Gastrointestinal Cancer

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is a national leader in treating cancers of the digestive system, including the colon, pancreas, liver, stomach, biliary tree and rectum. We work in close collaboration with the MUSC Health Digestive Disease Center, rated highly for many years for the treatment of these diseases by U.S. News & World Report.

In 2021, Hollings earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), recognizing the center’s commitment to providing you the best possible care. We are one of a select group of cancer centers — and the first in South Carolina — to earn this distinction.

We’re Here For You

At Hollings, we know a cancer diagnosis can be a life changing event. We are here to support you through your journey. Call 843-792-9300 and make an appointment. Experience what sets us apart.

Treatment and Support

Our gastrointestinal cancer specialists understand the complexity of treating cancers of the digestive system and use a team approach to create a personalized treatment plan for you. Using state-of-the-art technology, our team offers you top-notch treatment in a local setting.

Treatment options offered at Hollings include:

TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® Treatment System

This highly-accurate radiation therapy allows the radiation oncologist to image and treat you in the same setting, minimizing toxicity.

CT Colography

A screening alternative to the traditional colonoscopy, the procedure uses a reconstructed CT scan to view the colon.

Endoscopic Ultrasound

This technology is used to stage gastrointestinal, lung and esophageal cancers. Hollings has one of the world’s most renowned endoscopic ultrasound facilities.

Narrow Band Imaging

One of the latest screening techniques uses special light waves to target abnormal areas for biopsy, increasing the accuracy of the biopsy.

Y-90 Microspheres

Hollings is one of only three South Carolina facilities that arterially infuse liver tumors with the radioactive element yttrium-90. We have more experience with this technique than any other program in the state. This offers an outpatient treatment alternative if you have few other available options.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

A minimally invasive technique for removing superficial tumors with the use of an endoscope.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Hollings surgical oncologists now use a laparoscope positioned lower in the pelvic area to avoid the colostomies of the past.

Pancreas Chemotherapy Protocol

This leading-edge treatment developed here at Hollings has a 36% success rate in making non-operable pancreatic tumors operable.

Refer a gastrointestinal cancer patient

To refer a gastrointestinal cancer patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Shanda Bowman at 843-985-0578.

Nurse Navigator Support

Our gastrointestinal cancer nurse navigator, Sara Sneed, BSN, RN, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Research

Our team of doctors and researchers are leading the way in gastrointestinal research to help save lives around the world. Areas of focus include examining racial disparities when it comes to diagnosis and survival, looking at reasons behind early onset colorectal cancer and looking at ways to reduce the burden of tobacco use in South Carolina.

Recent projects include:

• Exploring ways to make colorectal cancer more susceptible to immunotherapy.
• Developing miniature human colons with immune systems to better study diseases like colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Identifying a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

In addition, Hollings’ dedicated Colon Transdisciplinary Cancer Team and Pancreatic Transdisciplinary Cancer Team bring together expertise from different disciplines in basic and clinical research for monthly meetings to collaborate on ongoing gastrointestinal cancer research.

Latest Gastrointestinal Cancer News