Gagandeep Singh, M.D.
- Liver Surgery
- Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
- Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery
- Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)/Carcinoid Tumors
- Ablations — Microwave Ablations and Nanoknife Ablations
- Gallbladder and Bile Duct Surgery
- Liver Cancers and Metastases
- Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinoid Tumors
- Liver Metastases
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Liver Tumors
- Liver and Pancreatic Surgery - Technical Innovations
Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery
- Referring Physicians Phone(623) 207-3241
- Referring Physicians Fax(623) 932-8631
Internationally renowned liver and pancreas surgeon Gagandeep “Gaugs” Singh, M.D., F.A.C.S., is Chief of Surgical Oncology and Director of Surgical Services at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix.
A seasoned health care leader with more than 20 years’ experience building outstanding surgical teams, Dr. Singh is excited to return to Phoenix – where he completed part of his medical training – and to City of Hope, where he spent a decade as the chief of City of Hope Duarte’s surgical oncology program. In the clinic, Dr. Singh takes a thoughtful yet forceful approach to treating cancers of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal systems. As a health care leader, he is passionate about empowering teams to achieve their fullest potential. He has been recognized with numerous awards and leadership positions.
After beginning his faculty academic career at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Dr. Singh was appointed director of the Liver and Pancreas Center at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California, where he also served as chair of the Cancer Committee. At City of Hope Duarte, Dr. Singh spearheaded the liver and pancreatic cancer programs and led the Division of Surgical Oncology to national recognition. He has been included on multiple lists of “America’s Top Surgeons,” “Best Doctors of America,” “Super Doctors” and “Top Doctors of America.”
Dr. Singh earned his medical degree from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in India, before training at multiple internationally renowned cancer centers, including Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center in Bombay, René Descartes University in Paris and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the United Kingdom, as well as the Marion Bessin Liver Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix and the University of Iowa. A board-certified surgeon, diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Singh is an internationally recognized expert in his field and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for Hepatobiliary Cancers, the group that sets the guidelines for the standard of care for hepatobiliary cancers.
As a researcher, Dr. Singh has written on topics such as complex liver resections for liver metastases, management algorithms for neuroendocrine tumors, vascular reconstructions with difficult pancreatic surgery for pancreatic cancer and advanced robotic surgery. His work on robotic surgery has been presented at the Society of Surgical Oncology, America’s Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons and other national meetings. An innovator at heart, he is in constant pursuit of enhancing the surgical experience and developing technical innovations in liver and pancreatic surgery. He has collaborated with engineers from the California Institute of Technology and Harvey Mudd College and has several invention disclosures and patents to his name. Dr. Singh’s translational research includes projects with molecular biologists, X-ray crystallographers, structural chemists and super-resolution scientists across the City of Hope national system.
Whipple Procedure
If cancer affects the head of the pancreas, the care team may recommend a surgery known as the Whipple procedure. Also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy, this operation involves removing the head of the pancreas, as well as the gallbladder, lymph nodes, part or all of the small intestine and part of the bile duct. In some instances, other parts of the pancreas or stomach may also be removed.
Distal Pancreatectomy
Some pancreatic cancer patients may be candidates for a surgery called a distal pancreatectomy. This procedure involves removing the tail of the pancreas, sometimes along with a portion of the pancreas body and the spleen.
Total Pancreatectomy
Certain patients with pancreatic cancer may be candidates for a total pancreatectomy. This procedure involves the removal of the entire pancreas, the bile duct, some of the stomach and small intestine, the spleen, the gallbladder and select lymph nodes.
Liver Resection
Select patients with liver cancer or other liver conditions may be candidates for a liver resection. During this operation, the doctor removes part of the liver where cancer is present. In most cases, the liver will regenerate in the weeks or months following the surgery.
The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation Interviews Dr. Singh
During this one-hour video, neuroendocrine cancer expert Dr. Gagandeep Singh answers questions from the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.
