Thoracic Oncology Program
The Thoracic Oncology Program is a multidisciplinary clinical and scientific group designed to offer a full spectrum of the latest, most advanced treatments for patients with cancer of the lung, pleura and medistinum.
The Program provides comprehensive and compassionate care to patients through a dedicated team of thoracic surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, nurses, social workers, and a nutritionist, who work together to treat patients with cancers originating in the chest and lung (small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer), mesotheliomas, thyomas and upper esophageal cancers.
The Thoracic Oncology Program offers lung cancer screening and surveillance for those who are at high risk for developing the disease due primarily to past or current smoking habits and/or a history of chronic lung disease. Members of the Thoracic Oncology Program particpated in the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial which showed that screening for lung cancer is best done with a CT scan of the chest rather than with a chest x-ray. Radiologists of the Thoracic Oncology Program were readers in this nationwide study and are available to read a patient's low dose screening chest CT if completed at one of the program's radiology offices.
Patients of the Thoracic Oncology Program are evaluated for clinical needs and for surgical, radiation therapy and chemotherapy options as well as opportunities for participation in clinical trials. Multimodality treatments are planned together, and approaches for optimal local control and symptom treatments are designed.
As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, patients treated at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey have access to the latest clinical trials and treatment options, some of which are only available at NCI-designated Cancer Center.The team is actively involved in developing innovative approaches and participates in national and international clinical trials and works to bring new agents into clinical trials in thoracic cancer.
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey offers an on-site, nationally-recognized tobacco treatment program through the Tobacco Dependence Program. The Program's experts meet with individuals to discuss tools available to help them quit and work together to develop an individualized plan to stop smoking.
Members of the Thoracic Oncology team are experts in the treatment of advanced disease, regionalized disease and the prevention and screening of lung cancer.
Clinical Trials:
Useful Link from the Resource and Learning Center:
Staff of this Program:
John Langenfeld, MD, Co-Director Thoracic Oncology Program and Thoracic Surgeon
Joseph Aisner, MD, Co-Director Thoracic Oncology Program and Medical Oncologist
Judith Amorosa, MD, Radiologist
Alan Cohler, MD, Radiation Oncologist
Malik Deen, MD, Pathologist
Sabiha Hussain, MD, Pulmonologist
Salma Jabbour, MD, Radiation Oncologist
Sharon Pine, PhD, Research Scientist
Biren Saraiya, MD, Medical Oncologist
Michael Steinberg, MD, Director, Tobacco Dependence Program
Sujani Surakanti, MD, Medical Oncologist
Hua Zhong, MD, Pathologist
Hemanshu Patel, MSN, RN, APN-C, Advanced Practice Nurse
Jamie Chan, RN, Staff Nurse
Donna Richardson, LCSW, LCADC, CTTS, Clinical Coordinator, Tobacco Dependence Program
Rosemarie Slirzewski, MSW, LCSW, Social Worker
