Photo by Chad Holder
In recent years, cancer care has entered a new era—one shaped by precision medicine, collaboration, and powerful new tools that are helping Minnesotans receive better, faster, and more personalized treatment close to home. Across the state, leading clinicians and researchers are working to make care not only more effective, but more accessible for patients and families navigating a life-changing diagnosis.
Photo by Chad Holder
“Cancer care in local clinics like ours is improving significantly due to a more coordinated, multidisciplinary approach,” says Dr. Sushma Tatineni, a medical oncologist and hematologist with Minnesota Oncology. “We extend our team beyond oncologists to include palliative care specialists, dietitians, genetic counselors, and social workers, ensuring every aspect of a patient’s journey is supported.”
Access to clinical trials and advances in telehealth have also made a profound difference. “This means patients in remote or underserved areas can connect with specialists without the need to travel long distances,” says Dr. Tatineni. “We work closely together to address the medical, emotional, and practical challenges patients face throughout their treatment.”
At HealthPartners, Dr. Gordon Ruan is excited about the real-world impact of T-cell redirection therapies, particularly bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs). “These engineered antibodies help direct the body’s own T-cells to attack the cancer,” he explains. “We’ve had very good outcomes with BiTE therapy for certain blood cancers, and it’s exciting to see how these treatments are moving closer to being part of first-line care.”
Courtesy of HealthPartners
Precision medicine and advanced imaging are also dramatically improving diagnosis and treatment strategies. “Instead of using traditional chemotherapy across the board, we can now use targeted therapies that are tailored to genetic mutations or biomarkers found in a patient’s cancer,” Ruan says. “Telemedicine has also expanded access and convenience, especially for patients managing chronic conditions.”
At Mayo Clinic, CAR T-cell therapy is a key area of innovation in the treatment of lymphoma. “Strategies to improve safety and effectiveness are a major focus,” says Dr. Stephen Ansell, Mayo’s enterprise deputy director for the Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We’re finding that modifying cytokines involved in the immune response can reduce toxic side effects and improve outcomes.”
Mayo researchers are also exploring outpatient CAR T-cell therapy with remote monitoring. “It has been very well received,” says Ansell. “This model allows us to treat more patients without requiring lengthy hospital stays.”
For Dr. Joseph Keenan, an interventional pulmonologist at M Health Fairview, early detection is key—and ion robotic bronchoscopy is a game-changer. “This allows us to biopsy very small lung nodules with more precision and lower risk,” he explains. “In many cases, we can even check nearby lymph nodes during the same procedure, reducing the number of interventions a patient needs.”
These breakthroughs are not only extending lives but transforming the patient experience. Genetic testing is opening doors to new treatments and trials. Immune checkpoint therapy has revolutionized care for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. And multidisciplinary teamwork has never been stronger.
“Minnesota has a strong group of passionate physicians, researchers, and care teams,” says Tatineni. “By working together and embracing innovation, we’re helping bring hope to more patients than ever before.”
This story builds on our Sept/Oct print feature and cover story, Minnesota’s Medical Marvels.
