Research in the Division of General Surgery

Gastrointestinal Oncology Research

Surgery is often the mainstay in the treatment of most GI solid tumors, and the Division of General Surgery is a vital component in the success of the NYU Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated cancer center that has a long tradition of excellence in cancer care. We are currently actively involved in a number of clinical and translational research endeavors with our colleagues in the GI cancer program, using state-of-the-art approaches to advance cancer care and improve outcomes in our cancer patients.

Gastric Cancer is a major worldwide health problem and of particular interest in the NYC area due to the large immigrant population which suffers from high rates of gastric cancer. Clinical research trials looking at the novel use of chemotherapy and the new molecular targeted agents such as cetuximab (Erbitux) both before and after gastroesophageal junction or gastric cancer surgery have been ongoing since 1998. In addition, adding intraperitoneal chemotherapy to the treatment regimen (a method of delivering high concentrations of chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen at the sites of the cancer) is being investigated to determine if this approach can decrease the chance of the cancer recurrence and improve outcome.

We are the first group that has attempted to combine intraperitoneal chemotherapy with radiation therapy to see if the combination can further improve outcome. The results of our work looking at chemotherapy prior to surgery with Cisplatin and CPT-11 and intraperitoneal chemotherapy after surgery have been presented at national and international meetings and published in peer reviewed journals with good results. Our trial looking at intraperitoneal chemotherapy and radiation following surgery for advanced gastric cancer was recently completed and results are now being analyzed.