Gastrointestinal Cancer Care in Orange County
Many breakthrough treatments offer new hope for today’s GI and colon cancer patients. We are one of only a few dozen centers in the country that treat gastrointestinal cancers using a comprehensive approach — by a team whose sole focus is treating these types of cancer. Our top-ranked physicians and specialists help Orange County patients navigate and manage their care, from diagnosis to treatment and transition to recovery.
Why Choose City of Hope Orange County for GI Cancer Care?
With leading-edge technology and surgical expertise, City of Hope physicians deliver outstanding outcomes that are difficult to achieve elsewhere.
- Comprehensive, compassionate care from a GI cancer care team offering groundbreaking therapies for both early and late-stage disease.
- Robotically assisted and minimally invasive surgery.
- Leading-edge clinical trials offering patients access to promising GI cancer treatments before they are readily available elsewhere.
- A collaborative and caring multidisciplinary team of cancer experts that understands your needs and background to provide a whole-person approach to treatment.
- Access to a network of highly specialized physicians and researchers who focus on your specific type of GI cancer, among them colon cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric/stomach cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and small intestine cancer.
- Long-term survivorship and follow-up programs focused on minimizing recurrence risk and improving quality of life.
- An expanding clinical network throughout Orange County, bringing world-renowned physicians closer to homes in the region.
Specializing in GI Cancers and Conditions
- Anal cancer
- Appendix cancer
- Bile duct cancer
- Biliary tract cancers (BTC)
- Cancer of unknown primary (CUP)
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- Colon cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Hepatobiliary Cancers
- Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC)
- Liver cancer
- Neuroendocrine tumor (NET)
- Rectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer)
- Immunotherapy
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
- Clinical Trials
- Genomic/genetic testing (germline, pharmacogenomic and tumor/somatic)
- Precision Medicine
- Multidisciplinary specialty clinics (MDC) for colorectal and GI cancers
Renowned Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
City of Hope’s approach to treating gastrointestinal cancers starts with a coordinated, multidisciplinary care team whose main goals are helping patients live a long, healthy, cancer-free life. We combine leading-edge technologies — like minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgeries — with the latest precision medicine, therapeutic and radiological advances.
- Distal Gastrectomy
- Endometriosis Surgery (impacting Bowel, Rectum and Sigmoid)
- Endoscopy Procedures (tumor ablation and Stent placement)
- Lymphadenectomy (lymph node dissection)
- Proximal Gastrectomy
- Re-operative Cases
- Subtotal Gastrectomy
- Total Gastrectomy (laparoscopic and robotic-assisted)
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
- Clinical Trials
- Genomic/genetic testing (germline, pharmacogenomic and tumor/somatic)
- Precision Medicine
- Multidisciplinary specialty clinics (MDC) for colorectal and GI cancers
- Balloon Enteroscopy
- Capsule endoscopy
- Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided
Radiofrequency Ablation - Endoscopic Full-Thickness resection (EFTR)
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
- Feeding tube placement
- Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)
- Polypectomy
- Stenting
- Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER)
- Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound (T-EUS)
- 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy
- Brachytherapy (High dose rate)
- Combine modality CRT
- CT guided SBRT
- CT guided adaptive SBRT
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- MR guided SBRT
- MR guided adaptive SBRT
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy
Clinical trial participation is a critical aspect of care for many patients living with cancer. Our patients can access more than 1,000 innovative Phase 1–3 clinical trials at City of Hope each year — more cancer-focused clinical trials than anywhere in the area — to provide promising new treatments long before they become the standard of care.
Our Gastrointestinal Cancer Team
One of only a few centers in the country treating gastrointestinal cancers using a coordinated, comprehensive approach — by a multidisciplinary team all located under one roof. This unique offering at City of Hope Orange County puts patients in the hands of world experts in cancers affecting the digestive system.
Gastrointestinal & Colorectal Cancer Leadership
Alessio Pigazzi, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S. is an executive medical director, colorectal surgery and vice chair of clinical network affairs for the Department of Surgery, City of Hope.
Dr. Kasi is an associate clinical professor in the department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope Orange County.
Surgical Oncology
Specializing in bioengineering and tumor micro-environment in cancer development and progression, Andrew Nguyen, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at City of Hope.
Yanghee Woo, M.D., is director of the Gastroenterology Minimally Invasive Therapy Program.
Interventional Gastroenterology
Lance Uradomo, M.D., M.P.H., is an assistant clinical professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine at City of Hope Orange County.
Medical Oncology
Luke Chen, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center and Seacliff locations. Dr. Chen’s research has explored ways to improve treatment for prostate cancer and other malignancies.
Krushangi Patel, M.D., is a highly engaged practitioner who prioritizes not only her patients' physical well-being but also their emotional and spiritual needs.
Danny Nguyen, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Orange County's Lennar Foundation Cancer Center and Seacliff locations. Dr. Nguyen is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
George Bernard Semeniuk, III, M.D., is a hematologist/oncologist specializing in leukemia, lymphoma and hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Sudarsan Vishnu Kollimuttathuillam, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Orange County's Lennar Foundation Cancer Center and Seacliff locations. Dr. Kollimuttathuillan places a priority on offering his patients access to innovative treatments and clinical trial options.
Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., is a medical oncologist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope.
Radiation Oncology
Percy Lee, M.D., is delighted to increase City of Hope's reach and help establish its radiation oncology research network in his role as medical director of Orange County and coastal region radiation oncology and vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Dr. Weng is a radiation oncologist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Radiation Therapy at City of Hope Orange County.
Interventional Radiology
Jason Salsamendi, M.D., is a interventional radiologist and clinical professor in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at City of Hope.
Ngoc N. Le, MD, is recognized as one of the country’s emerging experts on diagnostic and interventional radiology. She is noted for her contributions to advancing a broad range of radiology techniques and her findings have been presented at sessions of the American Society of Neuroradiology, the
Supportive Care
Richard T. Lee, M.D., is the medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program in the Department of Supportive Care Medicine at City of Hope.
Jessica Cheng, M.D., is among the nation’s few, and Orange County’s only, fellowship-trained experts in cancer rehabilitation medicine. This is a subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) also known as physiatry.
A trailblazing integrative medicine program combining the best of Western medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and meditation.
City of Hope is a national leader in evidence-based supportive care. The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center at the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center will facilitate easy access to a wide range of programs, including care navigation, survivorship programs, psychological and spiritual counseling, pain management and more.
Marybelle's is a full-service salon extending a specialty shopping experience with oncology-trained cosmetologists.
The on-site pharmacy fills and dispenses prescriptions and offers over-the-counter medications, alleviating the burden of going elsewhere.
