Dr. Daniel M. Labow is an award-winning surgical oncologist. He uses minimally invasive methods to improve the quality of life and extend the life expectancies of his patients. He is considered one of the world's leading experts on HIPEC, a revolutionary treatment for those living with peritoneal mesothelioma and other types of abdominal cancers.
Who Is Dr. Daniel Labow?
Dr. Daniel Labow is currently the Director of Thoracic Surgery at Nuvance Health Praxair Cancer Center in Danbury, Connecticut. Prior to joining the medical team at Nuvance Health, he spent nearly 20 years working as the director of the HIPEC program at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC), sometimes referred to simply as heated chemotherapy, is a relatively new cancer treatment, as it’s only been around since the early 2000s.
Dr. Labow championed the use of this treatment at Mount Sinai and, over his long tenure, transformed its cancer center into one of the largest and busiest providers of HIPEC in the United States.
What Does Dr. Labow Treat?
In addition to treating a variety of gastrointestinal cancers, Dr. Daniel M. Labow is one of the nation’s leading experts in the field of mesothelioma treatment and specifically peritoneal mesothelioma.
When treating mesothelioma and other cancers, Dr. Labow often makes use of the HIPEC procedure, which works to treat cancer by heating specific body tissues. This method is meant to kill or damage cancer cells while causing as little damage as possible to healthy cells.
HIPEC has shown to be most effective when used in combination with other types of therapy, especially radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The procedure is usually used as a first-line treatment against cancers like mesothelioma and is meant to be minimally invasive.
Dr. Labow’s Medical Background
Dr. Daniel Labow started his medical education by earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
He followed this by earning his medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, then completing his general surgical residency at the University of Chicago Hospital. Here, he was awarded the title of Administrative Chief Resident.
Dr. Labow continued his training with an additional residency at the New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he was awarded the title of Chief Research Fellow.
He joined Mount Sinai Health System in 2004 and remained there several years before starting his new position with Nuvance Health Praxair Cancer Center in March 2023.
Experience
Dr. Labow has performed over 600 HIPEC procedures on patients with a variety of cancers.
Dr. Labow also trains and educates other surgeons in the field of cancer treatment.
He directs and works on multiple clinical trials for cancer research, attempting to improve current treatment methods and discover potential new treatments that could prolong the lives of cancer patients.
Medical Specializations
While Dr. Labow’s medical knowledge and research contributions are extensive, his main focus and passion has always been in the treatment of various types of cancer.
Dr. Labow’s medical specialties include the treatment of the following cancers
- Appendiceal cancer
- Bile duct cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Small bowel cancer
- Soft tissue sarcoma
- Stomach cancer
Dr. Labow also specializes in the following treatments and procedures
- Gastrectomy (removal of all or part of the stomach)
- HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion)
- Radiofrequency ablation (using radio waves to shrink cancerous tumors)
- Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)
- Surgery second opinions
Dr. Labow’s Treatment Approach
Dr. Labow believes that treatment and prevention are integral components of the healing process for cancer patients.
In this sense, he often approaches patient care by combining different treatments to produce the most desirable results.
Treatments utilized by Dr. Labow for mesothelioma include surgery for mesothelioma, chemotherapy, and the HIPEC procedure.
Working with your doctor to make sure you're getting the right treatment is imperative. Using our checklist to make sure you're asking the right questions can help make sure you're getting the best treatment.
Highlights of Dr. Labow’s Medical Career
Dr. Labow is an award-winning and highly accomplished surgical oncologist and cancer treatment specialist.
Awards and Accolades
Throughout his career as a general surgeon and gastrointestinal cancer expert, Dr. Labow has received both local and national recognition.
Some of his awards and accolades include:
- Awarded the title of Administrative Chief Resident in 2001 during his time at the University of Chicago Hospital
- Awarded the title of Chief Research Fellow in 1998 during his time at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Awarded the Robert Paradny Teaching Award in 2007
- Named one of New York Metro Area’s “Top Doctors” by Castle Connolly in 2011
- Named one of New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” in 2013
Work Highlights
Dr. Labow has furthered his contributions to the fields of cancer research and treatment through a number of roles and certifications.
These memberships and roles include:
- Member of the American College of Surgeons
- Member of the American Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association
- Member of the Society of Surgical Oncology Education Committee
- Chair member of the Gastrointestinal Disease Focus Group at Mount Sinai Hospital
- New York State chair member of the Commission on Cancer
- Program Director of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Surgical Oncology Fellowship
- Founder and Director of the HIPEC program at Mount Sinai Health System
- Executive Vice Chair and Vice Chair of Quality for the Department of Surgery and Mount Sinai Health System
Research and Published Works
Dr. Labow frequently participates in and contributes to a variety of research publications on topics such as general surgery and mesothelioma malignancies.
Some of his most recent contributions from the past few years include:
- Carr, J. et al. “African Immigrants in New York City with Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Demonstrate High Morbidity and Mortality.” Published in Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, April 2022.
- Macfie, R. C., et al. “Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy does not increase risk of major complication or failure to rescue in cytoreductive surgery.” Published in Journal of Surgical Oncology, September 2022.
- Pletcher, E., et al. “Postoperative Respiratory Failure Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is Associated with Volume of Intraoperative Crystalloid Administration and Worse Survival.” Published in Annals of Surgical Oncology, January 2023.
- Shaltiel, T., et al. “Laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is associated with improved perioperative outcomes: a single-center early experience propensity-matched analysis.” Published in Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques, August 2022.
Dr. Labow’s Work in Cancer Treatment & Research
Dr. Labow has dedicated much of his professional career to furthering cancer treatment advancements and research.
It is the hope of Dr. Labow and his colleagues in mesothelioma treatment to not only prolong the lives of current and new patients but to improve their quality of life after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Dr. Labow recognizes that while advancements have already been made in these areas, there is still much work to be done. For this reason, further education, research, and outreach will be essential in the coming years
What Has Dr. Labow Done for the Medical Profession?
Dr. Labow has helped bring attention and research focus on peritoneal mesothelioma, which often receives less attention than other types of mesothelioma, such as pleural mesothelioma, because it is rare and often more difficult to treat.
Some of the medical challenges that Dr. Labow has highlighted throughout his extensive career include diagnostic challenges, problems with inaccurate staging, and the need for improved and more suitable treatments and therapies.
Get in Touch With Dr. Labow
If you or one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, you may be a good candidate for the HIPEC procedure performed by Dr. Labow.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can also assist you in connecting with Dr. Labow and other top mesothelioma doctors throughout the United States.
We offer free support to veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their family members. Simply fill out our contact form or call us at (877) 450-8973 any time to discuss your legal and medical treatment options.
