James Pingpank, M.D.

Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Pingpank is a board-certified surgical oncologist and a professor of surgery. His areas of interest include treating patients with gastrointestinal cancers and peritoneal mesothelioma. He currently sees patients at the University of Pittsburgh and has been a medical reviewer for Mesothelioma.com.

Dr. Pingpank completed his undergraduate studies at Amherst College, receiving a dual Bachelor of Arts in biology and political science. He then earned his medical degree from George Washington University. Dr. Pingpank’s additional medical training includes:

• Research Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
• Residency, University of Connecticut
• Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Dr. Pingpank has been an active member of the medical community for over 30 years. During that time, he has contributed to mesothelioma research and treatment.

Dr. Pingpank focuses on targeted treatment strategies, including cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). He is also actively involved in clinical trials. At the University of Pittsburgh, he treats patients with peritoneal mesothelioma and other abdominal cancers.

Selected Publications

Dr. Pingpank has authored or co-authored over 100 studies. His work covers multiple cancer types. Below is a selection of some of his contributions to mesothelioma cancer research.

Postoperative Complications Independently Predict Cancer-Related Survival in Peritoneal Malignancies. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Dec;25(13):3950–9.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion in Adolescent and Young Adults with Peritoneal Metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Apr;24(4):875–83.

The prognostic significance of BAP1, NF2, and CDKN2A in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Mod Pathol. 2016 Jan;29(1):14–24.

Prognostic significance of morphological growth patterns and mitotic index of epithelioid malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Histopathology. 2016 Apr;68(5):729–37.

Institutional learning curve of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion for peritoneal malignancies. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 May;22(5):1673–9.