Oncology Surgical Services at UPMC Cancer CentersUPMC Cancer Centers’ surgeons are setting the standard for surgical cancer care. By pioneering new procedures and training some of the region’s finest surgeons, they contribute to UPMC Cancer Centers’ consistent ranking among the top institutions for cancer care in
U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Hospitals survey. UPMC’s surgical oncologists also contribute to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Surgery’s number two standing in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.
Facing a diagnosis of cancer is a frightening experience for patients and their families. At UPMC Cancer Centers, our surgeons are internationally recognized for exceptional surgical care for people with cancer. With expertise in all major cancers, our surgeons work closely with referring physicians to integrate surgical care with nonsurgical therapies to provide the most comprehensive care for patients.
Surgery is a crucial part of many cancer treatments. The expertise of our internationally renowned surgeons extends to all forms of cancer, including:
This high level of focused expertise allows the group to offer specialized techniques. These include sentinel node mapping for breast cancer and melanoma, isolated limb chemoperfusion for tumors isolated to the arm or leg, peritoneal chemoperfusion for tumors which have advanced into the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal carcinomatosis), sphincter sparing surgery for low rectal cancers, concentrated regional chemotherapy infusion for liver metastases, radiofrequency ablation, advanced laparoscopic staging, biopsies, and tumor resections, and the placement of brachytherapy implants for focused radiation therapy treatments.
There are four full time and seven part-time basic research faculty within the Division of Surgical Oncology working to develop novel therapies for cancer. This includes the development of biologic therapies (immunotherapy, gene therapy) for cancer. Many exciting advances in this field have come from within the division. The group also has a research interest in the regional delivery of hyperthermia and chemotherapy to cancers via specialized surgical techniques, as shown in the new David C. Koch Regional Perfusion Cancer Therapy Center. The division is ideally structured to translate our basic research findings into patient care. Clinical researchers often care for patients for whom standard treatments don't match their condition; these patients are encouraged to consider clinical trials of novel therapies, which in time become standard care. More information on surgical research is available at the Division of Surgical Oncology website.
In addition to medical student and residency training, the division has an active surgical oncology fellowship program that is accredited by the Society of Surgical Oncology. This program attracts surgeons from all over the world who come to work with our surgeons to learn these specialized techniques and to learn to think about cancer patients in a unique way. Complete information is available at the Division of Surgical Oncology website.
In addition to providing focused, individualized care for the cancer patient and developing the next generation of therapies, UPMC’s cancer surgeons educate other surgeons in the complex management of cancer patients.
UPMC surgeons have particular expertise in a number of highly specialized technologies, in many cases helping to develop or refine these methods. Our surgeons are leading advances in minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat cancer.
UPMC surgical oncologists are on the cutting edge of research to develop new treatments for oncologic disease. Projects include the development of biologic therapies, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy for cancer—fields in which UPMC has established national leadership.
UPMC Cancer Centers’ academic side, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), is ideally structured to translate basic research findings to the clinic. UPMC’s vast network of clinical practices maintain a close relationship with UPCI researchers, providing opportunities for numerous patients to potentially benefit from investigational therapies. Patients for whom standard therapies proved inadequate are encouraged to consider clinical trials.
