant may be a lifesaving alternative. Mayo Clinic leads in this approach, combining expertise in oncology and transplantation to offer new hope for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Dr. Kris Croome, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon, explains how expanding treatment options improves outcomes.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:05) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Learning that colorectal cancer has spread to the liver can be overwhelming. Because the liver is the most common site of spread, affecting about half of patients, a liver transplant may offer hope when other treatments aren't an option.

"Liver transplant for colorectal metastases is an important evolution in transplant oncology and turns a historically palliative disease into one where cure is possible," says Dr. Croome.

It's a complex process that requires experts from multiple teams working together before transplant.

"Usually, it's at least six months of chemotherapy, and we would like to see that the tumors are responding and that we're not seeing any spread of disease anywhere else," he says. "We really want the disease to be isolated to the liver as the primary tumor. So the tumor in the colon needs to be removed ahead of time."

Liver transplants can significantly improve survival in advanced colorectal cancer, with five-year survival rates exceeding 70%.

"It's the care that patients receive leading up to that and afterward as well, and we really take pride in that," says Dr. Croome.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Advancing colorectal cancer care through innovation and screening
• When a healthy life meets an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis
• Mayo Clinic Minute: AI advances help care teams find hard-to-see colon polyps

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: How liver transplant is transforming care for patients with advanced colorectal cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.