JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic in Florida has become a Blue Zones Approved Worksite, joining a growing number of organizations across the city committed to making even more healthy choices available to employees. This milestone, achieved in collaboration with Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, reflects Mayo Clinic's dedication to fostering an environment where well-being is not just encouraged — it is embedded in the culture.

Through this initiative, Mayo Clinic has made evidence-based changes such as enhancing the employee dining menu with more plant-forward options, expanding gym and recreational spaces, and creating serene areas where staff can downshift and recharge. These changes align with Mayo Clinic's longstanding commitment to providing world-class care — both to patients, and to those who make that care possible.

"Mayo Clinic is setting a powerful example of how organizations can prioritize the health of their workforce in meaningful, sustainable ways," said Nicole Hamm, executive director of Blue Zones Project Jacksonville. "Their commitment to well-being sets a high standard for workplaces throughout our city."

"At Mayo Clinic, our employees are at the core of everything we do and how we care for our patients," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. "Caring for our employees by creating an environment where they belong and prioritizing all aspects of their health helps us to fulfill our mission as an organization. We continue to implement and instill a culture of health and well-being for staff, patients and the Northeast Florida community. We are proud to become a Blue Zones Approved Worksite and look forward to continuing to work together with Blue Zones Project Jacksonville to make Jacksonville a better place to live, work, eat and play."

To mark the occasion, Mayo Clinic in Florida will host a Worksite Approval ceremony and well-being celebration for employees on Monday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET on the Mayo Clinic in Florida Campus in the Kinne Auditorium located in the Cannaday Building. The event will include a ribbon-cutting and ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m. followed by wellness activities, healthy food tastings, opportunities to interact with fellow employees, Mayo Clinic leaders and Blue Zones Project Jacksonville staff, as well as will include information on the continued steps Mayo Clinic is taking to support staff longevity and well-being.

Local media are invited to attend and cover the event.

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About Blue Zones Project Jacksonville
Blue Zones Project is brought to Jacksonville by Blue Zones and a powerful coalition of community leaders: Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, the City of Jacksonville, Community First Credit Union, Florida Blue, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Mayo Clinic, UF Health and United Way of Northeast Florida. This innovative partnership brings together influential public and private organizations under a shared vision to measurably improve community well-being, resilience and economic vitality in Jacksonville. Over six years, local leadership and the local Blue Zones Project team will launch and implement policy work and school initiatives across all of Duval County. The Westside, Northside and East Jax neighborhoods will undergo focused Blue Zones Life Radius transformation. Visit bluezonesprojectjacksonville.com for 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:

• Kristin Murray, Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, kristin@bluezones.com
• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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PHOENIX — Dr. Allison Rosenthal's experience facing a leukemia diagnosis while in medical school inspired her to pursue a career fighting cancer. It also gave her insight into aspects of life with cancer for people under 40. Now, Dr. Rosenthal is among the leaders of an effort at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center to help younger adults and older teens receive age-appropriate care and support. In this expert alert, Dr. Rosenthal shares three topics that younger people with cancer often want to discuss with their healthcare teams.

"I have a very big passion and motivation to take care of our younger cancer patients," Dr. Rosenthal explains. "These are some of the people who need the most support after treatment."

Advances in cancer treatments have made many of the cancers most common in younger people highly treatable and often curable, Dr. Rosenthal says.

Worldwide, roughly 1.3 million people ages 15 to 39 were diagnosed with cancer in 2022, the most recent statistics available, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The most common cancers in that age group were breast, thyroid, cervical, testicular, ovarian, blood cancers (leukemias and lymphomas) and colorectal, agency figures show.

While long-term disease control or a cure is the objective, completing treatment doesn't necessarily mean that a younger person's experience with cancer is over, she adds.

"That means many adolescent or young adult cancer patients go on to live long lives, leaving them to navigate cancer survivorship for decades," says Dr. Rosenthal, a hematologist and oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. "There is the emotional impact that comes along with having experienced cancer, and that can be significant as they try to move forward in life. And there are also the physical effects and the long-lasting impact of that."

In addition to being a time of transition from pediatric medical care to adult care, the late teens and young adulthood typically are times of major life changes, adding challenges on top of cancer. The adolescent and young adult cancer program "is predicated on the idea that centering care around their unique needs improves their experience and outcomes," Dr. Rosenthal explains. In addition to individual feedback from patients, the program has a patient advisory council whose participants share what is important to them.

