Pancreatic Cancer

LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program

When your cancer team is part of a major medical research center like the Medical College of Wisconsin, you get more than compassionate care. Our pancreatic cancer team includes a diverse group of physicians with an international reputation for research and clinical care. Their work has increased the understanding of cancer and led to the development of new therapies.

This continuous dedication to research is what sets us apart. It opens up opportunities for patients to participate in clinical trials that often lead to new cancer drugs and other innovative therapies. Opportunities like these provide hope and a plan: Hope for the best possible outcome; and a plan that integrates new cutting-edge clinical trials into a framework of medical excellence.

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A gift that continues our tradition of leading the way

The Medical College of Wisconsin LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, endowed through a generous gift from Mary Ann and Charles LaBahn, is comprised of a multidisciplinary and interdepartmental team of physicians, scientists and dedicated staff who share the LaBahns' passion and sense of urgency for making major progress in the battle against pancreatic cancer. Dr. Susan Tsai serves as the inaugural Director of the LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program.

Meet the Director

Susan Tsai, MD, MHS

Susan Tsai, MD, MHS, is Associate Professor of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin with a clinical practice focused in surgical oncology. Her medical school education and residency training was at the University of Michigan. During residency she completed a clinical research fellowship with the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute. Following residency, she completed a Surgical Oncology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. During that time, she also received a Masters in Clinical Investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is the Chief of Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Hospital, the Hepatopancreaticobiliary Clinical Program Leader at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center and the Director of the Surgical Oncology Tissue Bank. She is internationally known as an expert in the research and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Tsai has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and her research is focused on blood-based biomarkers in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a challenging disease and that is why we emphasize hope and a plan. Having the right team of doctors can make all the difference in developing the plan that is best for you. At MCW, our team of doctors and professionals have international recognition for their work in finding new ways to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. When you come to us, our team becomes your team. This is why you should start your pancreatic cancer care with us, because no one will work harder to help you and your family.

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Our "surgery last" approach to pancreatic cancer treatment

For the last several decades, the standard care plan for operable pancreatic tumors has been surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Based on careful research to include a series of clinical trials, our pancreatic cancer care team strongly advocates a “surgery last” approach. What this means for most patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic tumors is that they receive combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to undergoing surgery to remove their tumor. Not only does this approach provide a better chance of controlling the cancer (to include a cure), it sets the stage for a successful surgery.

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