Radiation Oncology in Minnesota

Research

Medical research is an integral part of Mayo Clinic. Radiation oncologists at Mayo conduct laboratory research and research in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment as part of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

Basic science projects in radiation oncology focus on understanding how to detect cellular damage and repair it following radiation and understanding why some tumors respond well to radiation while others resist it. Both basic and clinical research focus on testing combinations of radiation with novel drugs targeted to specific molecules to improve cancer cure rates. Mayo clinicians also evaluate methods to decrease side effects, improve radiation treatment delivery, improve quality-of-life following radiation, and decrease tobacco use in patients. Other research projects focus on improving advanced imaging technologies for treatment planning, delivery, and optimization.

Recent projects by Mayo Clinic researchers have:

• Determined appropriate radiation doses for brain tumors that set a new standard of care
• Found that the use of internal metal markers helps target radiation more accurately for prostate cancer patients and helps minimize side effects
• Determined simple and inexpensive pretreatment testing that identified prostate cancer patients who are likely to have serious complications from brachytherapy, a treatment in which radioactive seeds are placed in or near a tumor. Those patients can be treated other ways.

Clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that test new and promising cancer treatments. Patients who take part in research may be the first to benefit from improved treatment methods, and they contribute to medical care because the results of the studies may help many people. Patient participation is voluntary, and patients may leave a trial at any time.

Current trials available to Mayo patients that involve radiation therapy include cancers of the:

• Anus
• Blood, marrow, and lymph system
• Bones and soft tissues
• Brain
• Breast
• Esophagus
• Head and neck
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Prostate
• Rectum
• Skin (melanoma)
• Stomach
• Uterus

For a listing of clinical trials open at Mayo Clinic, see the Clinical Trials page. It lists clinical trials by condition, treatment, specialty, and Mayo Clinic location. Mayo radiation oncologists may know about other clinical trials that are appropriate for specific patients.

At Mayo Clinic, one institutional review board approves clinical studies for all three Mayo Clinic practices. Clinical trials are often offered in cooperation with research groups such as the Children's Oncology Group, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the Gynecologic Oncology Group.