UPMC Cancer Center
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Dr. David L. Bartlett, M.D.Surgical Oncologist -
Dr. James F. Pingpank, M.D.Surgical Oncologist -
Dr. Matthew Schuchert, M.D.Thoracic Surgical Specialist -
Dr. Neil Christie, M.D.Thoracic Surgical Specialist -
Dr. James Luketich, M.D.Esophageal and lung cancer -
Dr. Rodney Landreneau, M.D.Thoracic Surgical Specialist
About The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center of UPMC Cancer Centers
The UPMC Cancer Centers network has been recognized as a national leader for several years, earning a reputation for excellence through a vast range of services and a quality of care that is unmatched in Western Pennsylvania.
Cancer patients of all kinds are in good hands when they come here, reaping the collective expertise that comes from 600 health care professionals and research scientists, 180 affiliated oncologists and 37 satellite centers, making up one of the largest and most extensive cancer-care networks in the country.
With the Hillman Cancer Center as the flagship facility and the home of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, patients are assured of getting the most current and effective advances in prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. And with so many medical and academic resources available, the latest and greatest developments never are far away.
The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center was added in 2011, joining the growing list of common and rare cancers covered under the UPMC umbrella. This and other specialized programs at UPMC give each patient a comprehensive, yet individualized care package with a multi-disciplinary approach.
The work has earned the elite Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute for UPMC. The model has been so effective that the UPMC Cancer Centers also have expanded internationally, going into Dublin and Waterford, Ireland.
About the Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center at UPMC Cancer Centers
The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center employs a multimodality treatment program, incorporating combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These therapies also include a form of heated chemotherapy often is used in conjunction with a pleurectomy (removal of the chest lining).
Among the team's experts are surgical oncologists who specialize in treating different types of mesothelioma. David L. Bartlett, M.D., and James F. Pingpank, M.D., are the peritoneal specialists who treat the cancer with surgery and chemotherapy.
The surgeons treating pleural mesothelioma within the specialty center include Neil Christie, M.D., who specializes in minimally-invasive thoracic surgery; and Matthew Schuchert, M.D., who specializes in radiofrequency ablation, CyberKnife and all facets of thoracic surgical oncology.
In treating pleural mesothelioma, Christie and Landreneau are joined by Rodney Landreneau, M.D., director of UPMC's Comprehensive Lung Cancer Centers; and James Luketich, M.D., chairman of the Cardiothoracic Surgery department.
For help finding mesothelioma specialists throughout the state of Pennsylvania or other areas of the country, try our Doctor Match Program. This free service offered by the Mesothelioma Center pairs patients with specialists all over the country.
About the Lung Cancer Program at UPMC Cancer Centers
The Lung Cancer Program, which has received unusual acclaim, is comprised of internationally renowned thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists and pathologists.
The success of the Lung Cancer Program is due to the hard work and experience of its doctors and researchers like Schuchert, assistant professor of surgery for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and an authority in thoracic surgical oncology and research. This team utilizes an interdisciplinary and coordinated approach, whether treating mesothelioma or non-small and small cell lung cancers.
State of the Art Research & Cancer Care at UPMC Cancer Centers
Within the UPMC Cancer Centers community, research is a constant, and clinical trials are an essential part of improved diagnosis and treatment. The centers have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant, which focuses on head and neck, lung, and skin cancers. These facilities focus on four target research areas of molecular and medical oncology, including:
- The biological basis of cancer development and progression
- Identification of new biomarkers for improved cancer detection and diagnosis
- Development of novel therapeutics for successful and comprehensive cancer treatment
- Establishment and implementation of effective cancer prevention measures
In 2006, the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank was added under the Cancer Centers umbrella, making it easier for researchers everywhere to aid in the fight against the cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Data and specimens from more than 1,200 cases at four different medical centers are available for review, hoping to spark new ideas from many different angles. The plans for expanding the Bank already have begun.
Want to Know More about UPMC Cancer Centers?
Founded in 1985, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute was the youngest cancer center ever to receive the NCI's elite award, proving its excellence in patient care, education, basic science, clinical research and cancer prevention.
Today, UPMC offers one of the largest integrated community networks of cancer physicians and health care specialists in the nation. The facilities’ recruiting success has resulted in increased government funding. In 2010, the UPCI received nearly $170 million. Ranked among the country's top-tier cancer institutes, the UPMC is continually recognized by U.S. News & World Report as having one of the nation’s best cancer programs.
