Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD

Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

Gastrointestinal Oncology
Pancreas, Gallbladder, and Bile Duct Tumors
Primary Liver Cancer

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About Me

What I Do at MSK

Attending Physician

Get To Know Me

I am a board-certified medical oncologist who treats patients with gastrointestinal cancers. My specialization is in primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), pancreas, gallbladder, and bile duct tumors. As part of a multidisciplinary group, my colleagues and I offer patients a team approach to treating these cancers.

My research focuses on improving the effectiveness of cancer therapy by incorporating small novel biological molecules that target cancer into the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers.

My Role at MSK

A gastrointestinal (GAS-troh-in-TES-tih-nul) medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. This includes anal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric (stomach), liver, and pancreatic cancers, as well as GI stromal tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.

My Specialties

Gastrointestinal Oncology
Pancreas, Gallbladder, and Bile Duct Tumors
Primary Liver Cancer

Education

MD, American University of Beirut

Residencies

Yale University School of Medicine

Awards and Honors

Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)

Fellowships

Yale University School of Medicine

Board Certifications

Internal Medicine
Medical Oncology

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

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Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

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Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

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Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

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Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

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Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

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Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

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Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

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Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

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Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

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Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

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Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

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Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

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Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

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MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

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Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

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NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

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Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

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Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

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World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

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United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

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New Patients

Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 646-497-9053— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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Current Patients

Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

Contact and Location

Dr. Abou-Alfa sees patients at one location.

Office Phone

646-888-4184

Location

New York, NY

Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion

160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022

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Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Gastrointestinal Oncology Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials Investigated by Dr. Abou-Alfa
A Phase 2 Study of MEDI5752 and AZD2936 With Standard Treatments in People With Advanced Liver, Biliary Tract, and Gallbladder Cancers
A Phase I Study of AGEN1811 and Balstilimab Immunotherapy in People with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma or Another Type of Gastrointestinal Cancer
A Phase III Study of Durvalumab, Tremelimumab, and Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Given with or without Lenvatinib Compared to TACE Alone in People with Localized Liver Cancer
Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Abou-Alfa
A Phase 1 Study of TTI-101 in People With Advanced Liver Cancer

Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

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Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Abou-Alfa’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

AbbVie
Professional Services and Activities
AstraZeneca
Professional Services and Activities
AUTEM Medical, LLC
Professional Services and Activities
Envision Communications
Professional Services and Activities
HMP Oncology Learning Network
Professional Services and Activities
Huahui Health Ltd.
Professional Services and Activities
IDEOlogy Health, LLC
Professional Services and Activities
Imedex, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities
Ipsen Pharma
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
J-Pharma Co., Ltd.
Professional Services and Activities

Merck & Co Inc.
Professional Services and Activities
Research to Practice
Professional Services and Activities
Roche
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
Senhwa Biosciences, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
Servier
Professional Services and Activities
Shanghai Jo'Ann Medical Technology Co., Ltd
Professional Services and Activities
WebMD
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
Yiviva, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities
