Background
The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has been an NCI-designated Cancer Center since the inception of the program more than 30 years ago. Treating more than 16,000 new cancer patients every year, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has 3 sites: Rochester, Minn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Scottsdale, Ariz. The three locations give Mayo Clinic Cancer Center a national reach to serve diverse patient populations and bring varied perspectives to its research.

Patient Care
Mayo Clinic oncologists treat virtually every known type of cancer, from the most common to the most rare forms of disease. Innovative treatments and services that facilitate diagnosis, reduce pain, and promote healing are also available.

Clinical programs for patients at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center involve collaboration from various specialties to coordinate the care of patients with cancer diagnoses. Cancer patients often need care for multiple medical issues and have access to comprehensive medical care from experts in all medical disciplines.

Research Activities
Research at 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 Clinic Cancer Center translates basic knowledge of cancer biology into new diagnostics and treatment of cancer through its 12 major cancer research programs:

• Cancer Imaging
• Cancer Prevention and Control
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Therapeutics
• Gastrointestinal Cancer
• Gene Therapy
• Genetic Epidemiology & Risk Assessment
• Hematologic Malignancies
• Immunology and Immunotherapy
• Neuro-Oncology
• Prostate Cancer
• Women's Cancer

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center receives SPORE support for research in brain cancer, lymphoma, myeloma, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer and also serves as the research base for the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), an NCI-sponsored national clinical research group founded in 1977. The network of more than 400 community-based cancer treatment clinics in the United States, Canada, and Mexico conducts clinical studies for advancing cancer treatment. More than 250 clinical trials in cancer control, prevention, and treatment are currently conducted through the Cancer Center.

Other Notable Programs
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has one of the largest and most comprehensive cancer-focused patient education resource centers in the country, serving more than 40,000 people annually. In addition, more than 3,000 medical, graduate, and health science students, residents, and fellows participate in Mayo Clinic education programs at all 3 sites annually.