"We've tried to prioritize what we're working on based on the feedback we're getting from our patients who are in the midst of this experience," she says.

Dr. Rosenthal has observed that questions on these three topics are often on the minds of patients in their late teens, 20s and 30s during and after cancer treatment:

• Wellness behaviors and exercise.

"There are guidelines and recommendations for lifestyle choices including exercise, but it's a little bit hard to access those and to hold themselves accountable to pursue them," Dr. Rosenthal says.

• Connection with peers with cancer and additional support to know that they're not alone.

"And when their peers move on, to feel that they aren't left behind," Dr. Rosenthal explains.

• Sexual health and relationships.

"It's difficult for people to navigate," Dr. Rosenthal says. "It can be uncomfortable to ask about. It's hard to tell their peers about. There's a lot of work going into what we can proactively do to best support them."

Fertility can be impacted by cancer and its treatment, making conversations about fertility preservation important.

Another priority for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program is advance care planning. For older people with advanced cancers, involving palliative care earlier often helps them live longer and have a better quality of life, Dr. Rosenthal notes. That same approach could help younger patients.

"We're working on an advance care planning project specifically for young people with advanced cancers, to empower them to have a voice when they have time to have a voice, and not have that taken from them as well," Dr. Rosenthal says. "I know there's so much that can be done. Long-term outcomes, survivorship, quality of life — all of that is very important."

The program takes a multidisciplinary approach, including cancer specialists, social workers, health psychologists, and financial and vocational counselors.

"We're really fortunate that the majority of young adult patients who get cancer care are going to do well in the long term; there's going to be a lot of long-term survivors," Dr. Rosenthal says. "But if we aren't paying attention to the long-term treatment side effects, quality of life and the monitoring and maintenance of health, then we aren't providing the full service for these patients that they really deserve."

JOURNALISTS: Global, regional and national statistics on cancer in people ages 15 to 39 are available here.

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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:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Cancer before 40: Mayo Clinic expert shares 3 topics that younger patients often want to discuss appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Healthcare cardiologist offers simple tips to maximize health at outdoor events

LONDON — Festival season can be surprisingly physically demanding. Hours spent standing, walking or dancing can put extra strain on the heart, especially for those with preexisting conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, explains Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London.

For people with heart failure, this can lead to shortness of breath or a worsening of symptoms. For those with coronary artery disease, in which the major vessels that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked, sudden intense activity can trigger chest pain or even a heart attack, Dr. Wamil says.

"Key warning signs of heart distress at festivals include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, cold sweats, or fainting," Dr. Wamil adds. "These symptoms should never be ignored, and immediate medical help should be sought if they occur."

Noise exposure at outdoor concerts, carnivals and other events also can affect heart health.

"Short-term, loud noise can trigger the body's 'fight or flight' response, raising blood pressure and heart rate," Dr. Wamil says. "Long-term, chronic noise exposure has been shown to increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease."

Overindulging in alcohol, caffeine or salty food poses another serious risk. It can trigger holiday heart syndrome, in which even healthy individuals develop an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation, Dr. Wamil says.

"Alcohol is a direct toxin to the heart muscle and can cause a sudden rise in blood pressure," she explains. "For those with existing heart conditions, binge drinking can trigger heart failure or even a heart attack."

People with diabetes or heart disease should plan ahead when attending festivals and other events, advises Dr. Wamil, who specializes in the link between diabetes and heart disease. It's important to take medications on time, bring medical identification and carry essential supplies, such as snacks, water and a list of medications.

Keeping blood sugar stable with healthy food choices and staying hydrated can help prevent complications. Comfortable shoes and regular rest breaks are also key, especially for those with neuropathy or fatigue.

"If you have a heart condition or other serious medical issue, staying near the edge of crowds is a sensible precaution. It allows quicker access to medical help and an easier way out if needed," Dr. Wamil suggests. "Crowded environments can lead to overheating, anxiety or unexpected physical exertion, so choosing a shaded, quieter area can reduce risk."

For everyone, staying healthy during festival season means hydrating often, especially with water, and seeking out shade on hot days.

"Try to balance fun with rest, and include healthy foods when possible," Dr. Wamil says. "Protect yourself from the sun, pace your activities, and keep your phone charged in case of emergencies."

