GI Surgical Oncology Team Stands at the Forefront of Treatment
Surgical intervention stands as a cornerstone in cancer therapy and Moffitt Cancer Center excels in this domain. Renowned for our expertise, the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at Moffitt is synonymous with excellence in cancer surgery, leveraging the unmatched skill of our surgeons and cutting-edge surgical technologies.
The surgeons in the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology group are national leaders in surgical and cancer management of patients with GI cancers. The group is composed of 11 surgical oncologists, each with a specific subspecialty practice, that results in focused expert clinical care and development of innovative approaches for each patient, in many cases developed and unique to Moffitt.
Specific focus areas include upper gastrointestinal cancers, including:
Each program hosts a cancer-specific tumor board that meets weekly to facilitate multidisciplinary input and coordinated care, improving the patient journey, while also integrating all aspects of cancer care.
Our group performs over 1,200 operations annually, spanning across the different stages from early cancer to advanced and metastatic disease, and making us the surgical oncology group treating the highest volume of patients with GI cancers across the region.
Our group is the primary referral center for the most complex cancer operations including multiorgan resections for rectal cancer, extensive hepatectomies and pancreatectomies with vascular resection/reconstruction, cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal disease (CRS/HIPEC), and complex esophageal/gastric resections.
Additionally, we individualize operations to match the patient’s needs, with a high-volume of minimally invasive robotic operations including robotic transhiatal esophagectomy, robotic whipple surgery, robotic hepatectomy, and robotic colon and rectal resections, among others. As a high-volume center for each of these procedures and the expertise that comes with this, our outcomes exceed all national quality measures, making us a preferred site by patients and referring providers. Our surgeons participate in teaching and training through our ACGME-certified surgical oncology fellowship and through lectures and surgical technique courses with national reach, developed and led by our group.
As part of our mission to prevent cancer, we have several unique programs geared to screen patients at risk of developing cancer and intervene early when indicated to prevent cancer formation. The Pancreatic Interception Center is a first-of-its-kind specialized clinic dedicated solely to individuals at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The GI Genetic/High-Risk Clinic focuses on screening patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer. The Anal Cancer Screening Program evaluates and follows patients at risk of precancerous lesions and anal cancer. Lastly, the CDH1 Clinic is a screening program focused on evaluating and screening patients with mutations at risk of developing gastric cancer.
Similarly, Moffitt has been a global leader in geriatric oncology for over 30 years. Since its inception in 1993, the Senior Adult Oncology program has stood as one of the nation's most advanced programs in the country. We have recently developed unique practices around the time of surgery, that are geared to improve the patient experience of older adults having cancer operations, with drastic improvements in postoperative outcomes, recovery of function and overall better quality of life. These practices touch each of our geriatric patients evaluated for and undergoing cancer surgery.
Our surgeons are leading the field within each disease site, by developing clinical programs changing the way surgery is used to improve cancer-related outcomes. We welcome patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers, rare malignancies and benign cysts. We're eager to collaborate with you to deliver optimal surgical care for your patients.
If you’d like to refer a patient to Moffitt for gastrointestinal cancer surgery, complete our online form or contact a physician liaison for assistance. As part of our efforts to shorten referral times as much as possible, online referrals are typically responded to within 24 - 48 hours.