Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Surgery plays a central and highly effective role in the management of many gastrointestinal cancers, including malignant and premalignant tumors of the stomach, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, appendix, and colorectum. Our surgeons are among the most experienced in the region, incorporating the latest and most advanced surgical techniques to achieve the best possible outcomes for each patient.

Our surgical expertise includes laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery for stomach, small bowel, and colorectal tumors, as well as for primary and metastatic liver and biliary tumors. This minimally invasive approach allows our surgeons to operate with greater precision, improved visualization, and smaller incisions than traditional open surgery, which for patients often means less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a faster recovery.

For cancers of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts, collectively known as hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancers, our team has extensive experience with robotic-assisted surgery, combining technical expertise with a team-based approach to create personalized treatment plans focused on the best possible outcomes.

Our surgeons are also national leaders in Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), a specialized technique that combines surgical removal of visible tumors with the delivery of heated chemotherapy directly to the abdominal cavity to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This approach is used for select cancers that have spread within the abdomen, and our physicians bring a deep understanding of its appropriate use, technical nuances, and effectiveness.

For cancers of the pancreas, our surgeons are highly skilled in the full spectrum of pancreatectomy procedures, including the Whipple procedure, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, and pancreas-preserving enucleation and tailor their surgical approach to each patient's specific disease and anatomy.

Our medical oncology team goes well beyond traditional chemotherapy, offering a full range of innovative, nonsurgical treatment options designed to target gastrointestinal cancers with greater effectiveness.

Targeted therapy uses specialized agents that are designed to identify and attack the specific molecular changes driving a cancer's growth, minimizing harm to healthy cells in ways that conventional chemotherapy cannot. Immunotherapy harnesses the power of a patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, and has transformed outcomes for certain gastrointestinal cancers in recent years.

Underlying all of our treatment decisions is state-of-the-art genomic profiling and laboratory analysis, a detailed examination of the biological makeup and vulnerabilities of each patient's tumor. This information helps our team identify the therapies most likely to be effective for that specific cancer, and guides the development of better, more targeted treatments for the future.

As part of Yale Cancer Center, one of a select group of NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country, our patients have access to groundbreaking clinical trials. Many of these studies explore promising new therapies and novel treatment combinations.

Patients who require radiation therapy for gastrointestinal cancer can feel confident that they are receiving the highest quality care from the most experienced team of radiation oncologists in Connecticut.

Through our Interventional Oncology Program, patients have access to cutting-edge, image-guided therapies for liver and colorectal cancers. Our interventional team also provides a broad range of therapeutic options for palliative care, including biopsy, vascular port placement, and chemotherapy catheter placement, as well as targeted therapies for pain relief.

We also offer theranostics, an innovative approach that combines diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy in a single, integrated process to detect and treat cancer cells with remarkable precision.

Our Advanced Endoscopy Team specializes in diseases of the pancreas, biliary tree, and the gastrointestinal tract, evaluating and managing patients with pancreatitis, biliary strictures and stones, post-surgical complications, unexplained abdominal pain, and suspected gastrointestinal malignancies. Using tools such as Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration, our specialists can visualize and sample tissues deep within the body with minimal discomfort and exceptional accuracy.

Accurate and detailed pathology is the cornerstone of effective gastrointestinal cancer care. Our pathologists work closely with the entire clinical team, bringing their findings directly into our multidisciplinary Tumor Board Conferences to ensure that the full biological picture of each patient's cancer informs every treatment decision from the very beginning.

Through advanced genomic profiling and molecular analysis, our team examines the unique characteristics of each tumor. This level of diagnostic precision is what makes truly personalized cancer care possible, and it is a hallmark of the world-class pathology expertise available at Yale.

A gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis affects every dimension of a patient's life, and our support services are designed to meet patients and their families wherever they are. From your very first contact with our team, intake specialists, clinical secretaries, and schedulers work to ensure you are prepared for your visits and that your appointments are coordinated as conveniently as possible.

Throughout treatment, our physicians collaborate closely with patient care associates, nurses, advanced practice providers, and nurse coordinators to ensure that every patient feels fully informed and genuinely supported at every stage of their care.

Our team extends to a comprehensive network of essential services, including social work, pastoral support, dietary and nutritional counseling, physical therapy, integrative medicine, pain management, and psychosocial support — addressing the full range of challenges that can accompany a serious cancer diagnosis.

For patients diagnosed at a younger age, we understand cancer can bring a unique set of challenges, from fertility concerns to career, family, and emotional impact. Our Early Onset Cancer Program and dedicated navigators provide specialized support tailored to the needs of younger patients, helping them navigate every aspect of their diagnosis and treatment with confidence and compassion.

When active treatment concludes, our Survivorship Clinic continues to provide dedicated, multidisciplinary support — addressing the physical, emotional, and practical needs that arise in the weeks, months, and years following treatment.

Some gastrointestinal cancers — particularly colorectal and gastric cancers — can be linked to inherited genetic mutations that increase a person's lifetime risk of developing the disease. Our genetic counselors, nurse practitioners, and physicians work closely together to evaluate each patient's personal and family history and develop highly individualized care plans based on their specific risk profile.

For patients identified as being at increased risk for colon cancer, our GI Cancer Prevention Program provides comprehensive risk assessment, patient education, and tailored screening strategies. You may benefit from genetic counseling if you have a strong family history of colorectal or gastric cancer, a known inherited gene mutation, or a significant personal history of colon polyps. Early identification of hereditary risk not only helps guide your own care — it can also provide life-saving information for your family members.