Gastrointestinal Cancer Program
Accelerating Access to Gastrointestinal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
About Our Program
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix is committed to offering state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Our multidisciplinary team of board-certified medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and gastroenterologists work together with our supportive care providers and each patient to deliver quality clinical care with a patient-centered approach.
Meet Our Experts
Our program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of experts specializing in gastrointestinal cancer, including surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, supportive care team members and more. Several of our physicians hold faculty positions within City of Hope and externally have obtained unique certifications.
Gagandeep Singh, M.D.
Chief of Surgical Oncology and Medical Director of Surgical Services
Liver and Pancreatic Surgeon
Surgical Oncologist
Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery
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 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.
David T. Luyimbazi, M.D.
Medical Director of Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program
Surgical Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery
An experienced surgical oncologist and attending surgeon at City of Hope Phoenix, David Luyimbazi, M.D., specializes in treating patients with cancers affecting the liver, pancreas and biliary system, soft tissue and skin malignancies and tumors that have spread to the abdominal cavity from other parts of the body. He has expertise in both conventional surgical techniques as well as minimally invasive options and innovative therapies such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Arjun Gupta, M.D., F.A.S.C.O.
Medical Oncologist
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Oncology
Medical oncologist Arjun Gupta, M.D., F.A.S.C.O., works closely with patients at City of Hope Phoenix who have been diagnosed with a wide range of gastrointestinal cancers, helping them find innovative treatment options for their disease and strategies to manage the side effects and symptoms of both cancer and its treatment. Dr. Gupta was drawn to City of Hope by its focus on offering breakthrough, patient-centered cancer care and its emphasis on supporting patients and caregivers together. His role involves working with each patient’s multidisciplinary care team to create a personalized treatment plan that takes into account his or her unique diagnosis and goals for treatment.
Sagun Shrestha, M.D.
Chief of Medical Oncology
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Sagun Shrestha, M.D., is the Chief of Medical Oncology at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix, where she oversees clinical care for patients undergoing treatment for a wide range of cancer types. She focuses particularly on treating lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma and brain tumors. Drawn to her role at City of Hope by the organization’s focus on treating the whole person, mind, body and soul, Dr. Shrestha works alongside other physicians, supportive care providers and care managers to establish a personalized care plan for each patient, with the goal of helping patients and their loved ones make informed decisions about their care.
Tania Cortas, M.D.
Medical Oncologist and Hematologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Tania Cortas, M.D., C.P.E., joined City of Hope® in 2023. As a medical oncologist and hematologist, Dr. Cortas focuses her practice on the treatment and management of all types and stages of cancer, with expertise in a variety of malignancies, including breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and both malignant and benign hematologic conditions. She is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
Firas Shadad, M.D.
Medical Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Firas Shadad, M.D., is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in treating genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers at City of Hope Phoenix. Dr. Shadad takes a compassionate approach to care that involves collaborating with patients, their loved ones and other physicians to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to each patient’s needs, preferences and treatment goals. He has experience with cancer types ranging from bladder, prostate and kidney cancer to colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
Khaled Abouelezz, M.D., M.Ed.
Medical Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
As a medical oncologist at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix, Khaled Abouelezz, MD., M.Ed., provides innovative clinical care for patients with a range of gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, pancreatic, biliary, colon and anal cancer. He also brings his expertise and compassion to his role as a palliative care and hospice medicine specialist.
Iyad Hamarneh, M.D.
Hematologist and Medical Oncologist
Iyad Hamarneh, M.D., is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Cancer Center Prescott, where he treats patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma and many other cancer types. Dedicated to a compassionate, comprehensive approach to care, Dr. Hamarneh combines conventional and advanced cancer treatment options, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, to ensure that each patient’s treatment plan is uniquely tailored to his or her diagnosis and individual needs. He is fluent in in English and Arabic.
Allan V. Espinosa-Morazán, M.D.
Hematologist Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Hematologic Malignancies
Allan V. Espinosa-Morazán, M.D., is a board-certified, bilingual hematologist-oncologist who provides compassionate, comprehensive care to patients receiving treatment for a wide range of cancer types at City of Hope® Cancer Center Prescott in Arizona. Dr. Espinosa-Morazán was inspired to pursue oncology after developing an interest in thyroid and neuroendocrine tumors. However, in his clinical work, he most often treats patients diagnosed with diseases such as lung cancer, colorectal cancer and leukemia.
Christopher Chen, M.D., M.B.A.
Medical Director of Community Practices
Medical Oncologist and Hematologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Christopher Chen, M.D., M.B.A., joined City of Hope Phoenix in July 2023 as a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Gilbert Outpatient Care Center, and is the Medical Director of Community Practices for City of Hope Phoenix. Dr. Chen has expertise in treating patients with all types and stages of cancers and blood disorders. Throughout his career, he has developed a particular interest in treating breast cancer, lung cancer, hematologic malignancies and benign hematology disorders. Dr. Chen primarily sees patients at his Gilbert office but has access to the multidisciplinary services at the hospital in Goodyear.
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.
Address
14200 West Celebrate Life Way
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Institutional Distinctions
Delivering tomorrow's advances in cancer care to those who need them today, City of Hope has the following institutional distinctions.
Through our coast-to-coast clinical network, experts at City of Hope Phoenix and across the City of Hope system collaborate to deliver groundbreaking research and discuss lifesaving care, like never before.
Through offerings like our Neuroendocrine Tumor Clinical Program for patients with NETs and hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver — City of Hope offers a therapy offered by fewer than 1% of hospitals across the nation.
Our leadership in research and innovation continually enhances our ability to provide novel and differentiated approaches to cancer care.
GI Genius™
The gastroenterologists with the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at City of Hope Phoenix are armed with GI Genius™, an advanced diagnostic tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help doctors more clearly and quickly identify colon polyps, adenomas and cancerous or precancerous lesions. In assisting the physician conducting the examination, GI Genius highlights areas of the colon that may look suspicious, including spots doctors may have missed, prompting them to take a closer look. A clinical trial that compared colonoscopy results with and without the device found that using GI Genius “significantly increases” the detection rate of adenomas during a colonoscopy. GI Genius was the first AI device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use during a colonoscopy, and our hospital was the first in the western United States to use it. Gastrointestinal patients are transferred directly to the gastrointestinal unit at our cancer center in Goodyear, Arizona, where our doctors use GI Genius to help detect colorectal cancer.
Our Services and Offerings
City of Hope’s clinical experts are dedicated to delivering advanced, patient-centered cancer care — combining leading-edge technologies with compassionate support to help individuals navigate their journey back to health.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Program offers a dedicated multidisciplinary team that blends innovative research discoveries with superior clinical treatments. Since gastrointestinal diseases may frequently be treated by multiple modalities, there is deliberate collaboration between physicians and advanced practice providers to optimize clinical outcomes. The result is improved outcomes for patients with various gastrointestinal malignancies and other internal disorders. Additionally, our program is:
- Accredited by FACT — the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy — a distinction given only to facilities that meet the highest standards in clinical care for adult allogeneic and autologous stem cell therapy, immune effector cell therapy, cell therapy product collection and cell therapy product processing
- Certified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program, which is awarded to hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to quality along nationally approved standards
- Accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), including recognition for biorepository services for tissue collection, preparation, sampling and processing at our laboratory (fewer than 100 CAP-accredited biorepository programs in the United States hold this distinction)
Latest Gastrointestinal Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient locations are structured to maximize speed to care, with: