Vivian Strong, surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, USA

Biography

Dr. Vivian E. Strong is Vice Chair in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where she also holds the Iris Cantor Endowed Chair. A Professor of Surgery and Associate Dean at Weill Cornell Medicine, she is a renowned expert in gastric cancer management.

After earning her MD with honors from Weill Cornell, Dr. Strong completed her residency at New York Hospital – Cornell and advanced laparoscopic training at Cornell and Columbia. Joining MSKCC in 2005, she pioneered the institution’s minimally invasive gastric surgery program, performing over 1,000 gastrectomies, including more than 500 laparoscopic and robotic procedures—the largest experience in the U.S.

Dr. Strong has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, 25 book chapters, and edited multiple textbooks. A member of the American Surgical Association and NCCN guidelines panel for gastric and esophageal cancer, she also serves on the editorial boards of leading journals, including Annals of Surgery

Summary of presentation

Gastric cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, with unique molecular and clinical complexities demainding multifaceted approaches. This talk will explore innovations and advances in gastric cacner management from a U.S. perspective, highlighting strides in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomies, the application of new surgical techniques including the integration of advanced fluorescense imaging for sentinel lymph node assessments. We will discuss ongoing clincial trials, including immunotherapy and CAR-T targeted therapies, emphasizing their transformative potential. Recent data from our high-dimensional flow cytometry analysis has redefined immune subtypes of gastric cancer, providing an enhanced molecuar undertanding of tumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, our research in single-cell sequencing is helping to unravel tumor evoluation and immunogenic mechanisms shedding light on lymph node immune surveillance and its disruption in refractory disease. By bridging advanced surgical techniques with state-of-the-art molecular and clinical research, we aim to redefine the paradigm of gastric cancer treatment and improve outcomes for gastric cancer patients.