Three Sites, One Comprehensive Cancer Center

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center with a national presence. Its three campuses — in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Rochester, Minn. — give Mayo Clinic Cancer Center a broad geographic reach to serve diverse patient populations, and are home to outstanding, internationally recognized physicians and scientists. These individuals collaborate across the full spectrum of cancer research, from basic biology to treatment, seeking to find ways to lessen the burden of cancer on society.

Understanding, Discovering, Transforming

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is dedicated to understanding the biology of cancer; discovering new ways to predict, prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and transforming the quality of life for cancer patients today and in the future.

Mayo is a leader in translating knowledge gained from cancer research into effective improvements in patient care. More than 19,500 new cancer patients are treated at Mayo Clinic every year, making it one of the largest cancer treatment facilities in the nation. Hundreds of clinical trials are available for patients, led by Mayo scientists, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group or Cancer Prevention Network (clinical trial study groups with administrative and research bases at Mayo). Additional trials are also available through cooperative research agreements with the NCI and other clinical trial groups.

The Center receives more than $100 million in competitive peer review grants, including NCI's highly-sought Specialized Program Of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center currently holds or shares with another cancer center six SPORE grants — brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer; as well as lymphoma and myeloma.

Patient Care, Research, Education

Mayo Clinic's philosophy of patient care, laid out more than 100 years ago, emphasizes that "it is necessary to develop medicine as a cooperative science — the clinician, the specialist, and the laboratory workers uniting for the good of the patient."

That philosophy has enabled Mayo physicians and researchers to form productive collaborations across programs and specialties. Their collective knowledge enhances the potential for breakthroughs in cancer research and treatment. They translate scientific discoveries in the laboratory into leading-edge treatments and therapies for patients. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has 12 major cancer research programs that make the most of the knowledge base and Clinic resources to move scientific understanding from the bench to the bedside. The research programs are able to proceed by accessing the critical infrastructure and scientific support of 16 shared resources.

Mayo Clinic is also a fertile training ground for young researchers, scientists and physicians. In this collegial atmosphere, interests are codified, careers are established, and the leaders of tomorrow are developed.

The Commitment

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is committed to making a difference for all those who suffer from cancer.

• For the minister whose battle with esophageal cancer seemed near the end, but who received a reprieve,
• For the young mother whose life was saved because she bumped her head,
• For the 7-year-old girl who expected to spend her time playing outdoors, and does again, after osteogenic sarcoma and rotationplasty,
• For the retiree determined to enjoy gardening and other pleasures of life for much longer than a second cancer and metastatic diagnosis would previously have allowed,
• For the close-knit group of sisters and their mother whose nearly simultaneous diagnoses of breast cancer, and the tough decisions following, brought them even closer,
• And for the millions and millions of people in this world whose lives have been forever changed by the destruction and suffering that cancer can bring.

Mayo Clinic's physicians and scientists strive to find the answers to help patients and caregivers deal with the concerns raised after a cancer diagnosis and throughout the ensuing experience. With their patients, the researchers seek individualized solutions to address all aspects of the cancer journey. And throughout is the underlying drive to identify the cure. Each patient, clinical trial participant, benefactor and person along the discovery path helps move us closer.

• Read more about cancer patients at Mayo Clinic
• Look for a clinical trial to participate in
• Find out how to support Mayo Clinic's cancer research

National Cancer Institute Designation

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of 61 U.S. medical centers that have been named NCI cancer centers. It has held the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) designation since the inception of the NCI Cancer Centers Program more than 30 years ago. Thirty-nine of these centers, including Mayo Clinic, have met the even more rigorous standards for designation as a comprehensive cancer center. These standards include:

• Basic laboratory research
• Participation in high-priority NCI clinical studies
• Applied and clinical research
• Cancer prevention and control programs
• Education and training of health care professionals
• Public information services
• Community service and outreach