The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is a leader in colorectal cancer care and research. We deliver the latest treatments available today while exploring innovations to develop the therapies of tomorrow. Highlights include:

• A team-based approach, so you receive care from many experts working together.
• A broad range of treatments, from surgery to radiation therapy to hepatic arterial infusion.
• Innovations, including clinical trials to test new treatments.
• Nurses who coordinate appointments and, if needed, provide specialized ostomy care.
• A full slate of support services, including cancer dietitians and social workers.

Learn more

• Understanding colorectal cancer
• Colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment
• Meet our team

How we're different

Highly trained doctors: Our specialists have advanced training in areas such as colon and rectal surgery, cancer and gastroenterology. They can treat the most complex cancers. 

Comprehensive Care: We've earned the National Cancer Institute’s top designation for our leadership in finding new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat all types of cancer. Our commitment to research excellence gives you access to the latest treatments, including new medications, before they are widely available.

National recognition: We’re consistently ranked among the best cancer hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. We're also ranked among the best hospitals for gastroenterology and GI surgery, with high scores in areas such as:

• Advanced technology
• Patient services
• Nursing staffing
• Colon cancer surgery

Team approach

We are the only program in Oregon in which colorectal cancer specialists meet face to face each week in a meeting called a tumor board. They combine their knowledge to develop the best treatment recommendations for each patient. Experts may include:

• Gastroenterologists who do first evaluations and remove polyps, growths that can become cancerous if untreated.
• Colorectal surgeons who remove tumors.
• Medical oncologists who treat cancer using medications.
• Radiation oncologists who treat cancer using radiation therapy.
• Radiologists who do imaging tests to see a cancer’s size and location.
• Pathologists who study samples under a microscope to diagnose cancer.
• Cancer dietitians who can support you with nutrition.
• Medical geneticists who help you assess and manage any risk of an inherited cancer syndrome.

Help navigating treatment: Nurse coordinators work with you to arrange an endoscopy for diagnosis, for example, or to prepare you for surgery. You can focus on your health.

Access to other specialists: Because we are a university medical center, you have access to any specialist you may need. If your treatment requires taking out a large section of tissue, for example, plastic surgeons can join the procedure to make repairs.

Ostomy support: If you need surgery, you may need a colostomy, a procedure that creates an opening (stoma) in your belly to eliminate stool. Sometimes the stoma is temporary while intestines heal. Our team includes nurses with special training to help you adjust, overcome fears and enjoy a high quality of life.

The latest technology and techniques

Expert surgical techniques: We offer you minimally invasive methods for less pain and faster healing. Our endoscopic methods need no external incision. Our laparoscopic techniques use only small incisions. We can remove tumors in difficult-to-reach areas. We are also skilled at sparing nerves and tissue needed for sexual, bladder and bowel function.

Precise treatment: The Knight Cancer Institute is a pioneer in image-guided radiation therapy to target cancer while sparing healthy tissue. We are also the only program in Oregon with a system to deliver one-dose radiation therapy during surgery.

Superior imaging: We offer advanced imaging and expertise to pinpoint the cancer and plan your treatment. Our doctors do hundreds of these procedures a year:

• Endoscopic ultrasound: This uses sound waves to produce high-definition images. This type of imaging shows multiple layers so we can see the cancer’s depth.
• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging offers a level of detail not possible with other imaging tests. This helps us plan surgery.

HIPEC surgery: If your cancer has spread, you may benefit from this innovative combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Learn more about HIPEC surgery.

Clinical trials and research

Our doctors and scientists are pushing boundaries through research and clinical trials. This work is improving the way we detect and treat colorectal cancer.

Dedicated research team: Our Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Research Team brings providers and scientists together. They’re striving to turn discoveries in the lab into improvements in patient care as quickly as possible.

Early detection: At the Knight Cancer Institute, early detection is a key research interest. We have built a team of experts who are exploring new ways to find cancer when it’s most curable. Learn about the Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center.

State-of-the-art facilities: The Knight Cancer Research Building is specifically designed to help scientists work together to find new ways to detect and treat cancer.

Clinical trials: We are a trusted leader in clinical trials, giving you early access to promising treatments. We offer hundreds of trials, including options for people with colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer registry: We maintain a registry with tissue samples and treatment information from people across the country with colon cancer. Our specialists review this data for clues to make treatments more effective. We are also learning more about colon cancer risks that run in families. Learn more about our cancer registries.