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About Mayo Clinic Healthcare
Mayo Clinic Healthcare, located in London, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit academic medical center. Mayo Clinic is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report in more specialties than any other hospital for a reason: quality of care. Mayo Clinic Healthcare is the U.K.'s front door to that unparalleled experience. Visit Mayo Clinic Healthcare for more information.

Media contact:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Holiday heart: The overindulgences during festival season that put even healthy people at risk appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a bold step to transform cancer care, Mayo Clinic is bringing new hope for patients diagnosed with the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers. Today, Mayo Clinic opened the new 228,000-square-foot Duan Family Building at its Jacksonville, Florida location. The building will house the first carbon ion therapy program in the Americas, and advanced technology that can seamlessly deliver both carbon ions and protons to treat the same tumor. 

"Carbon ion therapy and other heavy particle therapies are the advanced radiation therapies of our future," says Cheryl Willman, M.D., executive director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. "When battling our patients' complex, currently radioresistant cancers at Mayo Clinic, we need the advantage of these next-gen radiation tools, which can be fine-tuned to target and treat aggressive tumors while minimizing the impact to surrounding tissue."

As a leading National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center with locations in Florida, Minnesota and Arizona, Mayo Clinic is uniquely qualified to bring carbon ion therapy, as well as the dual carbon ion and proton treatment option, to the Americas.

"Mayo Clinic is building a better future where more cures are possible — giving new hope to patients with aggressive cancers," says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "This is the latest demonstration of our commitment to patient-centered healthcare transformation through our Bold. Forward. strategy."

While treatment with carbon ion therapy is expected to begin in 2028 and proton therapy in 2027, the opening of the Duan Family Building marks a significant milestone. Beginning this summer, other cancer treatment options will be offered in the new building, including photon therapy, immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy (CAR-T cell therapy) and more, along with sophisticated imaging technology.

"The emerging treatments that will be offered in the Duan Family Building, including carbon ion therapy, are an important part of the integrated cancer practice at Mayo Clinic, ensuring constant, research-driven innovation in the care we are providing to patients," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. 

Mayo Clinic researchers, working with outside global experts, are also exploring the use of other heavy ions beyond carbon in clinical studies to evaluate their potential benefits in future cancer care.

This building and the advances in cancer care treatment technology housed within represent a significant investment, largely thanks to the generosity and vision of our benefactors. 

Advancing radiation therapy

Many patients with cancer require radiation therapy during their treatment. Different forms of radiation therapy have varying biological impacts on cancer cells.

• Photon therapy: This is the most common form of radiation therapy, which uses X-rays or gamma rays — packets of light energy called photons — to treat cancer. Beams are directed at the tumor, preventing the cancer cells from growing or dividing.

• Proton beam therapy: This particle therapy directs a precise dose of positively charged particles (protons) at cancer cells, destroying their genetic material while minimizing the impact on surrounding, healthy cells. This is especially beneficial for treating tumors near vital organs and cancer in children.

• Carbon ion therapy: This heavy particle therapy delivers positively charged particles (carbon ions) that release their energy upon hitting the targeted cancerous tumor. The particles destroy cancer cells with very little damage to surrounding tissue. It is particularly effective against cancer cells that are resistant to other forms of radiation.

Advances in radiation therapies, such as carbon ion and dual modality treatments of proton beam and carbon ion, enable clinicians to create highly individualized, precise and effective treatments, ultimately bringing more cures to patients.  

How radiation therapies work

In 2019, Mayo Clinic and technology innovator Hitachi began working together to bring carbon ion therapy to the Americas. While carbon ion therapy was discovered in the United States in the 1970s, the technology has only been available for clinical care at a handful of centers in Asia and Europe.

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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: 

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

Media kit:

• Duan Family Building media kit with soundbites, images, animation

The post Mayo Clinic takes the next step in making heavy particle therapy available in the Americas for patients with aggressive cancers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Alzheimer's disease, marked by memory loss, trouble concentrating and thinking, and changes in personality and behavior, devastates patients, their families and loved ones. With new treatments available for people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, there is a growing need for accessible and cost-effective tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease sooner. In a new study, Mayo Clinic researchers confirmed the accuracy of an FDA-approved blood test that can be used at outpatient memory clinics to diagnose the disease in patients with a range of cognitive impairment. The findings are published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Standard ways of measuring the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain that indicate Alzheimer's disease include positron emission tomography, or PET scans, and spinal taps. But these tests can be expensive and invasive. More accessible, non-invasive and cost-effective biomarkers — measurable indicators of a disease — are needed to improve diagnoses broadly in clinical settings. 

