The Surg Onc Files

Welcome back to the SO Files! Here you'll find the part two of our ABSITE-themed surgical oncology tour de force. On this 2nd part of our review we cover GI, HPB and GU cancers, as well as Melanoma. Our goal is to hit the high points on the major cancer topics throughout the body with the hopes of getting you an extra few points this weekend. Best wishes from the SurgOnc Files, good luck and happy studying!

Welcome back to the SO Files! With the ABSITE right around the corner we thought we'd go for a marathon session and build up our stamina for test day - here we present a head to toe review of all things surgical oncology that you might be asked this weekend. Although initially intended to be released en bloc, I think you'll understand why we broke this bad boy up. This part 1 of 2 podcast covers cancers from the head to diaphragm. So sit back and enjoy a brief review (~ 30 minutes) of high yield surgical oncology - and be sure to come back for part 2!

On today's show we focus on melanoma and welcome Dr. Mark Faries onto the podcast. We discuss his role in the MSLT-I and MSLT-II trials as well as how their results have influenced the most recent editions of the NCCN and AJCC clinical practice guidelines. Before jumping into our interview with Dr. Faries, we take some time to introduce the basic staging principles for melanoma and the highlights of the MSLT-I and MSLT-II trials.

0-12:00 - Brad and Alston give overview of melanoma workup and 8th edition AJCC staging. Brief intro to MSLTI and MSLTII.

12:00- Interview with Dr. Faries

Welcome back to the SO Files! We're happy to present part 2 of our gastric cancer series. Here we briefly review the historical gastric cancer classifications (Lauren and WHO) and then explain how this has drastically changed over the past 5-10 years with the advent of next-generation sequencing capabilities. We go in depth to evaluate how this applies to the budding surgical oncologist, and what discoveries may lie on the horizon. We also welcome back Dr. Ryan Fields, MD, FACS who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis and was recently appointed co-leader of the Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program (STTP) at Siteman Cancer Center.  Dr. Fields talks about the outcomes of several recent trials and how they are helping us to treat gastric cancer patients in the clinic today. As always, all references from the podcast are linked below, enjoy!

On this episode of SO Files, Brad and Linda cover the updated staging guidelines for breast cancer that have been in practice (theoretically) since Jan 1, 2018. The possibilities for stage groups now cover a full six pages in the AJCC manual and you can hear Brad and Linda read through each one right here.... just kidding. We will however cover the major changes, the reasoning behind them, and talk about how they are fitting into practice with podcast favorite Dr. Cyr.

Show Breakdown:

0-14 minutes: Background information with Brad, Linda and Alston

14 minutes- end: Brad and Linda interview Dr. Cyr

Today we will be discussing the modern management of colorectal liver metastases. For today’s episode, we are excited to be welcoming on Dr. Yuman Fong, Sangiacomo Family Chair in Surgical Oncology and Surgical chair at City of Hope Cancer Center in California. Dr. Fong previously held the Murray F. Brennan Chair of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer center, and is an international expert in both liver and pancreatic surgery.

We were so lucky to catch up with Dr. Julie Ann Sosa, who is the new Chair of Surgery at UCSF starting April 1st, 2018, and also world renowned endocrine surgeon on the newly updated staging guidelines for differentiated thyroid cancer and some common controversies in management in the US. We also chat about mentorship and her advice to learners at all stages! Check it out!

This week we discuss Barrett's esophagus, and management of associated dysplastic and neoplastic lesions. We are excited to welcome on esteemed guest Dr. John Hunter, former chair of surgery at and now the CEO of OHSU Health Systems and also the Kenneth A.J. Mackenzie Professor of Surgery, who will help guide us through the conversation about treatment options for both Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal cancer.

On this episode of the SO files, we interview Dr. Andrea Wang-Gillam MD/PhD, associate professor in the division of oncology at Wash U School of medicine and clinical director of the GI oncology, about systemic options for treating pancreatic adenocarcinoma. As much as we all love a good Whipple, this really is a systemic disease, and unlike other cancers 100% of patients regardless of stage will need some form of systemic treatment. Good thing we have great options to choose from! ...Right?

On this episode of the SO Files, Brad and Linda discuss minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgical oncology, focusing specifically on MIS pancreatic and liver surgery. The SO Files welcome special guest, Dr. Chet Hammill, Associate Professor of Surgery in the Hepatobiliary and GI Surgical Section at Wash U, Barnes Jewish Hospital.