Advanced Cancer Research and Treatment | Saint John’s Cancer Institute
- ️Thu Mar 20 2025
Translating Innovative Science into Compassionate, Patient-Centric Care
Saint John’s Cancer Institute is renowned for advancing therapeutics, translational science, and establishing standards of care. We foster robust fellowship programs, implement and initiate clinical trials, and collaborate with academic and industry partners worldwide.
Innovation Starts Here
Saint John’s Cancer Institute (SJCI) is a pioneer in drug discovery, therapeutics, clinical trials, and research. SJCI established the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy under the late Dr. Donald L. Morton, which has become the standard of lymph node care for melanoma and breast cancer worldwide.
Today, our patients continue to have access to innovative treatments, therapeutics, and trials. We are at the forefront of understanding the biology of cancer as well as expanding treatment for under-served communities.
Experts in Digestive Health and Urology Come Together to Discuss Colorectal Cancer
Sharing his colonoscopy experience with Rudolph Bedford, MD, and Anton Bilchik, MD, Dr. Timothy Wilson, a urologic oncologist surgeon, continues to advocate for screening.
“That particular day and having that colonoscopy was one of the best days of the last year I’ve had.”
– Timothy Wilson, MD
Learn more about the Digestive Health Institute and Dr. Wilson’s Cologuard® screening test.
Blog, Video: 28:30: Expert Oncologist gets a Colonoscopy then Interviews the Experts at the Digestive Health Institute
Colon Cancer to Outpace Breast Cancer by 2040 as Leader in Cancer Cases
Dr. Anton Bilchik discusses the trend which may be tied to diet and a sedentary lifestyle. A new demographic is presenting at a younger age.
“What we are seeing in colon cancer is unprecedented because colon cancer has become a disease of younger people…We now have FIT tests.”
– Anton Bilchik, MD, Ph.D., FACS
Listen to Dr. Anton Bilchik provide perspective and likely reasoning for colon cancer occurrence earlier in life.
BLOG, VIDEO (05:05): Colon Cancer to Outpace Breast Cancer by the Year 2040 as leader in Cancer Cases
Innovation Spotlight: Single Port (SP) Robotic Surgery at Saint John’s Health Center Expedites Recovery Time
Dr. Jennifer Linehan, urologic oncologist at Saint John’s Health Center, reveals the evolution of robotic surgery and how surgical care is transforming for the benefit of patients.
“We are going to use this robot to innovate, help patients, make recovery faster, and make cancer care better.”
– Dr. Jennifer Linehan, Director of Urology Translational Research, Associate Professor of Urology and Urologic Oncology
Learn more about single port (single arm) robotics now available at Saint John’s Health Center.
News: Single Port (SP) Robotic Surgery at Saint John’s Health Center Expedites Recovery Time
Faculty Research: 2024 Publications Spotlight Scientific Collaboration
Cancer research at Saint John’s Cancer Institute continues to promote greater understanding in oncology.
“This release marks three consecutive years of the research report, reflecting over 30 years of collaborative research with global organizations and our resolve to cure cancer.”
– Dr. Dave SB Hoon, Director of SJCI Translational Research
Learn more about SJCI’s 2024 research, summarizing the peer-reviewed publications of our faculty.
Blog: Faculty Research: 2024 Publications Spotlight Scientific Collaboration
Center Spotlight: Vasek Polak Radiation Oncology Department at Providence Saint John’s Health Center
Radiation Oncologists Robert Wollman, MD, and April Vassantachart, MD, lead a highly experienced team, surrounding each patient with exceptional care and support.
“So, as you can see, we have a wonderful team that works very closely together to make sure that the radiation is delivered effectively and with compassion for every moment that our patients spend with us in the department and after they are finished with their treatment as well.”
– Robert Wollman, MD
Learn more about the radiation treatment process and each of the key roles of the radiation team.
Radiation Oncology, Video (24:12): Vasek Polak Radiation Oncology Department at Saint John’s Health Center
Elsa Gonzalez, Pancreatic Cancer Survivor, receives the Whipple procedure at Saint John’s Health Center
Dr. Anton Bilchik, a surgical oncologist, and Dr. Sean Fischer, her medical oncologist, provided expert care.
“…I thank you sincerely for everything you have done.”
– Elsa Gonzalez
Learn more about Elsa’s journey and a new testing method now available to detect pancreatic and other cancers.
Blog, Video (11:30): The Whipple Procedure Removes Pancreatic Tumor in Cancer Patient
Galleri Multi-cancer Test Discovers Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer
Dr. Ora Gordon speaks with Harris Bass at Saint John’s Health Center after his surgery with Anton Bilchik, MD.
“I would tell anybody to come here.”
– Harris Bass
Learn more about how Harris discovered he had pancreatic cancer and what led him to Saint John’s.
Blog, Video (5:58): Galleri Test Discovers Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer
Dr. Ora Gordon Spotlights the Promise of MCED – Multi-Cancer Early Detection
With a single blood test, as many as 50 different types of cancer can be identified before symptoms appear.
“The goal is to detect cancer early when it can be cured.”
– Ora Gordon, MD, FACMGG
Learn more and listen to Dr. Gordon explain how MCED is changing oncologic care.
Blog, Video (3:10): Dr. Ora Gordon Spotlights the Promise of MCED – Multi-Cancer Early Detection
New Clinical Trial for Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer
A Randomized, Open-Label Study Of The Bria-IMT Regime And Check Point Inhibitor VS Physician’s Choice In Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer is Now Open
“This study is for all patients with advanced breast cancer for whom traditional chemotherapy has failed.”
