Stephen D. Cassivi, M.D., M.S.

Location

SUMMARY

Stephen D. Cassivi, M.D., M.S., is a thoracic surgeon, or chest surgeon, pursuing both clinical and research activities. His clinical interests and experience span the breadth of thoracic surgery, with a specific expertise in minimally invasive thoracic surgery.

Focus areas

Lung cancer

• Early detection of lung cancer. Together with colleagues in the Department of Radiology and the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Cassivi studies the use of low-dose spiral CT scans to detect asymptomatic and early-stage lung cancer. His research also explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve early lung cancer detection.
• Minimally invasive brachytherapy delivery options. Brachytherapy is a localized form of radiation therapy used to supplement surgically treated cancers. Dr. Cassivi has contributed to the development of minimally invasive delivery devices designed for use in lung cancer surgery.
• Clinical trials for the treatment of early-stage and advanced lung cancer. Dr. Cassivi and Mayo Clinic's Division of Thoracic Surgery are engaged in multiple clinical trials that investigate optimal surgical and postoperative treatments for both early- and late-stage lung cancer. These trials are conducted at Mayo Clinic in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group and other major cancer research consortia. Many patients may be eligible to participate in one or more of these ongoing studies.

Esophageal diseases

• Esophageal replacement project. Using various technologies, such as tissue engineering and stem cell-based options, Dr. Cassivi collaborates with colleagues to develop better options for replacing segments of the esophagus. These treatments are used as part of therapies to treat esophageal cancer and various benign esophageal diseases.

• Esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus. The Barrett's Esophagus Genomic Study Group includes 154 physicians from diverse practice settings who collaborate to identify families with three or more members affected by classic long-segment Barrett's esophagus, a premalignant condition, with or without esophageal cancer. Blood specimens from these families are collected for genetic linkage analysis.

  The Mayo Clinic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Barrett's Esophagus Registry is a unique resource that integrates phenotype, genotype and environmental risk factor analysis. This collaborative effort involves 48 Mayo Clinic physicians representing specialties such as gastroenterology and hepatology, genetic epidemiology, biostatistics, medical oncology, molecular biology, genetics, pathology, pulmonary medicine, psychology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

  The aims of the Mayo Clinic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Barrett's Esophagus Registry include identifying candidate loci associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and related complications, as well as contributing to the scientific literature on the genomic steps involved in the progression from Barrett's esophagus to invasive cancer. The registry is already being used for gene discovery projects. In addition, it may enable identification of genomic polymorphisms linked to distant metastasis or improved survival outcomes.

Lung regeneration and lung transplantation

• Lung regeneration. Using tissue engineering and stem cell technology, Dr. Cassivi and his colleagues develop regenerative treatments for patients with end-stage lung diseases such as emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis.
• Gene therapy. Dr. Cassivi studies the utility and feasibility of gene therapy strategies for lung disease in general and lung transplantation in particular. With appropriate application, genetically targeted therapies may help reduce or prevent two major challenges in clinical lung transplantation: ischemia-reperfusion injury and obliterative bronchiolitis, a manifestation of chronic graft dysfunction.

Surgical quality

• Patient-centered outcomes research. To better define the surgical process with patient interests at the center, Dr. Cassivi has developed methods to measure quality processes and outcomes in thoracic surgery. Working with a multidisciplinary team, his efforts focus on identifying best practices for the treatment of patients with thoracic surgical diseases.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Cassivi works to make chest surgeries safer and recovery easier for patients. He uses advanced tools like robotic and video-assisted surgery, which often mean smaller cuts, less pain, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to typical life. His research also helps doctors find lung cancer earlier and treat it more accurately with focused radiation. He explores new treatments based on genetics to help people with lung and esophagus conditions — including cancer — live longer and feel better.

Professional highlights

• Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons:
• F. Griffith Pearson Lectureship, 2025.
• Honorary member, 2025.
• European Society of Thoracic Surgeons:
• Honorary member, 2024.
• Grillo Innovation Award, 2010.
• Fellowship by election, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2019.
• Tudor Edwards Lectureship, Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, 2018.
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons:
• Workforce chair, Council on Quality, Research, and Patient Safety Operating Board, 2014-2015.
• J. Maxwell Chamberlain Award, 2011, 2015.
• Mayo Clinic Novel Surgical Technology Award, 2013.
• C. Walton Lillehei Research Award, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 1998.