Gastrointestinal Oncology
The GI Medical Oncology team at Roswell Park Cancer Institute works in a multidisciplinary approach in close collaboration with the surgical and radiation oncology team at RPCI. The focus of the GI division has been on the development novel therapeutic approaches for patients with metastatic and loco-regional disease, for both lower GI (LGI) and upper GI (UGI) malignancies.
Lower GI Cancers (Colorectal and Anal):
The lower GI Oncology evaluates about 300 new patients yearly. The program works closely with Radiation Oncology and GI Surgical Oncology on the following areas:
- Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer to reduce recurrence rate and increase the likelihood of sphincter saving surgeries
- Neoadjuvant treatment of liver metastases prior to curative-intent liver metastases resection
- Regional therapies for hepatic metastatic disease that is not amenable to surgery (radio-embolization)
- Systemic therapies in the adjuvant and metastatic settings
- Definitive chemoradiation for anal cancers that integrate IMRT
Active areas of research include:
- Novel Stop and Go approaches in stage IV colorectal cancer that integrate targeted therapies
- Novel systemic therapies for patients with refractory colorectal cancer
- Individualized systemic chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer based on patient molecular profiling
- Novel neoadjuvant chemoradiation strategies in the treatment of rectal adenocarcinoma
- Evaluation of vitamin D status and replacement strategies and impact on outcome in patients with colorectal cancer
Upper GI Cancers (Esophagus, Stomach, Pancreas, Hepatobiliary)
Medial Oncologists:
- Renuka Iyer, MD
- Nikhil Khushalani, MD
- Wen We Ma, MD
About 600 new patients are evaluated annually. The approach to these cancers is multidisciplinary, involving Medical Oncology, Surgery, and Radiation Oncology. The program provides services that include the following areas:
- Systemic therapies for the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and metastatic treatment of gastric cancers
- Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and systemic chemotherapy for localized and metastatic esophageal cancer
- Systemic treatment for GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors)
- Systemic chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
