Gastrointestinal Cancers Program Overview

Gastrointestinal cancers, or GI cancers, refer to all types of cancers that form along the 25-foot-long path from where food goes into your body, through the esophagus, to where it comes out, the anus. Cancers of the colon and rectum account for the majority of GI cancers. However, there are many types of GI cancers. Together, they make up more than one-quarter of all the cancers reported worldwide.

For most GI cancers, especially colorectal cancer, incidence and death rates have been trending downward year over year. This is due to more widespread awareness about the importance of screening colonoscopies. With that, incidences of colorectal cancer among young adults, those age 45 and younger, are trending upward. Cancer researchers have not yet determined the cause of this increase. But some experts believe an increase in processed foods and higher rates of obesity may play a role. Today, the American Cancer Society recommends adults begin regular screening colonoscopies, starting at age 45; prevention is key.

Experts Working Together to Beat GI Cancers

At Mount Sinai, our cancer experts apply a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of GI cancers. That means patients at Mount Sinai benefit from a team approach to their cancer care. This multidisciplinary team includes gastroenterologists, surgical oncologists, colorectal surgeons, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, diagnostic and interventional radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, as well as an expansive team of physician specialists, nurses, technologists, and other compassionate caregivers.

At Mount Sinai, our entire team of GI cancer experts meets at least once a week to review patients’ cases in what is known as a “tumor board.” During these meetings, each doctor shares her or his expertise and insights to develop treatment approaches custom-tailored to the circumstances of each patient.

Esteemed Leadership

Recognizing the impact of GI cancers on our community, Mount Sinai is committed to continuing to invest significant resources to develop one of the most robust gastrointestinal cancer programs in the southeastern U.S. In fact, the leader of Mount Sinai’s cancer center is a GI cancer expert himself.

Steven Hochwald, MD, MBA, FACS, joined Mount Sinai Medical Center in 2022 as the inaugural director of the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Hochwald also serves as chief of surgical oncology and holds titles at Columbia University in New York, as part of Mount Sinai’s ongoing affiliation with the Ivy League institution. With this affiliation, GI cancer patients at Mount Sinai also have access to breakthrough treatments available through GI cancer clinical trials. Patients enrolled in these trials may access new, innovative treatments that offer benefits over the standard of care.

Under Dr. Hochwald’s guidance, Mount Sinai Medical Center will continue to make its mark in the oncologic landscape, expanding lifesaving research, increasing extensive genetic analyses of cancer, and improving diagnoses and treatments, particularly in the realm of GI cancers.