By Luis E. Raez, MD, FASCO, FACP

The beginning of another year is a time to look forward and imagine the possibilities the coming months can bring. At Memorial Cancer Institute (MCI), where access to the latest research and treatment options are an important part of the patient and family-centered care we offer, that equals excitement about the current and new clinical trials available to patients. In several, we’re able to offer the latest investigational therapies developed for their specific cancer, prior to formal FDA approval and before they are available elsewhere. It’s not a stretch to say that, for some, participation in these studies will be the turning point in the ongoing battle against the disease that threatens their survival.

Genes Provide Clues

Memorial’s study of NRG1 genetic variations is an example of important clinical research that isn’t being done anywhere else in Florida. For nearly two years before it received FDA approval, MCI offered a clinical trial with the drug Zenocutuzumab, a bispecific antibody drug effective against non-small cell lung and pancreatic cancers.

Similarly, from 2018-2021, more than 15 MCI patients had access to Selpercatinib, a new RET inhibitor that targets RET fusions in lung and thyroid cancers. Again, Memorial Cancer Institute was the only cancer center in Florida that offered this treatment option.

What’s Next?

With more than $4 million in new grants already secured from state and local sources for use this year, MCI will be on the leading edge of advancements for a variety of cancers, including those in the brain and lungs. Here’s a look at some new areas of study:

• Dr. Atif Hussein, director of Memorial’s hematology & oncology fellowship program, will lead a study focused on brain tumors, which younger people are now developing in larger numbers. This research involves molecular testing of blood, tissue and fluid to analyze DNA, RNA and proteins to diagnose the disease, predict treatment response, guide therapy and assess risk, using techniques that find specific genetic markers.

• Dr. Ashwin Mehta, medical director of Memorial’s Integrative Medicine program, and I will evaluate blood samples looking for tumoral DNA to detect the recurrence of cancer among survivors.

• Dr. Mark Block, chief of Thoracic Surgery, will co-lead a breast and lung cancer tumor bank we’ve established to study genetic markers in minority populations. For African-American, Hispanic, and Caribbean populations in South Florida, the information we’re able to cull from comparing samples from hundreds of tumors could mean a totally different course of treatment, perhaps avoiding chemotherapy in favor of more tolerable oral medication.

The ongoing development of the tumor bank was made possible, in part, by a $450,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Broward, a longtime supporter that has now provided more than $1 million in three different grants for my research at Memorial Cancer Institute. They understand that in South Florida’s especially diverse population, one treatment is rarely appropriate for all audiences, and their partnership is making a significant difference for those who may otherwise not have access to genetic screening.

Local Impact

In 2025 alone, more than 400 Memorial Cancer Institute patients participated in 65 currently active research projects, with that number poised to increase with the addition of the new trials in 2026.

These trials are a critical component of not only my work, but nearly all the treatment advancements being made at Memorial. It’s a big part of our assurance to the community that you don’t have to travel far to receive advanced treatment options and expert cancer care.

Dr. Luis E. Raez is medical director and chief scientific officer at Memorial Cancer Institute where he specializes in treating lung, head, and neck cancers. He also leads Memorial’s Thoracic Oncology program and has teaching roles within the medical programs at Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and Cayetano Heredia University in Peru. To learn more, visit www.mhs.net/services/cancer.