Evolving Management of Liver Metastases with Dr. Singh
This LACNETS Webinar from 10/18/24 serves as an invaluable resource for those living with NET, as well as their families and caretakers, the presentation also includes an informative "Question & Answer" Session at the end.
How to Manage Metastatic Liver Tumors
In this video, Dr. Singh explains how to manage metastatic liver tumors for patients who have recently been diagnosed with liver metastases and how to treat these liver tumors with a combination of surgery and a hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump.
Location
Education & Experience
Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery - Board Certification in General Surgery, U.S.
American Society of Transplant Surgery - Solid Organ Transplant Surgery Certification
Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies: Masters in Surgical Sciences (Surgical Oncology), Hôpital Cochin, René Descartes University, Paris, France (1993)
Master of Surgery: Board Certification in General Surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Centre, University of Bombay, India (1989)
Medical School Graduation (MBBS), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur University, India (1985)
Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies: Masters in Surgical Sciences (Surgical Oncology), Hôpital Cochin, René Descartes University, Paris, France (1993)
Master of Surgery: Board Certification in General Surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Centre, University of Bombay, India (1989)
Medical School Graduation (MBBS), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur University, India (1985)
Clinical Fellow (Transplant) - University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Belfer Fellow (Research) - Marion Bessin Liver Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY
Fellow (HPB/ Surg Onc) - Hôpital Cochin, René Descartes University, Paris, France
Clinical Fellow (Surgical Oncology) - Tata Memorial Hospital & Cancer Center, University of Bombay, Bombay, India
Research Fellow (Surgical Oncology) - Tata Memorial Hospital & Cancer Center, University of Bombay, Bombay, India
General Surgery Residency in the U.S. - Chief Resident: Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, and Resident in Surgery: Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ
Surgical Residency/ PG Training outside U.S. - Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK and Tata Memorial Hospital & Cancer Center, University of Bombay, India
Clinical Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 2010-present
Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 2014-2019
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 2011-2019
Head, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Service, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, Present-2022
Interim Chair, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 2012-2014
Director, Liver and Pancreas Center, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA, 2007-2010
Associate Professor of Surgery (Clinical), Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 2007-2010
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, 2002-2007
Publications
- Thornblade LW, Warner SG, Melstrom LG, Ituarte PGH, Chang S, Li D, Fong Y, Singh G. Does surgery provide a survival advantage in non-disseminated poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms? Surgery. 01/2021. Accepted
- Nguyen AH, O’Leary MP, De Andrade JP, Ituarte PHG, Kessler J, Li D, Singh G. Chang S Natural History of Renal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A NET by Any Other Name? Front. Endocrinol., 05 February 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.624251
- Li D, Rock A, Kessler J, Ballena R, Hyder S, Mo C, Chang S, Singh G. Understanding the Management and Treatment of Well-Differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Clinician’s Guide to a Complex Illness. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020 Nov;16(11):720-728. doi: 10.1200/JCOOP.20.00010. Epub 2020 Oct 21. PMID: 33085933
- Banapour P, Yuh B, Chenam A, Shen JK, Ruel N, Han ES, Kim JY, Maghami EG, Pigazzi A, Raz DJ, Singh G, Wakabayashi M, Woo Y, Fong Y, Lau CS. Readmission and complications after robotic surgery: experience of 10,000 operations at a comprehensive cancer center. J Robot Surg. 2020 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s11701-020-01077-4. PMID:32277400.
- Blakely AM, Lafaro KJ, Li D, Kessler J, Chang S, Ituarte PHG, Lee B, Singh G. Lymphovascular Invasion Predicts Lymph Node Involvement in Small Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Neuroendocrinology. 2020;110(5):384-392. doi: 10.1159/000502581. Epub 2019 Aug 9. PMID: 31401633.
