Department Name

Dr. William Cance, Dr. Stephen Grobmyer and Dr. Steven Hochwald, experienced Surgical Oncologists, completed training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

The Division of Surgical Oncology is proud of the fact that all faculty surgeons are fellowship trained from The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center or MD Anderson Cancer Center. Consequently, faculty members are well aware of the benefits of multidisciplinary care of the cancer patient and are well-equipped to design and participate in clinical and basic science investigations in malignancy. Our priority is to establish and develop novel treatment approaches to malignancy, including the use of molecular targeted agents.

Surgical oncology research concentrates on exploring the frontiers of the clinical management of cancer. Published scientific articles by UF surgeons have reported new findings on breast cancer, the long-term results of biopsy of nonpalpable breast lesions, the success of breast conservation surgery, new techniques for diagnosing breast lesions, and the epidemiologic impact of race and age on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Other research findings include the results of sphincter preservation for rectal cancer, the management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancer. Major published reviews and book chapters by Shands @ UF Surgical Oncologists have established their expertise in noninvasive breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, melanoma, endocrine tumors, and gastrointestinal malignancy. University of Florida Shands Cancer Center surgical oncologists participate as principal site investigators for several multicenter clinical trials, with more trials planned for the future.

The UFSCC surgical oncology teams at Shands @ UF in Gainesville partner with other cancer specialists to offer innovative approaches to treating patients with cancer. The UFSCC includes an active surgical oncology group committed to research and the clinical management of a variety of solid tumors. UF physicians take leadership roles in the diagnosis and primary management of breast cancer, colorectal and upper gastrointestinal cancer, melanoma and other skin cancers, lung cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, endocrine tumors, and many other malignancies. To provide a valuable multidisciplinary approach to cancer management, these efforts are closely integrated with those of radiation oncology, diagnostic and interventional radiology, medical oncology, pathology, patient education, social services, nutrition, and physical therapy. UF surgeons are actively involved in community outreach and cancer education efforts through institutional initiatives as well as through the American Cancer Society in Gainesville and the Duval County Medical Society in Jacksonville. Our approach is to identify clinical patient dilemmas and isolate them in the laboratory for further study. Our goal is to continue to improve patient care through clinical trials which are generated from clinical observations and laboratory research. Our researchers are working to identify biologic markers so that we can then predict treatment responses for gastrointestinal malignancies.