Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH, is a leading expert in colorectal cancer and has conducted both clinical trial research to find more efficacious therapies for treating colon and rectal cancer as well as research on diet and lifestyle in colorectal cancer survivors. He is the Co-Chair of one of the National Cancer Institute cooperative groups' committees (Alliance) focused on gastrointestinal cancers. He has served on national committees to develop guidelines for the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Cancer Society.
Ronald Bleday, MD, is chief of colon and rectal surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). Dr. Bleday has been the principal investigator or contributor to various clinical trials on the use of local excision for the treatment of early rectal cancer and the use of laparoscopy versus open surgery for the treatment of colon cancer. He is collaborating with scientists at Harvard Medical School looking into the basic molecular mechanisms of colon cancer biology and immunology. He has also implemented new protocols for "Enhanced Recovery after Surgery" or "ERAS" and infection reduction for gastrointestinal surgery patients at BWH. He serves on the board of the Research Foundation of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery.
Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, is the Founding Director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, and Director of Clinical and Biospecimen Research in the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology. Her research focuses on the identification of dietary, molecular, and genetic predictors of improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer, with particular interest in the vitamin D and inflammatory pathways.
She also conducts translational research investigating novel therapeutics, biomarkers of response and resistance to treatment, and the microbiome. She is the recipient of numerous NIH-funded grants and private foundation awards and leads several national multi-center clinical trials. She co-leads the Colorectal Cancer Working Group in the Gastrointestinal Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology cooperative group and serves as a member of the Gastrointestinal Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute.
A tremendous boost for scientists looking to unlock the secrets of microbiota’s role in colorectal cancer, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Dr. Matthew Meyerson and Dr. Wendy Garrett.
At the Colon and Rectal Cancer Center of Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, our specialists are dedicated to making discoveries in every discipline.
Our medical oncologists are improving the use of chemotherapy and targeted agents through clinical trials and new treatment approaches, such as with precision cancer medicine based on genetic testing.
Our surgeons use the newest approaches, including sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer patients, robotic surgery, and minimally-invasive surgery.
Our radiologists are pioneering the use of imaging tests to allow optimal diagnosis and treatment of patients with colon and rectal cancer.
Our interventional radiologists use the latest techniques including radioembolization and radiofrequency ablation. They hold a weekly conference to evaluate patients with liver metastases to determine the best treatment options.
Our genetic risk experts are identifying biochemical markers of gastrointestinal cancer risk and are researching novel targets for therapy. They have deep expertise in cancer genetics and prevention.
Our pathologists work closely with our Center for Molecular Diagnostics to get a complete picture of a tumor in order to direct the appropriate therapy.
Our radiation oncologists are discovering better combinations of radiation and systemic therapies, and have identified biomarkers for the response to treatment.
Our gastroenterologists are using innovative advanced endoscopic techniques to evaluate tumors. We have expertise in removing early-stage lesions with endoscopy.
Our scientists are working to understand the fundamental biology of these cancers to identify new ways to prevent and treat these diseases in our patients.
Our support teams offer a range of programs to individuals and families, including social work, nutritional counseling, palliative care, integrative therapies, and support groups.
Our nurses, including nurse practitioners and infusion nurses, are certified and trained in oncology nursing and set new standards in caring for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.
See the complete list of our gastrointestinal cancer specialists.
Colorectal cancer rates overall are going down, but for one group – younger patients – the opposite is true. And in a study published in JAMA ONCOLOGY, for younger women who are also obese, researchers say they’ve uncovered a worrisome trend.
