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Members of the Surgical Oncology department provide state-of-the-art surgical care to patients with common and complex cancers and are dedicated to research-driven innovations that have defined standards of cancer treatment worldwide. Our group maintains excellent treatment and recovery outcomes that exceed national averages. Within each of our specialties, patients work with a multidisciplinary team and receive a personalized treatment plan.

The Surgical Oncology department is comprised of 6 unique oncology sections and a general surgery service.

Endocrine Surgery Section

The Endocrine Surgery section treats common and rare endocrine neoplasia in children and adults with the goal of improving patient care through emerging technologies and advances in research. MD Anderson’s Endocrine Center is one of the nation’s few comprehensive programs dedicated entirely to the diagnosis and treatment of both benign and malignant endocrine diseases. Our multidisciplinary team approach includes surgery, medical care and genetic counseling to treat a wide variety of endocrine diseases, including:

Benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands
Familial papillary thyroid carcinoma
Multiple endocrine neoplasia types (MEN1, MEN2, MEN4)
von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL)
Succinate dehydrogenase tumors (SDH)
Parathyroid carcinomas
Pediatric endocrine surgery
Medullary thyroid disease
Adrenal-cortical carcinoma
Neuroendocrine gastrointestinal disease

National and international organizations look to MD Anderson experts to develop guidelines for the treatment and management of endocrine disorders. Our highly skilled surgeons use state-of-the-art technology including minimally invasive parathyroid surgery with the availability of intraoperative parathyroid (PTH) assay, and laparoscopic adrenalectomy for candidates with adrenal disease.

The Surgical Oncology department offers a one-year advanced training fellowship in Surgical Endocrinology accredited by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES). This unique fellowship is designed to give broad exposure to a variety of endocrine neoplasias, with emphasis on the evaluation, management, surgical approach, follow-up and genetics of endocrine tumors in a multidisciplinary setting. Learn more.

Success Story:
Thyroid cancer survivor: Why I joined an immunotherapy clinical trial

Endocrine Surgery Faculty:
Nancy Perrier, M.D. (Section Chief)
Sarah Fisher, M.D.
Paul Graham, M.D.
Elizabeth Grubbs, M.D.
Jeffrey E. Lee, M.D.

Gastric-Peritoneal Surface Surgery Section

This section is comprised of two major specialties: gastric surgery and peritoneal surface surgery.

Our gastric surgeons provide surgical expertise to patients with stomach cancer, including those with hereditary gastric cancer syndromes. They collaborate in a multidisciplinary fashion with teams across the institution, which include gastroenterologists, medical and radiation oncologists, and supportive care providers, to offer the highest-quality care. Minimally invasive surgery techniques using laparoscopy or robotic surgery are used in many cases to decrease recovery time and minimize pain.

Our peritoneal surface surgeons specialize in the treatment of patients whose tumors have spread to and within the lining of the abdominal cavity. Our surgeons offer an innovative approach: hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) surgery, during which high doses of chemotherapy are instilled directly into the abdomen to remove cancers. This treatment approach is used for several cancers including appendiceal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and small intestine cancers.

The section has several ongoing clinical trials and laboratory research efforts. Our surgical oncologists advance knowledge of treatment options and outcomes for patients through these clinical trials. Patients may have the opportunity to enter a clinical trial before, after or during treatment.

Success Stories:
After my stomach removal, I've never looked back
Stomach cancer survivor back on her feet after heated chemotherapy clinical trial
Teen appendix cancer diagnosis leads family back to MD Anderson
Stomach cancer survivor finds hope at MD Anderson, even after wife’s death

Gastric-Peritoneal Surface Surgery Faculty:
Brian Badgwell, M.D. (Section Chief)
Keith Fournier, M.D.
Beth Helmink, M.D., Ph.D.
Paul Mansfield, M.D.
Ceila Robinson Ledet, M.D.
Christopher Scally, M.D.

Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Section

The Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery section provides advanced surgical care to patients with diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary system. Our highly trained and experienced surgeons perform complex operations in patients with tumors that push the boundaries of resectability. Our surgeons have one of the lowest mortality rates following liver and pancreas operations in the country. We use a multi-disciplinary approach to provide individualized, state-of-the-art treatment plans and highest-quality care. A range of advanced and minimally invasive operations for the treatment of complex pancreatic, liver and biliary conditions are used, including:

Whipple procedure for pancreatic and bile duct cancers that involve blood vessels and surrounding organs
Robot-assisted Whipple procedures for selected pancreas tumors
Two-stage hepatectomies where our surgeons work alongside proceduralists in Interventional Radiology in a hybrid OR suite to perform complex operations as part of a strategy to remove bilateral liver metastases
Minimally invasive procedures including advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical options
Cytoreductive operations for patients with small intestine and pancreas neuroendocrine tumors that have spread to the lining of the abdominal wall or to the liver
Combination approaches to the treatment of liver tumors that spare maximal healthy liver tissue and incorporate novel technologies like 3D ultrasound localization for tumor ablation
Operations on patients with liver or pancreas tumors that have recurred after their initial resections

These state-of-the-art technologies contribute to the low surgical complication rates and below-average patient lengths of stay achieved by our HPB surgeons. Postoperative recovery is facilitated by enhanced recovery care pathways, which help set patient and clinical team expectations for rapid postoperative recovery.

