What does it look like when scientific discovery moves beyond the lab and changes the course of entire communities?
In the latest episode of All Things Cancer, Dr. Sujuan Ba speaks with physician-scientist Dr. Michele Carbone about a journey that began in small villages in Cappadocia, Turkey, and ultimately saved lives across continents.
Dr. Carbone was invited to visit villages where nearly half the population was dying from mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lung lining. What he uncovered was far more complex than environmental exposure alone. Through years of persistence, skepticism from peers, and relentless follow-up, he identified a hereditary mutation in the BAP1 gene that dramatically increases cancer risk.
But discovery was only the beginning.
Dr. Carbone worked directly with government leaders to relocate entire villages away from exposure to carcinogenic minerals. He later helped identify similar risks in North Dakota, leading to new safety regulations that protect families to this day.
His work has since opened new clinical trials and continues to explore a critical question: Why do patients with BAP1 mutations respond to cancer differently? If researchers can understand that mechanism, it could unlock new treatment approaches for many cancer types.
This episode is a powerful reminder that cancer research is not just about publishing papers. It is about listening to patients. Building trust with families. Challenging assumptions. And having the courage to act.
When science is guided by compassion, it does more than advance knowledge. It protects generations.
