The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers

07/22/2025

In less than 100 Days, Team Ruesch will take to the roads in BellRinger 2025! We are on a mission to end cancer, and we need your help. By joining Team Ruesch and registering to ride 25, 50, 62, or 100 miles, you will directly impact lifesaving cancer research in DC at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Join us this October 24 and 25 for a one-of-a-kind weekend of food, drinks, music, cycling, and most importantly, a community united to end cancer. To join, volunteer, or support our team, visit https://ride.bellringer.org/team/teamruesch34 to register and use code LOMBARDI25 to waive your registration fee.

07/22/2025

New Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center research shows that a safe and effective targeted therapy can slow tumor growth in patients with some types of pancreatic and lung cancers. Discover how genetic testing can help identify these rare treatment targets from Dr. Benjamin Weinberg. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Health

NRG1 fusions are rare gene combinations, but new research shows that a drug that disrupts its role in signaling cancer growth can be an effective treatment for some types of pancreatic and lung cancers. This makes broad-based RNA sequencing to identify these targets even more important for patients with these cancers. Discover how we’re at the forefront of precision medicine from Dr. Benjamin Weinberg. Click the link in the comments below.

07/21/2025

In the latest episode of , Dr. John L. Marshall dives into why smarter cancer care isn’t just about innovation, it’s about access, equity, and value. From IO therapy for MSI+ re**al cancer to inexpensive diagnostic tests that guide treatment decisions, he explores how we can deliver better, more efficient care worldwide.

Because breakthroughs only matter if everyone can benefit.

Watch the episode here:

Dr Marshall explores how cancer innovations—from immune-based therapies to novel prognostics—are redefining what’s possible in oncology.

07/21/2025

Dr. John Marshall told NBC News: "It never used to happen in this age group, and now a very significant rise in 20-, 30- and 40-year-olds are getting colon cancer."

A review led by Dana-Farber researchers found early-onset gastrointestinal cancers are rising in U.S. adults.

07/21/2025

Thank you, Hope Connections For Cancer Support, for cohosting the 10th Annual GI Patient Summit. Learn more about their incredible support groups for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Caregivers, and Young Adults. https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/programs/support-groups/

07/18/2025

"“It never used to happen in this age group, and now a very significant rise in 20-, 30- and 40-year-olds are getting colon cancer,” said Dr. John Marshall, who was not involved in the research. In one of the most high-profile examples, actor Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 and died of the disease four years later at age 43.

Marshall said he suspects the rise in early-onset colore**al cancer could have something to do with changes in people’s gut microbiomes — the bacteria that live in our gastrointestinal tracts. Diet, antibiotic use, microplastics and exposure to environmental chemicals likely all influence a person’s gut bacteria, but scientists still don’t have a clear understanding of what a healthy microbiome looks like nor how it affects our health. That is a booming area of research"" NBC News Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Read the full article:

Some researchers suspect the trend has to do with obesity and diet. Others point to changes in the gut microbiome.

07/18/2025

This week, we highlighted research by Narayanan Sadagopan, Hongkun Wang, Chao Yin, Benjamin Adam Weinberg, Marcus Smith Noel , Reetu Mukherji, Xue Geng, John Lindsay Marshall, Aiwu Ruth He published in NPJ Precision Oncology. http://bit.ly/3GyERvj. Please have a look at the full GI research publication search: http://bit.ly/4lsH6zk.

07/14/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's 10th Annual GI Cancer Patient Summit with Hope Connections For Cancer Support.

Special thanks to our speakers John Marshall, MD; Mary McCusker; Stephanie Stern, LCSW-C; Hakima Amri, PhD; Claire Conley, PhD; Reetu Mukherji, MD; Beth S. Orrell, ANP-BC, ACHPN; Benjamin Weinberg, MD; Sarah Johnson; Liza Marshall, JD; and Marcus Noel, MD, and to the team of staff and volunteers who made it fantastic.

Photo Credit: Donna Parry.

07/12/2025

Today we celebratred the 10th Annual GI Cancer Patient Summit with Hope Connections For Cancer Support. Dr. Marshall, Stephanie Stern, Dr. Amri and Dr. Conley discussed thriving throughout the GI Cancer care continuum.

07/08/2025

"After 20 years of leadership, John Marshall, MD will be stepping down as the division chief of Medical Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospitall. Dr. Marshall will remain in practice with our GI oncology disease group and will continue to serve as the chief medical officer of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

During his tenure, our cancer services have expanded in support of our mission, including through the number of patients served, the advancement of cancer treatments, and through clinical research expansion. Dr. Marshall pioneered the integration of precision medicine into everyday oncology practice. In 2009 he founded the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancers, and in 2015 launched the Precision Oncology Alliance to harness molecular profiling for better patient outcomes. Beyond his many scientific achievements, Dr. Marshall’s leadership brought compassion and an unwavering focus on patient-centered care.

We are pleased to announce that Stephen Liu, MD, associate professor of Medicine and director of Thoracic Oncology at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be taking over as division chief of Medical Oncology on Aug. 15, 2025. Dr. Liu has been with MedStar Georgetown since 2013. Dr. Liu graduated cm laude from Johns Hopkins University before receiving his medical degree at the University of Maryland. He completed internal medicine training at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Southern California, after which he received further specialized training in genomic medicine at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). He has led early-phase drug development efforts in thoracic malignancies, authored papers in New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, and more, and earned numerous teaching awards for his mentoring. He currently leads the Thoracic Oncology section and the Phase I Developmental Therapeutics group in Lombardi.

We are excited to support Dr. Liu as he builds on Dr. Marshall’s legacy and leads our mission to deliver tomorrow’s treatments today.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Marshall for his extraordinary service and in welcoming Dr. Liu to his new leadership role." MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

06/24/2025

Join us to review exciting research from the Annual Meeting. Drs. Marshall, Weinberg, Noel, and Mukherji will highlight the most compelling abstracts in Colore**al, Pancreatic, Liver, and Upper GI cancers via Zoom this Friday, June 27th. Register today: bit.ly/4k63Swd.

06/14/2025

The 25th Annual Men’s Event is less than a week away and we are excited to announce that the Washington Commanders will be part of this year's program!

Georgetown Lombardi is honored to host former Washington player and NFL great Darrell Green, alongside Jim Rushton, Chief Partnerships Officer of the Washington Commanders, for a Commanders Chalk Talk.

Join us to hear from Darrell and Jim about what it means to represent DC and the optimism that has fueled the excitement for this upcoming season! Limited tickets are available at lombardimen.georgetown.edu/ – grab yours TODAY before we are sold out!