Clive S. Zent, M.D.

The research of Clive S. Zent, M.D., focuses on basic, clinical and translational science in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). His principal interest is the development and testing of innovative therapies for CLL.

Dr. Zent is also a leader in research efforts to better understand the autoimmune complications of CLL. This work is an integral component of the research plan of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Core Group of the Division of Hematology at Mayo Clinic and the Lymphoma SPORE.

Focus areas

The main focus of Dr. Zent's laboratory is understanding the mechanisms of action and resistance to targeted monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of CLL. This has resulted in discoveries of mechanisms of resistance in CLL cells that could be overcome by innovative therapies, which are being testing in ongoing clinical trials.

To further this aim, Dr. Zent is developing and testing immune modulation strategies that can increase the ability of patients' own immune systems to kill CLL cells targeted by therapeutic antibodies.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Zent is using knowledge from the lab to develop novel therapies to treat patients with the most aggressive types of CLL. This has required developing methods to identify these patients at the earliest possible time in the course of their CLL using cutting-edge molecular genetic analysis.