- Hashim YM, Lin TL, Wang A, Dhillon NK, Veatch JM, Barmparas G, Singh G, Ley EJ. Quantifying the Volume of Fluid Resuscitation Required to Normalize Lactate in Septic Patients. International Journal of Surgery. 27 (2020) 162-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijso.2020.11.013
- Kessler J, Singh G, Ituarte PHG, Allen R, Chang S, Li D. A Comparison of Liver Directed Therapy and Systemic Therapy for the Treatment of Liver Metastases in Patients with Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Analysis of the California Cancer Registry. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2020 Dec 21:S1051-0443(20)30882-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2020.10.019. PMID: 33358144
- Thornblade LW, Warner S, Melstrom L, Singh G, Fong Y, Raoof M. Association of Race/ Ethnicity with Overall Survival among Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastasis. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(9): e2016019. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.16019
- Melstrom LG, Warner SG, Wong P, Sun V, Raoof M, Singh G, Chavin K, Adam R, Fong Y, Hugh T. Management of Disappearing Colorectal Liver Metastases: An International Survey. HPB (Oxford). 2020 Oct 31:S1365-182X(20)31191-6. doi: 10.1016/j.hpb.2020.10.005. PMID: 33144051
- Wong P, White M, Tozzi F, Warner S, Woo Y, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom L. Hypophosphatemia: Implications Post-Pancreatectomy. Am Surg. 2020 Sep 13:3134820949517. doi: 10.1177/0003134820949517. PMID: 32924538
- Raoof M, Jutric Z, Haye S, Ituarte P, Arkzhao M, Singh G, Melstrom L, Warner S, Clary B, Fong Y. Systematic Failure to Operate on Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases in California. Cancer Medicine. 2020; 9(17): 6256-6267. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.3316
- Kandimalla R, Tomihara H, Banwait JK , Yamamura K, Singh G, Hideo B, Goel A. A 15-Gene Immune, Stromal, and Proliferation Gene Signature that Significantly Associates with Poor Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Clinical Cancer Research; Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Mar 31. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-4044. PMID: 32234757
- Lafaro K, Blakely A, Lee B, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom L. Prognostic Impact of Tumor Location in Resected Gallbladder Cancer: A National Cohort Analysis. J Surg Oncol. 2020;1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26107. PMID: 32652555
- Howe JR, Merchant NB, Conrad C, Keutgen XM, Hallet J, Drebin JA, Minter RM, Lairmore TC, Tseng JF, Zeh HJ, Libutti SK, Singh G, Lee JE, Hope TA, Kim MK, Menda Y, Halfdanarson TR, Chan JA, Pommier RF. The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Consensus Paper on the Surgical Management of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Pancreas. 2020 Jan; 49(1):1-33. PMID: 31856076; PMCID: PMC7029300.
- Stewart CL, Wong P, Selby L, Warner SG, Raoof M, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom LG. Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy and the cost of conversion. J Surg Oncol. 2020 Mar; 121(4):670-675. PMID: 31967336.
