Research - June 2015 Archives

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic and the George Family Foundation are leading supporters of the newly formed Southeast Minnesota Partnership for Community-Based Health Promotion. A key aim of this partnership is to extend the care that occurs in Southeast Minnesota health systems into the communities. The partnership will focus first on incorporating clinical referrals of effective, community-based programs into routine primary care treatment strategies. The new program is called Living Well with Chronic Conditions (formally known as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program). “The goal of this partnership is to fundamentally change the way individuals and communities in Southeast Minnesota experience life with chronic health conditions,” says Aaron Leppin, M.D., a research associate in Mayo Clinic’s Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 out of every 10 deaths in the U.S. are the result of chronic disease. In Southeast Minnesota, Community Health Needs Assessments consistently identify chronic disease management as an area of priority. Media Contacts: Colette Gallagher and Naomi Ogaldez, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clinicians testing the drug dasatinib, approved for several blood cancers, had hoped it would slow the aggressive growth of the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma; however, clinical trials to date have not found any benefit. Researchers at Mayo Clinic, who conducted one of those clinical trials, believe they know why dasatinib failed — and what to do about it. In the online issue of Molecular Oncology, investigators report finding that dasatinib inhibits proteins that promote cancer growth as expected but also suppresses proteins that protect against cancer. The findings suggest that pretesting patient glioblastoma biopsies will help identify who may respond well to dasatinib and who should avoid using the drug, says the study’s senior author, Panos Z. Anastasiadis, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at Mayo Clinic in Florida. MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Punsky, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 904-953-0746, punsky.kevin@mayo.edu

Arizonans will receive benefit from recently FDA-approved precision medicine clinical trial to fight a deadly form of melanoma PHOENIX, Ariz. — Mayo Clinic and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) are helping launch a national clinical trial that will apply the latest in precision medicine to treat advanced melanoma skin cancer. The study leverages advances in genomics, informatics, and health information technology, yielding more precise medical treatments for patients with this devastating disease. Mayo Clinic is the only clinical site in Arizona to offer this new treatment, sponsored by Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) and the Melanoma Research Alliance. These clinical trials are the culmination of nearly four years of research under an SU2C Melanoma Dream Team grant. Metastatic melanoma is a type of cancer that has spread from the skin to other parts of the body, most frequently the lungs, muscles, brain, and liver. Metastatic melanoma is responsible for more than 9,000 deaths a year in the United States, so there remains an urgent need for new treatment options. For interviews with Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic and Dr. Alan Bryce or a patient with metastatic melanoma, contact Julie Janovsky-Mason, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs at (480) 301-6173; Janovsky-Mason.Julie@mayo.edu. For interviews with Dr. Trent, please contact: Steve Yozwiak, TGen Senior Science Writer at 602-343-8704; syozwiak@tgen.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcJPXISDxkM SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An international research team led by Mayo Clinic oncologists has found a new way to identify and possibly stop the progression of many late-stage cancers, including bladder, blood, bone, brain, lung and kidney. The precision medicine study appears online in Oncogene and focuses on kidney cancer and its metastases. Recent studies of the same epigenomic fingerprint in other cancers suggest a common pathway that could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of advanced disease across a wide variety of cancer types. “If you think of late-stage cancer as a runaway car, most of our drugs take a shot at a tire here and there, but sometimes they miss and often they can’t stop it entirely,” says Thai Ho, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic oncologist and lead author of the study. “We believe we have identified a mechanism that seizes the cancer’s biological engine and could potentially stop it in its tracks.” The new approach zeroes in on an epigenomic fingerprint in metastatic disease, in which the body often misinterprets a healthy genetic blueprint, producing toxic cells that run afoul of the body’s normal functions. MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Smith, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., and SILVER SPRING, Md. — Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) today announced a collaboration to build and operate a lung restoration center on the Mayo campus. The goal is to significantly increase the volume of lungs for transplantation by preserving and restoring selected marginal donor lungs, making them viable for transplantation. The restored lungs will be made available to patients at Mayo Clinic and other transplant centers throughout the United States. Construction of the center is expected to be completed in late 2017. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. “This collaboration is exciting because it allows Mayo Clinic to bring the latest advances in life-saving technology to transplant patients,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida. “Ultimately, this relationship will help Mayo Clinic expand its reach to patients who could benefit from this innovation. Increasing the number of lungs available for transplantation provides more options for patients suffering from pulmonary disease.” MEDIA CONTACTS: Kevin Punsky, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 904-953-0746, punsky.kevin@mayo.edu; Michael Benkowitz, United Therapeutics Corporation, 415-464-4838, mbenkowitz@unither.com Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Farrugia are available in the downloads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn5NUxLV-ms

WHAT: The Advanced Product Incubator (API) establishes cell-free platforms to develop regenerative therapies. Built according to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the API adheres to rigorous standards of facility design, monitoring and process control. This multidisciplinary, first-of-its-kind facility bridges teams of researchers and physicians with scientific and industry experts to accelerate product development. The API design fosters the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical grade curative products developed with the lowest possible risk to patients. API’s unique approach is to develop low-cost, off-the-shelf, cell-free regenerative therapies that address chronic or incurable diseases. Reporters will have a chance to tour portions of the facility, take photos and video, and interview experts. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Minnesota Biobusiness Center, 221 1st Ave. SW, 3rd floor, Rochester, Minnesota. WHEN: Thursday, June 11, 2015, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. WHO: Interviews available with Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D., director, Advanced Product Incubator; Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., director, Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine; and Gary Smith, president, Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. RSVP:  Jennifer Schutz, Schutz.jennifer@mayo.edu, 507-284-0025 MEDIA CONTACT: Bob Nellis, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

Vitesse formed to identify and advance early stage biologic research in immunology, hematology and oncology Deerfield, IL., Rochester, MN and South San Francisco, CA. — Baxter Ventures, the venture arm of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), Mayo Clinic and Velocity Pharmaceutical Development, LLC (“VPD”) today announced the formation of Vitesse Biologics, LLC, (“Vitesse”). Vitesse is a unique collaboration model initiated by Baxter Ventures to focus on the development of antibody and protein-based therapeutics in the areas of immunology, hematology, and oncology. Following the spin-off of Baxter BioScience as Baxalta Incorporated, anticipated to take place by mid-2015, the Vitesse relationship will be managed by the planned venture arm, Baxalta Ventures, for the new company. Baxter Media Contact: Kellie Hotz, (224) 948-5353, media@baxter.com Baxter Investor Contact: Mary Kay Ladone, (224) 948-3371 Mayo Clinic Media Contact: Brian Kilen, (507) 284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu Velocity Media Contact: Leslie Loven, (415) 509-5110,  leslie@vpd.net