Karmanos Cancer Institute Reports Historic 47% Growth in New Cancer Cases, Cementing Leadership in Oncology Care Delivery
Key Insights
Karmanos Cancer Institute treated 15,754 new cancer cases in FY2025, a more than 47% increase from 10,670 cases in 2020, marking the most new cases in its history.
The Institute opened 609 clinical trials and enrolled over 2,700 patients in interventional treatment studies between 2020 and October 2025, supported by more than $60 million in annual research funding.
Karmanos was the first cancer center worldwide to offer the TheraBionic P-1 (search) device for liver cancer (search) and the first in Michigan to provide lifileucel (TIL therapy) for metastatic melanoma (search).
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the largest provider of cancer care and research in Michigan and part of McLaren Health Care (search), has achieved a historic growth milestone, treating 15,754 new cancer cases in fiscal year 2025 — the most in its history. The achievement reflects a more than 47% increase in new cases compared to the 10,670 new cases recorded in 2020, representing one of the most significant sustained growth trajectories among National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationwide.
"This phenomenal level of growth reflects the strength of our science, the compassion of our care and the growing recognition of Karmanos as a destination for comprehensive cancer treatment," said Boris Pasche, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, president and CEO of Karmanos Cancer Institute and chair of the Wayne State University Department of Oncology. "As we expand our reach, we are intentionally investing in leading oncologists, researchers and advanced technologies so more patients have access to innovative therapies and clinical trials that can make a meaningful difference in outcomes."
Expanding Access Across Michigan and Beyond
Headquartered in Detroit, Karmanos operates 17 locations extending throughout Michigan, improving access to specialized cancer care across the region. Since 2020, several multi-million-dollar investments have added nearly 128,000 square feet of new and expanded clinical space across the Karmanos Cancer Network, serving patients in areas such as Bay City, Clarkston, Flint, Lansing, Mount Pleasant, Petoskey, and Port Huron.
Karmanos completed a $48 million expansion of the Weisberg Cancer Center in Farmington Hills in 2022, and has since completed new outpatient centers in Dearborn and Roseville, as well as significant network ambulatory expansions in Clarkston, Flint and Oxford. The Institute's reach now extends well beyond state lines, with patients traveling from 39 states and multiple countries to receive care.
Through its Community Outreach and Engagement program — which includes Cancer Action Councils, Research and Advocacy Consortium partnerships, and lay health advisor training — Karmanos brings cancer education, screening and prevention directly into communities, fostering trust and empowering individuals to become advocates for their health.
Research and Innovation Driving National Impact
Karmanos' growth is grounded in a robust research enterprise, devoting more than $60 million annually to cancer research. Between 2020 and October 2025, the Institute opened 609 clinical trials and enrolled more than 2,700 patients in interventional treatment studies, providing access to emerging therapies often unavailable elsewhere.
The Institute has established leadership across several innovative therapeutic modalities. Karmanos was the first cancer center in the world to offer the TheraBionic P-1 (search) device, the first FDA-approved systemic therapy using radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to treat liver cancer (search). In immunotherapy, Karmanos became the first cancer center in Michigan to offer lifileucel — also known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy — for patients with metastatic melanoma (search) whose cancer has stopped responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Additional advanced technologies deployed at Karmanos include the Gamma Knife Icon, a noninvasive radiation technology that precisely targets tissue while preserving normal function, and Hemgenix, a gene therapy for hemophilia B (search). Karmanos was the first freestanding cancer center in the nation to provide Hemgenix, which eliminates the need for lifelong, often weekly infusions that had been the standard of care for this rare blood-clotting disorder. The Institute also continues to advance theranostics, an approach that unites diagnosis and therapy to deliver highly personalized, targeted cancer treatment.
Recruiting Clinical Expertise
Since 2020, Karmanos has reinforced its standing by recruiting 43 scientists and clinicians, strengthening its multidisciplinary teams and research leadership. Notable recruits include Wasif Saif, M.D., MBBS, a world-renowned hematologist and oncologist who now leads the Phase I Clinical Trials Multidisciplinary Team, and Azeddine Atfi, Ph.D., the new deputy center director of Research and a globally recognized molecular biologist whose research focuses on pancreatic cancer (search) and tumor signaling pathways.
Community Connection and Prevention
Karmanos has enhanced patient engagement at critical decision points through initiatives including its Second Opinion program, which provides timely access to subspecialized expertise. Annual Screening Saves Lives events address gaps in preventive care, while community partnerships such as Pink Out the Park and All-Cancer Awareness Night with the Detroit Tigers reach tens of thousands with education, awareness and survivorship support.
Excellence in Patient Experience and Quality
Karmanos was named one of America's Best Hospitals for Cancer Care in 2026 by the Women's Choice Award. Since 2023, the Institute has been named among the Top Hospitals for Patient Experience by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and earned a five-star rating for nurse communication, a distinction achieved by only 13 hospitals in Michigan.
"We are encouraged by the early success of our multi-year growth initiative, but our focus remains on the work ahead: ensuring that more patients have access to the most advanced therapies, clinical trials and multidisciplinary expertise available," said Brian Gamble, president of the Karmanos Cancer Hospital and Cancer Network. "This growth is a direct result of investments in our people, technology and our ability to meet patients where they are."