- Sun V, Fong A, Melstrom L, Warner S, Raoof M, Singh G, Fong Y. Patient-Centered Care in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: Quality of Life and Postoperative Functional Recovery. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2020 (accepted in press)
- De Andrade J, Blakely AM, Nguyen AH, Ituarte PHG, Warner SG, Melstrom LG, Lee B, Singh G. Neuroendocrine Tumors of Meckel’s Diverticula: Rare but Fare Well. Am Surg. 2019 Oct 1; 85 (10):1125-1128. PMID: 31657307
- Lewis A, Raoof M, Ituarte PHG, Williams J, Melstrom L, Li D, Lee B, Singh G. Resection of the Primary Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor Improves Survival with or without Liver Treatment. Ann Surg. 2019 Dec; 270(6):1131-1137. PMID: 29746336
- Lafaro KJ, Raz DJ, Kim JY, Hite S, Ruel N, Varatkar G, Erhunmwunsee L, Melstrom L, Lee B, Singh G, Fong Y, Sun V. Pilot Study of a Telehealth Perioperative Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adults with Cancer and their Caregivers. Support Care Cancer. 2020 Aug;28(8):3867-3876. PMID: 31845007
- Konstantinidis IT, Ituarte P, Woo Y, Warner SG, Melstrom K, Kim J, Singh G, Lee B, Fong Y, Melstrom LG. Trends and outcomes of robotic surgery for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in the USA: maintaining perioperative and oncologic safety. Surg Endosc. 2019 Dec 9. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07284-x. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 31820161
Abstracts Presented
- Lennon KM, Maddox AL, Saftics A, Brehove M, Wakefield DL, Das S, Keuren-Jensen KV, Singh G, Jovanovic-Talisman T. Advancing extracellular vesicle characterization with quantitative single molecule localization microscopy. (Won Best Paper Award) Annual meeting of the American Society for Exosomes and Microvesicles. Nov 2020
- Li D, Imbesi G,Yen L, Kim H, Sun C-L, Allen R,Sedrak M, Singh G. Cross-sectional study assessing the feasibility of using NET VITALS communication tool among patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Young Investigators Award Session at NANETS’ 2020 (Oral). NANETS, Montreal, 10.2020. Virtual Presentation (COVID 2020)
- Thornblade L, Melstrom LG, Warner, SG, Ituarte P, Chang S, Li D, Fong Y, Singh G. Survival After Resection Of Poorly Differentiated Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Association Of Nodal Involvement And Survival. NANETS, Montreal, 10.2020. Virtual Presentation (COVID 2020)
- Thornblade L, Warner SG, Melstrom L, Ituarte P, Fong Y, Singh G. Survival After Resection of Non-Disseminated yet Poorly Differentiated Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium. Boston, MA, March, 2020.
- Stewart CL, Wong P, Warner S, Raoof M, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom L. Robotic Minor Hepatectomy: Optimizing Outcomes and Cost of Care. Americas Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association. Miami Beach, FL. March, 2020.
- Choong K, O’Leary, M, Ituarte P, Warner S, Melstrom L, Fong Y, Singh G. Distal pancreatectomy vs. pancreaticoduodenectomy vs. total pancreatectomy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors – same organ, different outcomes. Pancreas Club Annual Meeting, Chicago, May 2020.
- Choong K, O’Leary, M, Ituarte P, Warner S, Melstrom L, Fong Y, Singh G. Results of total pancreatectomy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors – unfolding the risks and long term survival using the National Cancer Database. Pancreas Club Annual Meeting, Chicago, May 2020. (Accepted; Virtual Meeting, now cancelled)
- Warner S, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom L. Chemotherapy response rates have markedly improved leading to the occurrence of “disappearing” colorectal liver metastases (dCRLM). IHPBA (Postponed). Melbourne, Australia. 9/2020
- Lennon KM, Maddox AL, Wakefield DL, Cisneros M, Brehove MS, Singh G, Jovanovic-Talisman T. Advancing extracellular vesicle characterization with quantitative single molecule localization microscopy. Accepted to International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, Philadelphia, PA, May, 2020. (Podium).
- Li D, Imbesi G, Yen L, Kim HY, Sun CL, Allen R, Sedrak M, Singh G. Cross-sectional study assessing the feasibility of using NET VITALS communication tool among patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Accepted to ENETs; European Neuroendocrine Society. Barcelona, Spain. Mar, 2020.
- De Andrade J, Blakely A, Nguyen A, Ituarte P, Lee B, Singh G. Differing Characteristics between NETs of Meckel's Diverticula & the Ileum. Plenary presentation. (Podium) Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Santa Barbara, CA, Jan 2019.
- Blakely AM, Raoof M, Ituarte PHG, Singh G, Lee B. Lymphovascular Invasion Predicts Lymph Node Involvement in Small (≤2 cm) Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors. (Podium) Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Santa Barbara, CA, Jan 2019.
