Oncology – Featured

PACE / State of FL - Register now - May 21, 2025: - This webinar will explore the role of cytology specimens in molecular genetic testing, emphasizing their effectiveness in identifying biomarkers critical for targeted therapies in patients with cancer. Advantages of cytology samples, challenges in specimen adequacy, and how advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have led to improved utilization of cytology samples will be discussed. This discovery has led to enhancing diagnostic accuracy, reducing the need for repeat biopsies, and accelerating personalized cancer treatment, all of which will be highlighted during the webinar.

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.

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.

Robert Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., Stephanie Smoley, CG(ASCP), and Beth Pitel, M.S., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' enhanced MayoComplete Solid Tumor Panel better profiles tumor genetics. Defining tumor pathogenesis can guide targeted cancer therapy.

Wei Shen, Ph.D., and Rhianna Urban, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' gene panel establishes a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, which heightens the risk for several cancers. Test results can guide targeted cancer surveillance for patients and their families.

Since 1992, cases of colorectal cancer have been on a slow decline, yet 52,550 people died from it in 2023. At Mayo Clinic, a cutting-edge menu of both germline (inherited genetic alterations) and somatic (tumors due to non-inherited genetic alterations) testing are two critical tools helping to improve targeted treatments for colorectal and other common gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr. Linda Hasadsri’s firsthand encounter with the genetic tests she’s helped develop has provided rare insight into testing quality and implications, enhancing their ability to advocate for the value of testing and infusing their work with deep empathy.