Surgical Oncology Expertise
Surgical oncologists perform a variety of procedures including
biopsy, clinical staging, insertion of nutritional support or monitoring
and removal of malignant tumors. For some cancers, surgery is the
preferred primary treatment method.
The Brown Cancer Center surgical oncologists comprise the faculty
of the University of Louisville Surgical Oncology Program—one
of the largest and most respected surgical oncology programs in
the country.
In order to provide the best possible patient care, Brown has recruited
nationally prominent surgical oncologists to form multidisciplinary
programs for breast cancer (Chagpar), melanoma (McMasters and Polk),
liver and GI tumors (Martin and Scoggins), sarcoma (Scoggins), and
endocrine tumors (Goldstein). Regularly scheduled multidisciplinary
conferences in breast cancer, GI tumors, endocrine tumors, and melanoma
provide outstanding educational opportunities for residents, students,
and Brown oncologists who specialize in other treatment modalities.
In addition, Dr. Martin directs the weekly J. Graham Brown Cancer
Center Tumor Conference.
The very broad clinical and research interests of Brown surgical
oncologists, combined with strong working relationships with physicians
in the other treatment modalities and research scientists at Brown,
have provided the optimal environment for the development and evaluation
of new treatments. Brown Cancer Center surgical oncologists have
instituted and evaluated numerous new technologies for cancer treatment,
including:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma and breast cancer
- Image-guided breast biopsy
- Radiofrequency and Microwave ablation of liver tumors, including laparoscopic approaches
- Intraoperative MRI (iMRI)-guided liver tumor ablation
- Video-assisted thyroid and parathyroid surgery
- Minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
- Laparoscopic-assisted esophagectomy
- Cryotherapy-assisted lumpectomy for breast cancer
- Office-based ultrasound for breast and thyroid cancer
- Autologous blood transfusion for cancer patients
- Chemoembolization and embolization for liver tumors
- Radioactive microsphere treatment of liver tumors
Brown surgical oncologists have significant basic science and translational
laboratory research programs funded by the National Institutes of
Health and a variety of other funding agencies. These include:
- Innovative studies to explore how nipple aspirate fluid might
hold the key to early breast cancer detection, to determine molecular
markers of the best response to chemotherapy.
- Genetic studies of melanoma, breast, thyroid, GI, and lung cancers.
- Development of novel Adenoviral vector gene therapy treatments
for cancer
- Molecular staging of melanoma
- Studies of lymphangiogenesis in melanoma
- Studies to evaluate patient decision making in breast, lung, and
colorectal cancer
- Studies to evaluate rare endocrine tumors using artificial intelligence
- Investigation of oxidative stress in the progression of Barrett’s
esophagus to adenocarcinoma
Brown surgical oncologists have directed more than 75 clinical
studies involving more than 14,000 patients. This includes several
national multicenter cancer studies that were directed by members
of the Division.
- The Sunbelt Melanoma Trial, which is the world’s largest
study of melanoma. The clinical trial has more than 3,600 patients
from around the United States and Canada.
- The University of Louisville Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node
Study, a 4000 patient study that has allowed this minimally invasive
procedure for breast cancer to be adopted as a standard alternative
to complete axillary lymph node dissection.
- The National Registry of Image-Guided Breast Biopsy, a 3000 patient
study of minimally invasive alternatives to open surgical breast
biopsy.
- The NAFTA Trial, a 2000 patient study of hormonal therapy for
breast cancer.
- A Multi-center Study of Radiofrequency Ablation + Hepatic Artery
Infusion Chemotherapy for Colorectal Metastases.