Despite the many advances in treatment for a variety of cancers, outcomes for people diagnosed with liver and biliary cancers remain heartbreakingly poor. This is especially true when the disease is detected in late stages.
TeamUHN is dedicated to finding new, more effective strategies to treat liver and biliary cancers. Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin is on the cutting-edge of these efforts. In recognition of Dr. Sapisochin’s leadership in this area, the LeGresley Family Foundation established the LeGresley Family Chair in Transplant Oncology.
Bringing together transplantation and cancer care
With the support of the LeGresley Family Chair in Transplant Oncology, transplant surgeon Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin is pursuing revolutionary new research to find better treatment options for patients with liver and biliary cancers through transplant oncology.
Transplant oncology leverages the tools of transplantation to treat – and cure – even the most challenging forms of cancer. As a global leader in cancer care and transplantation, UHN is leading the world in the intersection of these two specialties.
Dr. Sapisochin is a highly skilled surgeon and innovator with expertise in liver transplantation as well as liver and biliary cancers. He and his colleagues are investigating crucial avenues of research, including leading a North American-first clinical trial that demonstrated living donor liver transplant is an effective treatment for patients with metastatic liver cancer.
“From the moment I met Dr. Sapisochin, I had complete faith in what he does for every patient who needs a liver transplant,” says Anne LeGresley. “I recognize his global impact. He is sharing his findings with teams comprised of transplant surgeons and medical oncologists worldwide, and I am really happy to share in that.”
Anne received a liver transplant under Dr. Sapisochin’s care, which sparked the LeGresley family’s involvement in UHN’s liver transplant program. Tragically, Anne and David’s son Richard passed away after a battle with bile duct cancer, which inspired the focus of their gift. Through this Chair, the family is powering research that will give new hope to others with liver and biliary cancers.
Powering the future of transplant oncology
Thanks to the LeGresley family’s generosity, Dr. Sapisochin will have the protected time and resources to pursue game-changing research in transplant oncology. This will include developing ways to treat patients with innovative systemic treatments against their tumour to prevent cancer recurrence, using immunotherapy and targeted drugs to target treatments directly to cancer cells and finding new ways to detect cancer recurrence at its earliest stages. The additional resources afforded by this Chair have benefits for the entire team, and as Anne notes, it is teamwork that makes incredible research and care possible.
“Looking at the advancements that have been made, there is no question that UHN is a world class organization. Dr. Sapisochin is supported by a team of incredible people in the transplant program including transplant surgeons, hepatologists, nurse practitioners and so many more,” says Anne. Having worked as a nurse and health care consultant, Anne says, “In my work, I have had the opportunity to work with hospitals and health care systems throughout Canada. There is no doubt in my mind that UHN is in a class of its own, by providing compassionate care that is built on its commitment to teaching, as well as supporting leading edge research.”
Related content: Eight months pregnant when diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, woman cured by husband’s liver donation
Did you know?
40% of liver transplants at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre are performed to treat liver cancer.
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
