Gastrointestinal Cancer Program
Comprehensive GI Cancer Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
At City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago, located in Lake County, Illinois, we provide specialized, collaborative care to diagnose and treat all stages of gastrointestinal cancers. As part of our commitment to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care, our program incorporates genomic sequencing and profiling of a patient’s tumor to determine whether targeted therapies or clinical trials would be beneficial. Additionally, we have the structure to move quickly, seeing patients for consultations and initiating treatment within a week or less from time of referral.
Meet Our Illinois Gastrointestinal Oncology Physicians
Our multidisciplinary team is comprised of experts in gastrointestinal cancers, including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional gastroenterologists, pathologists, radiologists, supportive care team members and more. Several of our physicians hold faculty positions at City of Hope Chicago and externally.
Pankaj Vashi, M.D., A.G.A.F., F.A.S.P.E.N.
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
Gastroenterologist
Dr. Vashi offers a number of minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal tumors and help reduce cancer-related symptoms. He combines diagnostic tests and state-of-the-art technologies with nonsurgical techniques.
Shen Li, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Li specializes in complex gastrointestinal cancers, soft tissue disease and hepato-pancreato-biliary conditions and is skilled in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He is fluent in both English and Mandrin.
Edward Kaplan, M.D.
Director, Gastrointestinal Malignancies
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Kaplan has more than three decades of experience providing care for all types of cancer and associated disorders. As a medical oncologist, he uses a multi-disciplinary approach to treating colorectal, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic and biliary duct cancers.
Karan Shah, M.D., M.B.A.
Co-Medical Director, Breast Program
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Shah treats cancer patients with the full spectrum of radiation therapy services and techniques, including conventional and stereotactic radiation therapy, as well as hypofractionated approaches. With over a decade practicing at City of Hope Chicago, he has held a variety of leadership roles.
About Our Program
Our program in Northern Illinois is part of the national City of Hope network, which is a pioneer in robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancers, and is experienced in synchronous multiorgan resections.
Types of gastrointestinal cancers we treat include:
We offer a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, including:
Expertise in Liver Metastases Management
Approximately 50% of colorectal cancer patients will develop liver metastases. At City of Hope Chicago, our multispecialty teams of surgical and medical oncologists collaborate to offer the following advanced options for secondary hepatic cancers.
Synchronous resection: Leveraging minimally invasive techniques and enhanced recovery protocols, our experienced surgical oncologists aim to accelerate functional recovery, reduce operative time, shorten hospital stays and minimize postoperative complications by offering synchronous resection of primary and hepatic metastatic tumors. This integrated strategy often also allows for earlier initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, helping to further optimize outcomes.
Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy: For colorectal cancer patients with distant metastases to the liver or with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, our surgeons can implant this technology just below the skin in the abdomen to deliver strong concentrations of chemotherapy directly to the tumors via the hepatic artery. Most frequently, our team combines HAI with systemic chemotherapy, which has been shown to significantly reduce tumor burden and improve overall survival after liver resection.
Barrett’s Esophagus Identification and Treatment
City of Hope Chicago was the first adopter in Lake County to offer AI using the WATS3D technology for Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition predominantly seen in patients with longstanding acid reflux disease. Our interventional gastroenterology team is experienced in Barrett’s esophagus detection, as well as therapeutic interventions should they be necessary, including cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation and endoscopic mucosal resection.
Expedited Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Due to a backlog of cancer screening appointments, many high-risk patients have been unable to schedule appointments until weeks or months out of time of referral. To help address, City of Hope Chicago offers colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening in as little as one week.
No order is required and after screening, our team will provide prompt communication regarding results to you and the patient.
Open Chicago-Area Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Trials
City of Hope Chicago is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment by leveraging innovative therapies and offering best-in-class clinical trials. As part of this commitment, we are currently enrolling for the following gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials at our location in Zion, Illinois.
Telehealth Self-Management Coaching Sessions to Improve Quality of Life in Pancreatic Cancer Survivors and Their Family Caregivers
- Description: This clinical trial evaluates the impact of telehealth self-management coaching sessions on quality of life in pancreatic cancer survivors and their family care givers (FCGs).
- Conditions: Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- Study sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06524973
- Note: At the time the study opened, the City of Hope Illinois location was the only one in the Midwest to offer this trial.
5 or 10 Year Colonoscopy for 1-2 Non-Advanced Adenomatous Polyps (FORTE)
- Description: This trial examines colorectal cancer incidence in participants with 1 to 2 non-advanced adenomas randomized to surveillance colonoscopy at 10 years compared to participants randomized to surveillance colonoscopy at 5 and 10 years.
- Conditions:
- Adenocarcinoma of the colon
- Adenocarcinoma of the rectum
- Study sponsor: NRG Oncology
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT05080673
Minimal Residual Disease Testing for the Early Detection of Cancer Recurrence in Resectable Stages 2-4 Colorectal Cancer Patients
- Description: This clinical trial compares minimal residual disease (MRD) testing with the Haystack blood test (assay) to the Signatera® assay for the early detection of the cancer returning (cancer recurrence) in patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer (CRC) that can be removed by surgery (resectable).
- Conditions:
- Resectable colorectal carcinoma
- Stages 2-4 colorectal cancer
- Study sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT07125729
- Note: At the time the study opened, the City of Hope Illinois location was the only one in the Midwest to offer this trial.
Refer a Patient to City of Hope
We strive to offer a well-coordinated experience for our referring providers. Upon receiving your referral, our team will immediately begin processing it, with minimal work on your end.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our Illinois cancer center is recognized by several organizations that evaluate the quality of hospital programs as:
Latest Gastrointestinal Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient cancer care locations are intentionally structured to maximize speed to care, with: