Translational Research

Treating Patients Who Have Cancer

For more than 100 years, Mayo Clinic has been a world leader in treating patients who have developed cancer. In recent years, Mayo has been on the forefront for developing drugs that destroy tumor cells. However, we can consider these drugs to be the first generation of cancer therapies because they can have limited effectiveness and serious side effects.

Immunotherapy: The Next Generation of Treatments

Mayo investigators are working on developing a second generation of anti-cancer therapies. They are novel therapies that work by harnessing the immune system to destroy tumor cells. This approach is known as immunotherapy.

How Can Immunotherapy Improve Cancer Treatments

During your lifetime, you come in contact with numerous viruses and bacteria. Your immune system protects you from getting many diseases by identifying and eliminating these pathogens - and it does this without affecting the normal cells in your body.

The great news is that immune system targets tumor cells in the same way. Immunotherapy researchers see this selective ability as the key to developing new anti-cancer therapies. Their investigations manipulate the body's natural system of defense to kill invading cells and preserve healthy cells.

Immunotherapy Projects

Mayo clinical investigators are researching new anti-cancer therapies in a variety of different types of tumors. To read about promising innovative approaches to immunotherapy research, click on the following scientist's links:

• Svetomir Markovic, M.D., Ph.D.
• Stephen Ansell, M.D., Ph.D.
• Eugene Kwon, M.D.