UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center

History of Excellence at Mays Cancer Center

The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio has served patients in San Antonio and South Texas since 1974. It started as the Cancer Therapy & Research Center, a community-based radiation therapy clinic. Today, it’s one of the most respected cancer centers in the country.

In 1991, the center launched the Institute for Drug Development to create new treatments through translational and clinical research. That same year, the center joined forces with UT Health San Antonio to earn its National Cancer Institute designation, a distinction only 4 cancer centers in Texas hold. Mays Cancer Center is the only one in Central and South Texas to receive it.

Mays Cancer Center formed a high-level partnership in 2017 with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. This connection gives patients in San Antonio access to MD Anderson’s treatment protocols, standards of care, clinical trials and translational research, all close to home.

Mays Cancer Center Offers Multidisciplinary Treatment

Doctors at Mays Cancer Center take a team-based approach to cancer care. Specialists from different fields, including thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology and pulmonology, work together to build a personalized treatment plan for each person. They hold regular tumor board meetings to review individual cases and coordinate specialized care.

Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Patients at Mays Cancer Center

• Chemotherapy: Used alone or in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.
• Cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC: A specialized procedure that removes visible tumors with a heated chemo rinse immediately following that’s delivered directly to the surgical site.
• Immunotherapy: Boosts the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy: Advanced targeted techniques designed to protect healthy tissue.
• Surgery: Includes minimally invasive procedures such as robotic-assisted and laparoscopic techniques.
• Targeted therapy: Focuses treatment on specific cancer cell characteristics.

Treatment decisions are personalized to account for your specific health needs and preferences. Doctors also consider the size, location and stage of the cancer when creating a tailored plan.

Research Drives Advanced Care at Mays Cancer Center

Mays Cancer Center organizes its research into 3 core programs. The Cancer Development & Progression program studies the basic biology of how cancer starts and grows, working to identify new treatment targets and better prevention strategies. The Experimental & Developmental Therapeutics program develops and tests new drugs and therapies, driving the center’s clinical trial pipeline with a focus on neuro-oncology, targeted therapeutics and immuno-oncology. The Population Science & Prevention program studies cancer’s impact across the 38-county South Texas region, developing prevention and early detection strategies tailored to the community.

The center’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also makes its research especially relevant for mesothelioma patients. Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans who faced asbestos exposure during military service. This partnership helps extend cutting-edge research findings to VA-affiliated care systems and beyond.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at Mays Cancer Center

Mays Cancer Center offers nearly 200 clinical trials in San Antonio at any given time. Eligible patients may access new therapies years before they’re widely available.

Mesothelioma-Related Trials at Mays Cancer Center

• A study exploring cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal malignancies, including peritoneal mesothelioma
• Phase I and Phase II trials through the Institute for Drug Development, testing novel targeted therapies and immunotherapy combinations for thoracic cancers
• Trials exploring new drug uses for FDA-approved medications in rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, which may include mesothelioma

Patients can speak with their care team at any time to learn which trials they may qualify for. Participation in clinical trials is always voluntary and patients can leave a trial at any time without affecting their care.