Research

The Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery has a strong commitment to medical and scientific research with ongoing collaborative projects that focus on state-of-the art research related to colorectal surgery.

Active research studies include:

• Treatment of fistula in ano using a porcine intestine submucosa graft (Surgisis® AFP) Cook plug.
• Study of medications for the treatment of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing laparotomy for large bowel resection.
• Several molecular studies to help determine patients at high risk for cancer recurrence.
• Ex-vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer.
• Ex-vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in patients undergoing proctectomy for rectal cancer.
• A Phase II study of surgical debulking and biweekly intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei or peritoneal carcinomatosis.
• Timing of rectal cancer response to chemoradiation.
• Crohn’s tissue bank and database.
• Hereditary colon and rectal database.
  

The section also engages in collaborative projects on the genetics of colorectal cancer and its therapies and the CREATE (Comprehensive Research on Expressed Alleles in Therapeutic Evaluation) Pharmacogenetics Research Network at Washington University School of Medicine. More information can be obtained at: http://dsgweb.wustl.edu/PROJECTS/MP15.html.

Learn more about:

• Department of Surgery research
• Volunteer for Health