Research into the application of laparoscopic-assisted resection in colorectal cancer patientss is one of the major areas of interest. Not only providing training opportunity of this advanced laparoscopic surgical technique, it has also spinned off into a number of clinical trials and basic research projects. Our Department consolidates its leading position in surgical endoscopy by continuing clinical studies of therapeutic endoscopy in patients with oesophageal cancer, ulcer bleeding, acute calculus cholangitis, malignant jaundice and variceal bleeding. Work at our hospital has established the role of combination treatment for ulcer bleeding, endoscopic ultrasound for the assessment of oesophageal varices and the use of mother and baby endoscopy for patients with very large common bile duct stones. Clinical studies on adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer are in progress.
Gastric cancer is another focus of research in our department.
We have established the relationship between Helicobacter pylori, the detoxifying enzyme Glutathione S - transferase and gastric cancer. Currently we are looking at the pathogenesis of gastric cancer in relationship to Helicobacter pylori. The Plastic Surgical Unit is active in burns epidemiology studies. These use both tissue-engineered dermal regeneration templates as well as various epidermal cell delivery systems. Skin cancer research is focusing on the search for an explanation for the dramatic differences in incidence of basal cell carcinoma in Caucasian and Oriental populations.