"Our study found that blood testing affirmed the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with 95% sensitivity and 82% specificity,” says corresponding author Gregg Day, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist, dementia specialist and clinical researcher. "When performed in the outpatient clinical setting, this is similar to the accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of the disease and is much more convenient and cost-effective."

The research team says their findings show promise in:

• Better identifying research participants with Alzheimer's disease brain changes.
• Screening and selecting patients with Alzheimer's disease for clinical trials.
• Assessing how patients respond to therapy in clinical trials.
  

More than 500 patients receiving treatment for a range of memory issues at the outpatient Memory Disorder Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Florida participated in the study. They included patients with early- and late-onset cognitive impairment, typical and atypical Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia and vascular cognitive impairment. 

Patients ranged from 32 to 89 years old, with the average age of symptom onset being 66. Alzheimer's disease was determined to be the underlying cause of the symptoms in 56% of the patients. The team also conducted serum tests to measure kidney disease, which can influence plasma biomarker concentrations. 

Mayo Clinic Laboratories tested for two proteins in blood plasma that are associated with amyloid plaque buildup, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease: Aβ42/40 and p-tau217. The researchers found that p-tau217 levels were higher in patients with Alzheimer's disease versus those without the disease. Higher plasma p-tau217 concentrations were also associated with impaired kidney function, which researchers say should be taken into account when performing the blood test. 

Plasma p-tau217 concentrations were positive in 267 out of 509 patients, including 233 of 246 patients (95%) with cognitive impairment attributed to Alzheimer's disease.

The study was featured at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in April. 

In a previous study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic Laboratories team showed the utility of these blood tests compared to amyloid PET scans in research participants. 

Dr. Day says the next steps in this research are to evaluate blood-based testing in more diverse patient populations and people with early Alzheimer's disease who show no cognitive symptoms. The team also wants to evaluate disease-specific factors that may alter biomarker accuracy in clinical trials.

Other Mayo Clinic authors include Yoav Piura, M.D., Christian Lachner, M.D., Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., Alicia Algeciras Schimnich, Ph.D., and Neill Graff-Radford, M.D. For a full list of authors, funding and disclosures, see the paper.

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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:

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

The post Mayo Clinic researchers validate blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in outpatient memory clinics appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Late-breaking abstract featured at ASCO 2025

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Colon cancer is the third most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S., and while screening has helped detect and prevent colon cancer from spreading, major advancements in treating colon cancer have lagged.

Now, new research led by Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center found that adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy after surgery for patients with stage 3 (node-positive) colon cancer — and with a specific genetic makeup called deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) — was associated with a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence and death compared to chemotherapy alone. Approximately 15% of people diagnosed with colon cancer exhibit dMMR and, to date, these tumors appear less sensitive to chemotherapy. The results of the multi-center study were presented during a plenary session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.

"The findings from our study represent a major advance in the adjuvant treatment of dMMR stage 3 colon cancer and will now change the treatment for this type of cancer," says oncologist Frank Sinicrope, M.D., who led the study. "It's extremely rewarding to be able to offer our patients a new treatment regimen that can reduce the risk of recurrence and improve their chances of survival."

Until now, the standard treatment after surgery for any stage 3 colon cancer has been chemotherapy. However, the researchers note that approximately 30% of patients experience cancer recurrence despite this treatment. 

Watch: Dr. Frank Sinicrope discusses Mayo Clinic immunotherapy study

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Frank Sinicrope are in the downloads at the end of the post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network."

The clinical trial enrolled 712 patients with dMMR stage 3 colon cancer that had been surgically removed and who had cancer cells in their lymph nodes. The immunotherapy given in this study was an immune checkpoint inhibitor, known as atezolizumab, which activates one's immune system to attack and kill cancer cells, which are responsible for cancer recurrence and spread. The patients — who lived in the U.S. and Germany — received chemotherapy for six months along with immunotherapy and then continued with immunotherapy alone for another six months.

