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.
Read MoreInnovation 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.
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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
Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing
Providence is offering Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) testing to empower providers and the public with a blood test that can detect a shared cancer signal across 50+ types of cancer through a simple blood draw.
“Providence is committed to collaborations that provide individuals with the best evidence-based care including advancements like early cancer screenings that can improve patient outcomes.”
– Ora K. Gordon, MD, Regional Medical Director of Providence’s Clinical Genetics & Genomics Program
Providers are encouraged to request a test kit for eligible patients. See list of detectable cancers.
NEWS: Providence Offers Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing
An Illuminating Celebration of Hope
The Margie Petersen Breast Center and Friends Promote Breast Cancer Awareness, lighting the Saint John’s Health Center Pink Throughout the Month of October.
“And they say that nobody else in the city really does this.”
– Janie Grumley, MD, FACS
Learn more and watch this year’s celebration kick-off video.
Events, Video (2:35): An Illuminating Celebration of Hope – The Margie Petersen Breast Center and Friends Promote Breast Cancer Awareness
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
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.
“This is how we’ve made stride after stride against all cancers, and how we’ve made a lot of cancers from being completely incurable to now curable.”
– Parvin Peddi, 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.
“This is how we’ve made stride after stride against all cancers, and how we’ve made a lot of cancers from being completely incurable to now curable.”
– Parvin Peddi, 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
An Educational Event on Women’s Health
Oncologists conjoin practice with research, taking questions.
“Women over the age of 50 have a better survival if they save their breast…It’s much like thyroid, sometimes less is more.”
– Janie Grumley, MD
Learn more from our expert panel and watch the hour-long program.
Blog, Video Preview (4:12): An Educational Event on Women’s Health: Oncologists Conjoin Practice with Research
New Dietary Clinical Trial for Glioblastoma
Principal Investigator, Akanksha Sharma, MD, Leads DIET2TREAT Study for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Patients.
“If you have been diagnosed with gliobastoma within the past 2 months and have not started standard-of-care, you may qualify to participate in this new trial.”
–Akanksha Sharma, M.D.
Learn more about the DIET2TREAT Study.
NEWS: New Dietary Clinical Trial for Glioblastoma – Principal Investigator: Akanksha Sharma, MD
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
Saint John’s Cancer Institute’s 2024 Fellows Graduating Commencement Ceremony
Graduates of The Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Urologic Oncology Fellowship, and Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship celebrate the moment among mentors and peers.
“Our fellows are leading cancer programs nationally, and presenting all over the world.”
– Dr. Ora Gordon
Listen to SJCI and PNI professors, our graduating fellows, and watch the full-length program sponsored by the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation.
Graduates of The Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Urologic Oncology Fellowship, and Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship celebrate the moment among mentors and peers.
“Our fellows are leading cancer programs nationally, and presenting all over the world.”
– Dr. Ora Gordon
Listen to SJCI and PNI professors, our graduating fellows, and watch the full-length program sponsored by the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation.
Blog, Video Preview (3:40): A Long Legacy of Fellowship Trained Oncologic Surgeons
Inspirational Leadership at Saint John’s
Dr. Ora Gordon and Lynda Baxter, MBA, MPH, discuss their shared vision of oncologic care leveraging shared resources.
“We’re going to have the ability to accelerate discovery into care delivery for everybody.”
– Lynda Baxter, MBA, MPH
Learn more about how Saint John’s and Saint Joseph will collaborate to improve access to clinical services and trials among health centers.
Blog, Video (5:12): Inspirational Leadership – A Shared Vision for Cancer at Saint John’s and Saint Joseph
HIFU Therapy is Making a Difference in Men’s Health
Dr. Mehran Movassaghi, a board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist, reached another significant milestone; 100 successful HIFU treatments using the Focal One Robotic System for early-stage prostate cancer.
“Men in our community now have greater options to treat prostate cancer. This out-patient procedure, which is a one-time session, is making a real difference. There’s no cutting or recovery involved.”
– Mehran Movassaghi, MD
Learn more about the significance of this milestone and how this procedure is reducing surgical complications and related side effects.
News: Dr. Mehran Movassaghi Reached 100 HIFU Treatments for Prostate Cancer Using the Focal One Robotic System.
Understanding Prostate Cancer Screening: Saint John’s Urologist Provides Important Information for Men.
Dr. Mehran Movassaghi discusses High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) on the Talk With A Doc Podcast and cancer risk in a recent blog.
“There’s a newer treatment for men that is revolutionizing how early-stage prostate cancer can be treated.”
– Mehran Movassaghi, MD
Learn more and listen to Dr. Movassaghi’s podcast, Wellness Brief: Prostate Cancer + Focal Therapy Treatments.
Podcast, Talk With A Doc: Wellness Brief: Prostate Cancer + Focal Therapy Treatments
Blog, Providence.org: Understanding prostate cancer screening
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?
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.
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
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.
