Michele Carbone, MD, PhD

Drs. Carbone and Yang at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center discovered a new inherited disease called BAP1 Cancer Syndrome. People with this condition are born with changes in the BAP1 gene, which puts them at higher risk for several cancers, especially mesothelioma—a deadly cancer of the chest and stomach lining often linked to asbestos. Whole families can be affected because the gene changes are passed down. Here’s the surprising part: even though BAP1 mutations cause cancer, the tumors in these patients often can’t spread easily. This means the cancer is less aggressive, and many patients live for years. Some have even been cured. Now, with support from the V-Foundation All-Star Award, Drs. Carbone and Yang are studying how these patients’ bodies fight cancer. Their goal is to use this discovery to help all cancer patients resist cancer spread, improve survival, and save lives. This research shows that understanding one family’s rare gene mutation could lead to big breakthroughs in cancer treatment for everyone.