Dr. Sinicrope and others previously studied patients with colon cancer whose cells are unable to repair errors during DNA replication that create a nucleotide mismatch, a condition called dMMR. They noted that these patients' tumors showed a striking increase in inflammatory cells within the tumor, including those that express the target of immune checkpoint inhibitors. This sparked the idea of using immune checkpoint inhibitors to make the immune cells more effective in attacking and killing the cancer cells.   

Based on the data from this study, Dr. Sinicrope recommends this combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatment to be the new standard treatment for stage 3 deficient mismatch repair colon cancer. The research team plans to approach the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a nonprofit organization consisting of 33 leading cancer centers, including Mayo Clinic, with this recommendation.  

The study included patients with Lynch syndrome, the most common form of hereditary colon cancer, as these patients can have tumors that show deficient mismatch repair (dMMR).

"We're changing the paradigm in colon cancer treatment. By using immunotherapy at earlier stages of disease, we are achieving meaningful benefits for our patients," says Dr. Sinicrope.

Review the abstract 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.

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:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Immunotherapy boosts chemotherapy in combating stage 3 colon cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers will present their latest oncology findings at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, scheduled to be held May 30–June 3 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The event, recognized as one of the largest gatherings in the field of cancer research, will feature 59 Mayo Clinic-authored abstracts highlighting advancements in cancer care.

Among the standout presentations are practice-changing studies focused on chemotherapy approaches, artificial intelligence (AI) applications in oncology, cancer care at home and new therapies for breast cancer and melanoma — all focused on improving treatment options for patients with cancer.

Highlights include:

Plenary Session: Randomized trial of standard chemotherapy alone or combined with atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy for patients with stage 3 deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer (Alliance A021502; ATOMIC)
Presentation time: Sunday, June 1, 1:05 to 1:17 p.m. CDT
Session title: Special Sessions
Presenter: Frank Sinicrope, M.D., medical oncologist and gastroenterologist

Clinical Science Symposium: Perception and concerns of the hematology and oncology (HemOnc) workforce about artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice (CliPr) and medical education (MedED)
Presentation time: Saturday, May 31, 2:03 to 2:15 p.m. CDT
Session title: The Future Is Now: Innovations in Medical Education
Presenter: Guilherme Sacchi de Camargo Correia, M.D., oncology fellow (senior author is Rami Manochakian, M.D., thoracic medical oncologist)

Oral Abstract Session: Tissue-free circulating tumor DNA assay and patient outcome in a phase 3 trial of FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy (Alliance N0147)
Presentation time: Friday, May 30, 3:57 to 4:09 p.m. CDT
Session title: Gastrointestinal Cancer — Colorectal and Anal
Presenter: Frank Sinicrope, M.D., medical oncologist and gastroenterologist

Oral Abstract Session: [212Pb]VMT-α-NET therapy in somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) observation participants after one-year follow-up and preliminary report for expansion participants.
Presentation time: Friday, May 30, 4:09 to 4:21 p.m. CDT
Session title: Developmental Therapeutics — Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Presenter: Thorvardur Halfdanarson, M.D., medical oncologist       

Oral Abstract Session: NeoACTIVATE arm C: Phase II trial of neoadjuvant atezolizumab and tiragolumab for high-risk operable stage 3 melanoma
Presentation time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 10:45 a.m. to 10:57 a.m. CDT
Session title: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Presenter: Tina Hieken, M.D., breast and melanoma surgical oncologist

Poster Session: Cancer Care Beyond Walls (CCBW): A randomized pragmatic trial of home-based versus in-clinic cancer therapy administration
Session time: Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Care Delivery and Quality Care
Presenter: Roxana Dronca, M.D., medical oncologist and the site deputy director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida

Poster Session: A pilot single-arm, pragmatic trial in progress of in-home versus in-clinic subcutaneous nivolumab administration through Cancer Care Beyond Walls (CCBW) program (connected access and remote expertise)
Session time: Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session Title: Care Delivery/Models of Care
Presenter: Dina Elantably, M.B., B.CH., oncology fellow (senior author is Roxana Dronca, M.D., medical oncologist and the site deputy director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida)

Poster Session: Initial results of MC200710 investigating therapeutic vaccine (PDS0101) alone or with pembrolizumab prior to surgery or radiation therapy for locally advanced HPV associated oropharyngeal carcinoma, a phase 2 window of opportunity trial
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Head and Neck Cancer
Presenter: David Routman, M.D., radiation oncologist

Poster Session: ALISertib in combination with endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2–) recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: The phase 2 ALISCA-Breast1 study
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Breast Cancer — Metastatic
Presenter: Tufia Haddad, M.D., medical oncologist

Poster Session: Estrogen receptor expression in residual breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Breast Cancer — Local/Regional/Adjuvant
Presenter: Sarah Premji, M.D., oncology fellow (senior author is Matthew Goetz, M.D., breast medical oncologist, and the Erivan K. Haub Family Professor of Cancer Research Honoring Richard F. Emslander, M.D.)