The HPB team is committed to research and have led landmark clinical trials that help set the standards by which patients with pancreas and hepatobiliary cancer are treated today. Clinical, translational, quality improvement, health services and basic science studies devised by our team lead to a greater understanding of tumor biology and move the needle on surgical outcomes and patient survival. Examples of our surgeon-led research efforts include:

Clinical trials that measure blood levels of circulating tumor DNA to create personalized surgical and chemotherapy plans for patients with colorectal liver metastases or pancreas cancer
Clinical trials that compare regional anesthesia approaches to postoperative pain control to maximize patient relief and minimize opioid use
Basic science studies focused on the identification of gene expression networks critical to the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer cells that can be targeted by novel therapies
Translational science focusing on understanding how the immune system affects tumor growth and treatment efficacy with immunotherapies in patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors with the goal of designing novel treatments
Studies that identify how cancer outcomes are affected by a patient’s race, sex, gender, or insurance status so that healthcare delivery can be redesigned to equitably and optimally maximize survival and quality of life

Success Stories:
Pancreatic cancer and sarcoma survivor grateful for treatment at MD Anderson
Pancreatic cancer survivor: Whipple procedure made me cancer-free after ‘inoperable’ tumor

Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Faculty:
Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, M.D. (Section Chief)
Yun Shin Chun, M.D.
Hop Tran Cao, M.D.
Naruhiko Ikoma, M.D.
Matthew H. G. Katz, M.D.
Michael Kim, M.D.
Jeffrey E. Lee, M.D.
Jessica Maxwell, M.D.
Timothy Newhook, M.D.
Rebecca Snyder, M.D.
Ching-Wei Tzeng, M.D.

Melanoma Surgery Section

Our surgeons in the Melanoma Surgery section are highly trained and experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with melanoma and other rare skin cancers. Melanoma surgeons at MD Anderson consistently provide compassionate and expert clinical care to their patients, provide guidance regarding standards of melanoma surgery in national and international settings, and lead clinical and basic scientific research regarding melanoma worldwide.

Because MD Anderson leads one of the most active melanoma skin cancer treatment programs in the nation, our surgeons have extraordinary expertise and collaborate closely with skin cancer experts from Melanoma Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology, providing multidisciplinary care that leads to long-term success.

Surgery is the primary treatment for patients with early melanomas and may be used as part of the treatment approach for patients with advanced melanomas. Treatments and procedures include:

Local excisions
Reconstruction with skin graft or flap
Sentinel lymph node biopsy with lymphatic mapping
Lymphadenectomy, removal of lymph nodes in an area

Our melanoma surgeons perform cutting-edge research and are actively advancing knowledge of treatment options through clinical trials. The Wargo Laboratory led by Jennifer Wargo, M.D., is studying the genetics of melanoma and other cancers with the goal of understanding what allows them to grow and spread. Wargo also spearheads clinical trials designed to modulate the microbiome in order to enhance therapeutic responses and leads the Platform for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR).

Researchers in the Lucci Laboratory focus on using a minimally invasive, liquid biopsy-based approach designed to detect cancer earlier, identify patients who are at high risk for disease relapse, monitor patient response throughout treatment and identify novel targets for therapy. Many of our melanoma patients may be eligible for a clinical trial.

Success Stories:
Childhood melanoma patient returns to the rodeo after surgery
Melanoma 101: Answers to five common questions

Melanoma Surgery Faculty:
Merrick Ross, M.D. (Section Chief)
Sarah Fisher, M.D.
Jeffrey Gershenwald, M.D.
Emily Keung, M.D.
Jeffrey E. Lee, M.D.
Jennifer Wargo, M.D.

Sarcoma Surgical Oncology Section

The Sarcoma Surgical Oncology section treats soft tissue sarcomas, a diverse group of over 70 types of rare cancers, as well as benign soft tissue tumors and cysts. Our unparalleled experience in the multidisciplinary management of soft tissue sarcoma and expertise in sarcoma surgery allows us to develop and implement individualized treatment plans that provide the best long-term outcomes for each patient.

Our sarcoma surgeons specialize in complex, multi-team resections that incorporate surgeons from across the Surgery division. Working alongside experts from the Sarcoma and Orthopedic Cancer Center, Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Interventional Radiology and Pathology, we offer a comprehensive scope of medical services, compassionate support and leading-edge clinical and translational research.

Surgical procedures include surgical biopsy to confirm accurate diagnosis, wide local excisions (WLE) for tumor removal, radical resection, limb-sparing surgery and amputation in rare cases.

Faculty in the Sarcoma Surgical Oncology section lead a robust clinical and translational research program. Our clinical trials, clinical and translational research portfolio have led to discoveries that advance the underlying knowledge and understanding of sarcoma and cancer biology and advance therapies available for patients. Opportunities are available for patients to participate in and benefit from clinical trials.

Success Story:
Sarcoma survivor finds his way to remission at MD Anderson

Sarcoma Surgery Faculty:
Christina Roland, M.D. (Section Chief)
Kelly K. Hunt, M.D.
Emily Keung, M.D.
Christopher Scally, M.D.
Keila Torres, M.D., Ph.D.

General and Acute Care Surgery Service

Our general surgeons concentrate on common surgical issues that may arise in patients with cancer. They manage acute illnesses in patients with active cancer, such as gallbladder disease, and perform elective operations including hernia repair. Surgical innovation and approaching common problems in a new way are focuses of this section. Our group employs the use of robotics, which reduces pain, shortens recovery time and may reduce the risk for surgical complications.

General Surgery and Acute Care Surgery Faculty:
Ervin Brown, M.D.
David Santos, M.D.