Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield

About Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield & Mesothelioma Care

Aaron Mansfield is a cancer specialist with extensive experience treating mesothelioma and other cancers of the lungs and chest.

He practices at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he serves as Chair of the Thoracic Malignancies Disease Group within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. He works closely with surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and other specialists to develop treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.

Along with caring for patients, Dr. Mansfield is actively involved in cancer research. Much of his work focuses on immunotherapy, which helps the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. He also studies biomarkers, which are clues found in tumors or blood samples that may help doctors predict how a patient will respond to treatment.

His goal is to help patients access the most effective therapies available while advancing research that could improve care for future mesothelioma patients.

Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with Dr. Mansfield and learn about mesothelioma treatment options at Mayo Clinic.

What Conditions Does Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield Treat?

Dr. Mansfield specializes in cancers that affect the lungs, chest cavity, and nearby tissues. Many of these diseases are complex and require care from multiple mesothelioma specialists.

His areas of expertise include:

• Pleural mesothelioma: A rare cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs after asbestos exposure
• Lung cancer: Cancer that begins in the lung tissue
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): The most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 80% to 85% of cases
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): A less common but more aggressive form of lung cancer that tends to spread quickly
• Thymic cancers: Rare cancers that develop in the thymus gland, a small organ located behind the breastbone
• Other cancers of the chest: Including less common tumors that affect structures within the chest cavity

Patients who see Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield for mesothelioma care receive individualized treatment plans based on their diagnosis, cancer stage, cell type, and overall health.

Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield’s Mesothelioma Treatment Approach

Mesothelioma treatment often involves several different therapies. Dr. Mansfield works with patients and other specialists to determine which options may offer the greatest benefit.

His treatment recommendations may include:

• Chemotherapy: Drugs that slow cancer growth and help control mesothelioma
• Immunotherapy: Medicines that help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells
• Radiation therapy: High-energy radiation used to target cancer cells and shrink tumors
• Clinical trials: Studies that give eligible patients access to new treatments being tested by doctors and researchers
• Biomarker testing: Laboratory testing that may help guide treatment decisions
• Team-based care: Coordination among specialists from multiple medical disciplines

Dr. Mansfield has spent much of his career studying immunotherapy for mesothelioma. His research has helped doctors better understand which patients may benefit from drugs like nivolumab (Opdivo®) and ipilimumab (Yervoy®), as well as how to best use them.

Download our Free Doctor Questions Checklist to help guide treatment discussions with Dr. Mansfield and other members of your care team.

Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield’s Medical Background

Dr. Mansfield has dedicated his career to treating mesothelioma and lung cancer while advancing new treatment approaches.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University before receiving his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

Dr. Mansfield completed both his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. During his training, he developed a strong interest in thoracic cancers like mesothelioma, which would become the focus of his career.

After completing his fellowship, he joined the Mayo Clinic faculty and continues to treat patients while conducting cancer research.

Dr. Mansfield’s Work Experience

Throughout his career, Dr. Mansfield has held several leadership positions at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

His current and previous roles include:

• Chair, Data Safety Monitoring Committee
• Chair, Thoracic Malignancies Disease Group
• Consultant, Division of Medical Oncology
• Principal investigator for national and international clinical trials
• Professor of oncology

His work allows him to care for patients while helping evaluate new treatments that may shape the future of cancer care.

Highlights of Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield’s Medical Career

Dr. Mansfield is recognized for his contributions to mesothelioma treatment, lung cancer research, and the development of new therapies.

Awards and Accolades

Dr. Mansfield has received recognition for his contributions to cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care.

His notable awards and honors include:

• Excellence Through Teamwork Award, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Excellence Through Teamwork Award, Thoracic Oncology Workgroup
• National Cancer Institute Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award
• Patient Experience Provider Recognition Award
• Top Performing Provider Patient Experience Award

These awards reflect Dr. Mansfield’s commitment to advancing cancer treatment while providing high-quality, patient-centered care.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Mansfield is involved with several organizations dedicated to cancer research, physician education, and patient care.

His professional affiliations include:

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

Through these affiliations, Dr. Mansfield collaborates with physicians, researchers, and cancer specialists to advance treatment options for patients with mesothelioma.

Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield’s Work in Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials

Research is a major part of Dr. Mansfield’s work. In addition to treating patients, he leads and participates in clinical trials aimed at improving care for people with mesothelioma.

His work includes:

• Evaluating targeted therapies designed to attack genetic changes that help mesothelioma grow
• Identifying biomarkers that may help predict how patients respond to treatment
• Leading and participating in clinical trials for mesothelioma
• Studying immunotherapy drugs like atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda®)
• Testing new treatment approaches, including chemoimmunotherapy combinations

One area of his work focuses on understanding why some mesothelioma patients respond better to immunotherapy than others.

By studying the genetic makeup of mesothelioma tumors, he and his colleagues hope to identify clues that can help guide treatment decisions and extend survival.

“We’re now a step closer to understanding the unique genomics of mesothelioma compared with other cancers. We’re also a step closer to identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy.”
– Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield, mesothelioma specialist

Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield’s Mesothelioma Research and Published Works

Dr. Mansfield has contributed to important research focused on immunotherapy for mesothelioma. His studies have explored ways to improve survival rates and identify which patients may benefit most from emerging therapies.

Some of his published works include:

• Five-Year Clinical Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma in CheckMate 743. Published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, February 2026.
• Randomized Trial of Anetumab Ravtansine and Pembrolizumab Compared to Pembrolizumab for Mesothelioma. Published in Lung Cancer, September 2024.
• First-line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Patient-Reported Outcomes in CheckMate 743. Published in Lung Cancer, May 2022.
• Tumor Junction Burden and Antigen Presentation as Predictors of Survival in Mesothelioma Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology, March 2022.

His research continues to improve understanding of mesothelioma and help identify new treatment approaches for patients facing this rare cancer.

Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with Dr. Mansfield and learn about available treatment options and clinical trials.

Get Connected With Dr. Aaron S. Mansfield

A mesothelioma diagnosis can leave patients and families with many questions about treatment, prognosis, and where to find specialized care.

Dr. Aaron Mansfield helps patients navigate complex treatments while exploring options that may include immunotherapy, clinical trials, and other emerging therapies.

Mesothelioma Hope connects patients and families with experienced specialists, treatment centers, and support resources across the country.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call (866) 608-8933 or use our Free Doctor Match to connect with Dr. Mansfield and learn more about your treatment options.