Mayo Clinic at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Mayo Clinic is contributing more than 60 educational sessions, posters and abstracts at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Below are some featured research projects.

Check this page periodically for updates.

Featured Mayo Clinic Research

Mastectomies on the Rise and MRI Use May Explain Part of the Trend, Say Mayo Researchers
The number of women undergoing mastectomy (total breast removal) for early-stage breast cancer has increased in the last three years at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The increase follows a steady decline during the prior seven years.

Cancer Patients' Quality of Life Directly Relates to Their Survival
Patients who feel better live longer, say Mayo Clinic researchers, working with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), in study results released May 15 as part of the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Some Early Stage Colon Cancer Patients Should Not Receive Chemotherapy, Mayo Researchers Say
Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators say they have conclusively demonstrated that a substantial subset of colon cancer patients should not receive chemotherapy because it provides no clinical benefit, and actually may reduce survival time.

Mayo Clinic Researchers find Adding Epratuzumab to Standard Therapy for Aggressive Lymphoma Produces Significant Overall Response
Adding a second monoclonal antibody drug to chemotherapy looks promising for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, according to Mayo Clinic researchers working with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) (http://ncctg.mayo.edu/). Results of this interim analysis were released May 15 as part of the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Study Shows that Administering Calcium and Magnesium Effectively Reduces Neurological Sensitivity Caused by the Chemotherapy Drug Oxaliplatin
Researchers in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) have shown that patients who receive intravenous calcium and magnesium before and after the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced colon cancer experience a significantly reduced incidence and severity of neurological side effects (neurotoxicity). This reduction increases the likelihood that patients are able to complete a full course of treatment. The findings were released May 15 as part of the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

New Method Proposed for Determining Which Patients Should Get Treatment for Colorectal Cancer
A new study being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago (Abstract #4020), may change treatment practice in about 25 percent of patients with colon cancer and is the basis for proposed changes to the way colorectal cancers will be staged.