Pioneering Advancements in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma Care at RUSH with Paul Kent, MD

Five years ago, RUSH University Medical Center was treating very few patients with fibrolamellar carcinoma. Today, RUSH treats the largest number of patients in the country with this rare type of liver cancer, which typically affects adolescents and young adults. During that span, RUSH has developed innovative, cutting edge treatments and is considered a national leader in the treatment of this disease.

Paul Kent, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and the medical director of the fibrolamellar carcinoma program at RUSH, profiles the forward thinking treatments RUSH developed. Patients who were previously unable to have their liver tumors surgically removed became surgical candidates at RUSH. And some patients who were once on hospice care were given second chances through the groundbreaking work of Dr. Kent and his colleagues.

“When you have a very rare, terrible disease that we know most people can’t survive without some dramatic [intervention], then that’s your opportunity to try something new. As long as what you’re trying has scientific rationale, is logical and, equally important, that you follow very closely for any side effects, then you publish those results, good or bad, so the world can learn from it.”

CME credit link: https://cmetracker.net/RUSH/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/EventID/483689