- Blakely AM, Lafaro KJ, Kessler J, Li D, Chang S, Ituarte PHG, Lee B, Singh G. Lymphovascular Invasion Predicts Lymph Node Positivity in Small Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. (Podium) Pacific Coast Surgical Association- 90th Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ, Feb, 2019.
- Blakely AM, Wong P, Chu P, Warner SG, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom LG. Intra-Operative Bile Spillage as a Prognostic Factor for Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma. (Podium) Academic Surgical Congress, Houston, TX, February 5, 2019.
- Stewart CL, Dumita S, Nota C, Ituarte P, Melstrom L, Woo Y, Singh G, Fong Y, Nathan H, Warner S. Hospital Factors Strongly Influence Robotic Use in General Surgery. (Podium) Academic Surgical Congress, Houston, TX, February 6, 2019.
- Blakely AM, Eng OS, Ituarte PHG, Singh G, Raoof M, Lee B. Timing of Peritoneal Dissemination of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Does Not Affect Survival. (Podium) Regional Cancer Therapies 14th International Symposium, Phoenix, AZ, February 16, 2019.
- Lafaro K, Blakely AM, Kessler J, Li D, Ituarte PHG, Lee B, Singh G. Resection of primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with concomitant liver resection: reasonable and safe. AHPBA, Miami Beach, FL, March, 2019.
- Lafaro Lee B, Singh G. Total Pancreatectomy with Splenectomy: Feasible and Safe. (Video). AHPBA, Miami Beach, FL, March, 2019.
- Raoof M, Lafaro K, Ituarte P, Lee B, Warner SG, Melstrom LG, Singh G, Fong Y. Survival Impact of Biologics in the Management of Resected Colorectal Liver Metastases. (Podium) AHPBA, Miami, March 2019;
- Stewart CL, Wong P, Raoof M, Warner SG, Singh G, Fong Y, Melstrom LG. Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy – Accepting the Cost of Conversion. (Podium) AHPBA, Miami Beach, FL, March, 2019
Book Chapter and Books
- Lewis A, Schoellhammer H, Singh G. The Modified Appleby Procedure for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Body/Tail Cancer: How I Do It. Book: Surgery for Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancer- Principles and Practice. Editor: Mallika Tewari. Springer Nature. ISBN: 978-981-10-7463-9. Release Date: July 29, 2018.
- Editors: Fong Y, Kauffmann RM, Marcinkowski E, Singh G, Schoellhammer H. Surgical Emergencies in the Cancer Patient. 2016, 2017. 9783319440255 (online) 9783319440231 (print)
- Schoellhammer HF, Fong Y, Singh G. Extrahepatic Bile Duct Tumors. Book: Blumgart’s Surgery for the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas, 6th Edition. Editor: William Jarnagin. Elsevier, Saunders. Hardcover ISBN: 9780323340625; eBook ISBN: 9780323340878
- Schoellhammer HF, Fong Y, Singh G. Extrahepatic Bile Duct Tumors. Book: Blumgart’s Surgery for the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas, 6th Edition. Editor: William Jarnagin. Elsevier, Saunders. Hardcover ISBN: 9780323340625; eBook ISBN: 9780323340878
- Jabbour N, Ram S, Singh G. Solid Organ Transplantation. Book: Perioperative Transfusion Medicine 2nd Edition. Editors Spiess/Spence/Shander, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006, (ISBN 0781737559).
- Jabbour N, Young R, Ram S, Selby R, Genyk Y, Singh G. Feasibility of Transfusion-Free Medicine and Surgery in Clinical Practice. Boo: Transfusion Free Medicine and Surgery Editor: Nicholas Jabbour. Blackwell Publishing, London, 2005, (ISBN 1405121599).
- Singh G, Rajvanshi P, Gupta S. Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. Book: The Liver in Biology and Disease. Editor. Bittar EE, Elsevier Sciences, Amsterdam, 2004, 525-42. (ISBN 0-7623-1123-1).