–Parvin F. Peddi, MD
Learn more about the Bria-IMT Study.
NEWS: Saint John’s Cancer Institute is Participating in the BC-IMT-04, Breast Cancer Study
Providence Saint John’s Health Center Achieves Significant Milestone in Thyroid Care
Melanie Goldfarb, MD, Thyroid Surgeon, Performs 250 Successful Radiofrequency Ablation Treatments for Benign Thyroid Nodules.
“I’m so thrilled to provide this opportunity to my patients who can now avoid surgery for their benign thyroid nodules. It’s a huge step forward.”
– Melanie Goldfarb, MD, FACS, FACE
Learn more.
NEWS: Melanie Goldfarb, MD, Thyroid Surgeon, Performs 250 Radiofrequency Ablation Treatments for Benign Thyroid Nodules
Synchronous Breast & Kidney Cancer Uncovered: A Rare Occurrence
Dr. Crystal Fancher and Dr. Ramkishen Narayanan treated Cristina, having both breast and kidney cancer.
“…And you make it easy to trust you guys, both of you.”
– Cristina Torres
Learn more about how Saint John’s and Saint Joseph collaborated on Cristina’s care.
Blog, Video (15:56): Synchronous Breast & Kidney Cancer Uncovered: A Rare Occurrence
Why Are Clinical Trials Important?
Doctors, Kim Margolin, Przemyslaw Twardowski, Leland Foshag, Parvin Peddi, Santosh Kesari, and Emma Chacon, RN, Discuss the Impact of Clinical Trials and Advancement of Medical Science.
“All of the advancements that we’ve made in oncology, all these transformational treatments that we have are really the result of participation of patients in clinical trials.”
– Przemyslaw Twardowski, MD
Learn more and listen to some of the principal investigators at Saint John’s Cancer Institute.
Doctors, Kim Margolin, Przemyslaw Twardowski, Leland Foshag, Parvin Peddi, Santosh Kesari, and Emma Chacon, RN, Discuss the Impact of Clinical Trials and Advancement of Medical Science.
“All of the advancements that we’ve made in oncology, all these transformational treatments that we have are really the result of participation of patients in clinical trials.”
– Przemyslaw Twardowski, MD
Learn more and listen to some of the principal investigators at Saint John’s Cancer Institute.
Blog, Video (16:45): International Clinical Trials Day: Hear from the experts in cutting-edge research
Open or Actively Recruiting Clinical Trials
Brain Cancer and Solid Tumors Clinical Trials
Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Akanksha Sharma: Learn more.
Breast Cancer: Precision Medicine
Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Parvin Peddi: Learn more.
Melanoma Cancer: Drug Trials:
Principal Investgator: Dr. Kim Margolin: Learn more.
Prostate Cancer: White Button Mushroom
Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Przemyslaw Twardowski: Learn more.
Current Trials
Search using key terms or filter by Centers of Excellence or by Lead Doctor. Learn more.
What’s Next in Immunotherapy?
Principal Investigators at Saint John’s Cancer Institute, Kim Margolin, MD, and Przemyslaw Twardowski, MD, discuss immunotherapy developments in clinical trials.
“There are times when a patient really wants to try a drug and they heard of it already…The FDA calls it, ‘expanded access,’ or compassionate use protocols for individual patients…, a ‘right to try.’”
– Kim Margolin, MD, FACP, FASCO
Learn more in this in-depth immunotherapy interview with Dr. Kim Margolin.
Blog, Video (23:18): What’s Next In Immunotherapy?
A Legacy of Research Excellence
Donald L. Morton, Surgical Oncologist best known for developing sentinel lymph node evaluation
“He was ahead of his peers in anticipating the genetics era of cancer research, for decades he carefully maintained archival specimen resource for correlative translational studies.”
– Laura Morton Rowe, Chief Human Resources Officer, Saint John’s Health Center
Learn more about the Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship.
Saint John’s: A Legacy of Care Excellence
Major Healthcare Awards for 2023 and 2024
“All of these achievements reflect the outstanding care our caregivers and physicians provide to our patients each and every day, …providing leading-edge, award-winning care in a compassionate, community hospital setting.”
– Michael Ricks, CEO, Saint John’s Health Cancer and Institute
Healthgrades – America’s 250 Best Hospitals for Clinical Excellence, including
America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement, and Five-star ratings in six specialties: Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip replacement, Hip Fracture, Pneumonia, Bowel Obstruction and Sepsis, U.S. News & World Report – Best Hospital for Maternity Care 2024, Top Six Hospitals in Los Angeles County and Orange County, Recognized among the top 15 “Best Hospitals” in California, and Newsweek – World’s Best Hospitals 2024
About Us, Awards: Saint John’s Health Center Awards
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute provides a diverse and comprehensive exposure to the multidisciplinary aspects of breast cancer care and benign breast disease over a one-year time period with a potential second year for continuation of clinical or basic science research.
Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship
With a longstanding history of excellence in multidisciplinary cancer care and research, the Saint John’s Cancer Institute continues its legacy in surgical oncology through the Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship.
Neurosurgical Fellowship
This training program focuses on endonasal endoscopic and keyhole surgical approaches, neuro-endoscopy, pituitary tumor management and multimodality neuro-oncology treatments.
Postdoctoral Lab-Based Translational Molecular Medicine Fellowship
As pioneers in translational studies on “liquid biopsies” involving circulating tumor cells in multiple types of solid tumors, the fellowship program also consists of studying epigenetic mechanisms regulating solid tumor as well as pharmacogenomics and immunogenomic based prediction of response to therapy.