The surgery branch conducts a fully integrated laboratory and clinical research program to develop and test combination therapy regimens for selected cancers. These surgical protocols utilize adjunctive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and specific and nonspecific immunotherapy. Presently, patients with melanoma, and carcinomas of the stomach, colon, pancreas, liver and breast are being treated. The laboratory investigations conducted by the professional staff focus on the development of trials and on the development of means of determining the efficacy of adjuvant therapies, particularly immunotherapy. The teaching program conducted for medical students emphasizes both clinical oncology and experimental tumor immunology.
Students work in the clinical wards and take part in surgery.
Bedside teaching rounds are held daily and grand rounds are held weekly. A portion of the grand rounds is devoted to presentations by distinguished scientists who are guests of the surgery branch. Twice weekly, research activities in progress are presented for critical review by the staff. Interdepartmental conferences are held on a regular basis with the other units of the National Cancer Institute participating in the combined modality treatment trials. Outpatient clinics are held twice weekly for screening of patients referred for admission and for follow-up observation and care of patients receiving adjuvant therapy.