Michael Wach, MD

Dr. Wach is a surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of malignancies of the appendix, colon, and peritoneum. He has advanced expertise in performing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)—complex procedures used to manage cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity. He also has advanced training in performing robotic assisted minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Wach received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then completed a General Surgery Residency also at SUNY Buffalo, where he served as Chief Resident. Additionally, he completed a Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where he focused on translational research involving cancer biology and novel therapeutic strategies. Most recently, Dr. Wach completed a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), where he served as Chief Fellow. He has been a valuable addition to Moffitt Cancer Center and was recently chosen as a 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Presidential Scholar. 

In his clinical practice, Dr. Wach focuses on the comprehensive management of gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly those that spread to the peritoneum. His practice integrates state-of-the-art surgical techniques with personalized, multidisciplinary care to optimize outcomes for patients with advanced and rare abdominal cancers. Dr. Wach’s research interests center on improving outcomes for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies and exploring innovative new therapies for metastatic cancer to the peritoneum. He is committed to fostering multidisciplinary collaborations with scientists aimed at understanding metastatic progression and therapeutic response. Through his combined dedication to patient care, surgical innovation, and translational research, Dr. Wach aims to advance the field of surgical oncology and improve the lives of patients facing complex cancers.

Clinical Trial 23796
Characterization of a Distinct Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases
Condition: Gastrointestinal Tumor
Status: Open

If you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775.

• Wach MM, Dineen SP. ASO Practice Guideline Series: Management of Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Sep.32(9):6589-6603. Pubmedid: 40587073.
• Sinha S, Panda AK, Xavier das Neves R, Nwosu ZC, Xu K, van Beek E, Desai PP, Sindiri S, Chempati S, Remmert K, Gasmi B, Bojmar L, Zambirinis C, Rossi AJ, Ayabe RI, Wach MM, McDonald JD, Ruff SM, Verbus EA, Saif A, Eade AV, Larrain CM, Friedman LR, Gupta S, Ranjan A, Teke ME, Khan TM, Pu T, Sarvestani AL, Ryan CE, Lambdin JT, Luberice K, Gregory SN, Lux SC, Hong H, Luna AJ, Alexander IA, Akmal SR, Rehman SU, Rainey A, Prickett TD, Koparde VN, Sevilla S, Kuhn SA, Chan K, Sun Z, Bubunenko N, Li E, Hannah C, Gaga G, Andresson T, Cam MC, Wu X, Jenkins LM, Blakely AM, Davis JL, Trinchieri G, Singh PK, Yang JC, Pasca di Magliano M, Lyssiotis CA, Yaffe MB, Shevach EM, Hernandez JM. Expression of IMPACT curtails metabolic plasticity and augments NK cell killing to abrogate metastatic growth. Cancer Discov. 2025 Jul. Pubmedid: 40736016.
• Schultz KS, Bansal VV, Wach MM, Bhutiani N, Godley FA, Wang JJ, Waheed MT, Buchheit JT, Papai E, Campbell S, Schleimer LE, Su DG, Turaga KK, Gunderson CG, White MG, Uppal A, Raghav KPS, Labow DM, Sarpel U, Shergill AP, Shen JP, Eng C, Foote MB, Baumgartner JM. Consensus guideline for the management of colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastases. Cancer. 2025 Jul.131(13):e35869. Pubmedid: 40558054.
• Wach MM, Washburn LA, Alvikas J, Qu LT, Zhang M, Etherington MS, Rieser C, Haykal T, Pingpank JF, Zureikat AH, Geller DA, Hoehn RS, Tohme S. Combined hepatic resection and ablation for high burden of colorectal liver metastases demonstrates safety and durable survival. HPB (Oxford). 2024 Mar.26(3):362-369. Pubmedid: 38008683.
• Wach MM, Nunns G, Hamed A, Derby J, Jelinek M, Tatsuoka C, Holtzman MP, Zureikat AH, Bartlett DL, Ahrendt SA, Pingpank JF, Choudry MHA, Ongchin M. Normal CEA Levels After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Cytoreduction with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion Predict Improved Survival from Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Apr.31(4):2391-2400. Pubmedid: 38270826.
• Wach MM, Subjeck JR, Wang XY, Repasky E, Matsuzaki J, Yu H, Wang C, Fisher D, Skitzki JJ, Kane JM. Recombinant human Hsp110-gp100 chaperone complex vaccine is nontoxic and induces response in advanced stage melanoma patients. Melanoma Res. 2022 Apr.32(2):88-97. Pubmedid: 35254331. Pmcid: PMC8985419.
• Wach MM, Ayabe RI, Ruff SM, D'Angelica M, Dineen SP, Grubbs EG, Shibata D, Shirley L, Weiss MJ, Davis JL, Hernandez JM. A Survey of the Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Programs Regarding Applicant Selection and Rank. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Apr.26(9):2675-2681. Pubmedid: 31011903. Pmcid: PMC6684844.
• Wach MM, Ruff SM, Ayabe RI, Martin SP, Diggs LP, Alexander IA, Steinberg SM, Davis JL, Hernandez JM. An Examination of Applicants and Factors Associated with Matriculation to Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Programs. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Nov.25(12):3436-3442. Pubmedid: 30054823. Pmcid: PMC6191290.