Surgical Oncology

The Division of Surgical Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is committed to nurturing the skills and knowledge of future leaders in our field. Our physicians have a passion for education and a commitment to creating a learning and training environment that ensures our students and residents realize their utmost potential.

The Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research & Education in Surgery (NQUIRES) comunity is a collaborative health services, outcomes, patient safety and quality improvement research enterprise of which the Department of Surgery is part. NQUIRES research spans all the surgical specialties, with a particular focus on general surgery and surgical oncology. Division faculty members include David J. Bentrem, MD; Shishir K. Maithel, MD; Rebecca L Williams, MD; Juliet S. Lumati, MD; and Akhil Chawla, MD.

Bentrem’s participation with the Northwestern University pancreatic cancer tumor bank continues to be successful, with tissue and blood samples from over 250 cancer patients collected. Given the lack of effective systemic treatment options, the goal of the bank is to develop new treatments for pancreatic cancer. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has transformed cancer treatment in recent years; however, response rates for pancreatic cancer to systemic chemotherapy have lagged behind those for other solid tumors. The tumor immune microenvironment influences response to ICT and understanding the differential immune infiltration in ICT-resistant tumor types will guide future treatment strategies. We have found elevated levels of mast cells and inflammatory leukotrienes in human pancreatic tumor tissue and correlated this with worse outcomes from pancreatic cancer treatment.

 

We strive to provide personalized care in a patient-centered, compassionate environment. At our affiliated hospitals, our faculty stride to lead the fight against cancer by incorporating the latest advances in surgical technology. They are devoted to clinical and basic science research and surgical education.