For more information about 2025 ASCO visit: https://www.asco.org/annual-meeting.

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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 on-site at ASCO:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, 507-202-8655, luckstein.kelley@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic experts present key cancer research findings at ASCO appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic’s Business Development team, consistently recognized as one of the top commercialization operations among academic medical centers, is expanding its capabilities through a new initiative: the Mayo Venture Partner (MVP) program. In response to the dynamic and evolving healthcare landscape, Mayo Clinic is enlisting industry veterans to create groundbreaking technologies, co-invest in aligned companies and build new ventures from the ground up.

The MVP program brings together seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and executives who will leverage their expertise with Mayo Clinic’s world-class research and clinical expertise. These leaders will play a pivotal role in identifying high-potential opportunities across Mayo Clinic's research and clinical practices, forming new companies and accelerating innovations that advance patient care.

The inaugural MVPs are:

• Amy DuRoss — Healthcare innovation leader with deep expertise in policy, commercialization and diagnostics.
• Audrey Greenberg — Company builder, executive leader and expert in launching and scaling ventures across life sciences, healthcare and other industries.
• Brian Poger — Serial entrepreneur and venture strategist with a track record in digital health and healthcare services.

Working in close partnership with the Mayo Clinic Business Development team, the MVPs will help forge strategic collaborations and deliver real-world impact, underscoring Mayo Clinic's enduring commitment to transforming healthcare.

To date, the Business Development team has returned more than $1.2B in revenue to Mayo Clinic to support its clinical practice, education and research. Additionally, the team has helped create more than 180 companies, licensed 4,848 Mayo Clinic-created technologies through 2,913 agreements, and issued 4,159 patents.

This program and these efforts align with Mayo Clinic's vision to transform healthcare by:

• Accelerating innovation — Turning cutting-edge research, data and other resources into real-world solutions for patients. 
• Enhancing patient care — Bringing new treatments and technologies to patients that offer cures and the ability to connect with the healthcare system in ways that increase access and decrease costs. 
• Building strategic partnerships — Leveraging external expertise and resources to amplify impact.

Mayo Clinic is dedicated to driving progress and expanding its impact through innovation. This initiative is an exciting opportunity for investors, CEOs and innovators to collaborate with Mayo Clinic and be part of a future that prioritizes patient-centric, transformative healthcare solutions.

More about the MVPs:

Amy DuRoss

Amy is a Mayo Venture Partner focused on launching and scaling companies at the intersection of life sciences, software, and biopharma services. She has spent her career advancing therapies and technologies that improve patient outcomes and expand access to innovation. Amy was co-founder and CEO of Vineti, a pioneer in advanced therapy supply chain software, and held senior leadership roles at GE Ventures and Navigenics. She played a key role in creating California’s $8.5 billion stem cell initiative (Proposition 71) and served as chief of staff at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Amy serves on several boards across life sciences and biopharma services, is a Health Innovator Fellow at the Aspen Institute, and holds MBA and MA/BA degrees from Stanford University.

Get connected

Audrey Greenberg

Audrey is a Mayo Venture Partner with deep experience in biotech entrepreneurship and global platform development who has built and scaled companies at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Audrey co-founded the Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM), a global leader in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Under her leadership, CBM raised $500 million, launched 350,000 square feet of GMP space, formed a $100 million joint venture with the University of Pennsylvania, and was acquired by SK pharmteco. She went on to lead commercial strategy for SK pharmteco’s 2,000-person global organization. Earlier in her career, Audrey was a private equity executive and investment banker managing over $90 billion in AUM. She is widely recognized for her leadership in life sciences and serves on public, private, and nonprofit boards. Audrey is a CPA and holds an MBA from Wharton.

