Oncology

Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ newly expanded Hereditary Pancreatitis Gene Panel is transforming how clinicians diagnose and manage a complex, often elusive disease. Developed through close collaboration between lab scientists, genetic counselors, and clinicians, the test uses a whole exome sequencing backbone to analyze nine carefully selected genes with strong clinical relevance. This focused approach avoids ambiguous results while empowering early diagnosis, cancer risk assessment, and family testing. Built on a whole exome backbone with reflex capabilities, the panel represents a major step forward in precision medicine — offering clarity for patients and providers, and a platform for future genomic innovation.

PACE/State of FL - The role of cytology specimens in molecular genetic testing, emphasizing their effectiveness in identifying biomarkers critical for targeted therapies in patients with cancer.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, invited Min-Han Tan, M.B.B.S., FRCP, Ph.D., founding CEO and medical director of Lucence, to discuss liquid biopsy cancer testing. Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Lucence recently announced a collaboration to expand access to this cutting-edge cancer test that is designed to detect clinically relevant biomarkers in ctDNA and ctRNA.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories and KYAN Technologies announced a collaboration to validate and provide the KYAN test, Optim.AI™, across the United States.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Lucence are expanding access to advanced cancer testing worldwide with LiquidHALLMARK®, a next-generation liquid biopsy that provides actionable genomic insights. This collaboration empowers physicians to deliver personalized care and improve patient outcomes.

John Logan Black, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' UGT1A1 tests (Mayo IDs: U1A1Q and UGTFZ) identify genetic variants that increase the risk of potentially life-threatening reactions to irinotecan, a chemotherapy agent.

Fergus Couch, Ph.D., chair of Mayo Clinic’s Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, led a team that recently published new National Institutes of Health and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved guidelines for the interpretation of variants in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) cancer gene. Inherited mutations in ATM have been shown to increase the risk of breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Now published by the American Journal of Human Genetics and available for widespread use, Dr. Couch says the guidelines can help clinicians around the world apply the same consistent method of classification to ATM variants.

Dr. Dong Chen and Dr. Sounak Gupta joined the “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast” to discuss the molecular testing space and its important role in personalized cancer treatment. Dr. Chen and Dr. Gupta highlighted the importance of selecting the right molecular tests for patients, the impact of genetic testing on cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how Mayo Clinic Laboratories is helping physicians make informed decisions for the best patient outcomes.

Megan Hoenig, M.S., M.P.H., CGC, explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique hypermethylation analysis (Mayo ID: MLHPB) provides critical adjunct information for managing Lynch syndrome. That genetic condition increases the risk for many kinds of cancer.

PACE/State of FL - The latest ASCO guidelines for selection of germline genetic testing panels for cancer patients.

Founded in 2017, Mayo Clinic's Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory is a visionary space. In 2021, the lab developed the Mayo Complete Solid Tumor Panel, a clinically validated assay that analyzes 515 genes using next-generation sequencing. This multiple test panel, the first of its kind at Mayo, aids in selecting targeted therapies, diagnosing tumor types, and predicting prognosis, significantly improving patient care.

When Samantha Duke discovered she had breast cancer, she didn’t have to look far for support. Her mother Jane walked a similar path 16 years earlier. Inspired both by her mom and the strong network of healthcare physicians and professionals on her team, Samantha remained positive throughout her treatment and is committed to advancing research on breast cancer.

Aiming to advance understanding of hard-to-predict gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), Thermo Fisher Scientific joined forces with Mayo Clinic and BioPharma Diagnostics to validate and gain U.S. regulatory clearance of a novel, automated assay aimed at detecting a biomarker associated with the progressive disease.