- Specialty Pleural Mesothelioma
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Moffitt Cancer Center, Magnolia Campus
Address:12902 USF Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
Telephone: (888) 663-3488 - Procedure Surgery
Dr. Lary Robinson
Thoracic Surgeon
Dr. Lary A. Robinson is a thoracic surgeon at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida. He has worked with mesothelioma patients for two decades and is known for his surgical techniques to treat pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Robinson has helped implement several clinical trials in search of an effective treatment for mesothelioma. Learn more about Dr. Robinson and get our help connecting with him today.
or call (866) 608-8933
Overview
About Dr. Robinson
Dr. Robinson is the director of the Lung Cancer Early Detection Center at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. In addition to his ongoing surgical and clinical work, he is an accomplished cancer researcher with more than 150 published articles.
He speaks English and Spanish.
“At Moffitt [Cancer Center], I am a thoracic surgeon, which means I do surgery on the various cancers of the chest, which is, of course, mostly lung cancer but also includes things like thymoma, mesothelioma, and a variety of other kinds of less common cancers.
Dr. Robinson’s Career Highlights
- Contributor to more than 160 articles published in medical journals and books
- Director of the Lung Cancer Early Detection Center at Moffitt Cancer Center
- More than two decades of experience treating various forms of cancer
- Principal investigator in multiple clinical cancer research studies
Dr. Robinson’s Background
Dr. Lary Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine. From there, he joined the surgical team at Duke University Medical Center, completing both an internship and a residency.
Dr. Robinson went abroad to the St. Thomas Hospital in London, England, where he completed a cardiac research and clinical cardiac surgery residency. He was later named the clinical director of the Clinical Perfusion Science Education Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
During the Vietnam War, he served in the United States Armed Forces as a flight surgeon in Thailand.
Dr. Robinson is a strong contributor to the early research and understanding of mesothelioma, having written several articles about the disease before it was well-known within the medical community. The focus of this research and education is primarily on the most aggressive surgical technique, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).
Since then, Dr. Robinson has continued to make notable contributions to mesothelioma treatment and research. He has helped administer several clinical trials, including as principal investigator and the lead researcher on a trial.
Because of his vast surgical experience, Dr. Robinson shares his expertise at several top-notch medical schools throughout the country.
Medical Specializations
Dr. Robinson is a board-certified surgical oncologist who specializes in difficult lung cancers and other chest diseases, including pleural mesothelioma.
Dr. Robinson’s additional specialties include:
- Lung neoplasms
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Nutrition
- Protective lung ventilation
- Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)
He has researched new techniques for a variety of surgical procedures, studied the hypothesis that some lung cancers are caused by microbes, and looked into hundreds of additional thoracic and oncology topics.
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Dr. Robinson’s Career Accomplishments
Dr. Robinson has been at the forefront of surgical treatment options for mesothelioma since their early creation and has continued to adapt to and create new mesothelioma therapies in the years since.
He is highly experienced with applying aggressive surgical techniques — such as the EPP — as well as palliative care options.
Dr. Robinson has won numerous awards for his contributions to the medical community and is recognized as a respected and experienced surgeon. He has more than 160 published works, lectured in classrooms and symposiums around the world, and helped educate the next generation of thoracic surgeons.
Awards & Honors
- Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service
- America’s Top Doctors
- America’s Top Doctors for Cancer
- Distinguished Service Award, Clinical Perfusion Science Faculty
- Fellow of the American Chemical Society
- Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians
- Physician of the Year Award
- Top Doctors: Florida
Dr. Robinson’s Current Work
Dr. Robinson applies an aggressive approach to pleural mesothelioma, most commonly starting with an EPP, which permanently removes the infected lung and some of the surrounding tissues. Next, he often prescribes radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
He also studies new and improved mesothelioma treatments, including the use of transarterial chemoperfusion. This local chemo treatment is applied directly to a patient’s arteries and may be a viable and less invasive alternative to heated chemotherapy.
Clinical Trials by Dr. Robinson
Dr. Robinson’s team at Moffitt Cancer Center is actively researching transarterial chemoperfusion as a treatment option for mesothelioma patients. One of their clinical trials, “A Phase 2 Study of Transarterial Chemoperfusion Treatment,” is reviewing patient outcomes for this approach.
Transarterial chemoperfusion is a procedure in which chemotherapy drugs are injected into the arterial system and target the specific vessels that are supplying the mesothelioma tumor. It is a less invasive surgery than HIPEC and is considered a palliative option for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Traditionally, these patients are treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Moffitt Cancer Center’s research into transarterial chemoperfusion treatment presents a potential option for people who are not candidates for surgery because their health is too poor, the mesothelioma is not removable, or the patient simply doesn’t want an aggressive surgical procedure.
In addition, transarterial chemoperfusion is less invasive than HIPEC, the alternative local chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma patients.
Dr. Robinson’s most recent clinical trial is investigating the use of biomarkers in the blood to determine if a lung nodule is cancerous or benign (not cancerous). The study is also looking at using biomarkers in tumor tissue to identify lung cancer patients who have a high risk of their cancer returning after surgery.
Dr. Robinson’s Healing Philosophy
As a member of Moffitt Cancer Center’s mesothelioma team, Dr. Robinson treats his patients through a comprehensive approach. He works as part of a multidisciplinary team to diagnose each patient and develop a treatment plan that is most likely to have the best possible outcome.
Dr. Robinson recognizes that every instance of cancer is unique. He shares Moffitt’s dedication to exploring new treatment options and researching potential cures for mesothelioma and other types of cancer.
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Lary Robinson. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Lary Robinson directly.
Written by:Jenna Tozzi, RNJenna Tozzi, RN, is the Chief Patient Care Advisor for Mesothelioma Hope. With more than 15 years of experience as an adult and pediatric oncology nurse navigator, Jenna provides exceptional guidance and support to cancer patients and their loved ones. Jenna has been featured in Oncology Nursing News and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators & the American Nurses Association.
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