Research

Washington University hepatobiliary-pancreatic and gastrointestinal (HPB-GI) surgeons not only offer advanced treatments but also are at the forefront of research on liver and pancreatic cancer.

As part of the Whipple procedure – the major operation for pancreatic cancer – these surgeons have pioneered a technique resulting in the lowest fistula rate reported in any large surgical series: only 1.5 percent.

Among areas of recent investigation, HPB-GI researchers showed that the radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) procedure is highly effective in removing cancers of the body and tail of the pancreas. They also demonstrated that a new stapling method led to fewer postoperative problems for patients undergoing pancreas surgery.

Other areas of study include:

• Potential tools for the early detection of pancreas cancer and for metastatic disease that accompanies the malignancy
• The presence of tumors in the liver secondary to colorectal cancer even after imaging shows they have disappeared
• Phase II clinical trial of adjuvant therapy in 54 patients with pancreatic cancer
• A clinical trial measuring the effectiveness of pre- and post-operative chemotherapy in combination with resection for liver tumors secondary to colorectal cancer

Learn more about:

• Research projects being conducted by the Section of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic and GI Surgery
• Volunteer for Health
• Clinical trials sponsored by Siteman Cancer Center
• Department of Surgery research