Get connected

Brian Poger

Brian is a Mayo Venture Partner helping launch companies rooted in Mayo Clinic science. He has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes and making healthcare more affordable. Brian was founding CEO of Senior Educators (now Alight Health Exchange) and Benefitter, a widely used benefits platform for small businesses. He held leadership roles at Aon, HealthMarkets, and UnitedHealthcare following the acquisitions of his startups. Most recently, he served as an executive in residence at Frazier Healthcare Partners. Brian began his career at Eli Lilly and McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA with distinction from Kellogg and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.

Get connected

To learn more, visit the Mayo Clinic Business Development website and subscribe to its e-newsletter and follow the Mayo Clinic Ventures LinkedIn page.

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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:

• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Mayo Clinic is adding a second patient information office in Ecuador. The new staff in Guayaquil will assist patients traveling to Mayo Clinic for care and help insurance companies, referring physicians and others connect with Mayo.

Mayo Clinic's first office in Ecuador opened in Quito in 2009. Mayo now has patient information offices in 15 countries, including several locations in Latin America.

The office staff in Ecuador, fluent in Spanish and English, help patients make appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London.

"We are pleased to add services for patients and their families in Guayaquil and the surrounding area," says Jorge Pascual, M.D., a pulmonary medicine physician at Mayo Clinic in Florida and Mayo Clinic executive medical director of the Americas. "Mayo Clinic excels in caring for patients with serious, complex and unsolved medical needs. Our office staff in Guayaquil and Quito play a critical role in facilitating patients' travel to Mayo for care."

The staff help with travel, lodging, billing, and insurance arrangements; provide general orientation to Mayo Clinic; facilitate Mayo review of medical records; and coordinate future appointments. The services are free of charge. The office does not provide medical care.

Mayo accepts appointment requests directly from patients and patient referrals from physicians. Interpreters are available at no cost to assist with communication between healthcare providers and patients whose primary language is not English.

Mayo care teams work together to provide a healing environment and a seamless patient experience. That includes coordinated appointment schedules, with specialists, tests and procedures located in close proximity to each other; coordination of care by one personal physician; and smooth communication at Mayo and with patients' healthcare teams at home.  

The Guayaquil office staff may be reached by email at guayaquiloffice@mayo.edu. Learn more here.

Mayo Clinic is ranked the best hospital in the world by Newsweek and is top ranked in more specialties than any other hospital in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. In 2024, Mayo cared for patients from every U.S. state and 135 countries.

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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:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
  
  

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Millions of people are affected by chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, an agonizing side effect of damaged salivary glands. While chemotherapy and radiation treatment for head and neck cancer are the most common causes of this, aging, certain medications and other factors, including diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and HIV/AIDS, can also cause chronic dry mouth. Currently, there is no cure for it.

Mayo Clinic researchers have established the world's first biobank of human salivary gland tissue-organoids that opens the door to research to find a cure.

"This unique biobank resource overcomes a major barrier we've faced in the field, namely: limited access to standardized salivary specimens suited for salivary gland regeneration research. This collection provides a foundation for regenerative therapy development, especially for radiation-induced chronic dry mouth," says Nagarajan Kannan, Ph.D., lead author of the study published in NPJ Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Kannan is also the director of the Mayo Clinic Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory.

Nearly 70% of patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy experience permanent damage to their salivary glands. People with this condition experience diminished quality of life from a constant feeling like cotton is lining their mouths. Besides being uncomfortable, chronic dry mouth can lead to difficulties with chewing, tasting, speaking and swallowing. It also can cause tooth decay.

"Chronic dry mouth can extend long after radiation treatments are complete. It's among the top concerns I hear from patients with head and neck cancer. Unfortunately, there aren't many therapeutics available commercially for these patients," says co-author Jeffrey Janus, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

One promising avenue of research is the cultivation of rare regenerative cells to greater numbers that can help people someday heal and grow new, healthy salivary gland cells. The biobank consists of specimens collected from 208 donors. From this repository, researchers have already found biomarkers for mature, saliva-producing cells, and with the help of a high-resolution protein map, they have identified the potential tissue origin of rare, self-renewing salivary cells.

The research team also developed a radiation injury model, which paired with the biobank, provides an integrated platform to discover new, personalized regenerative biotherapeutics.

This is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Department of Otolaryngology.

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:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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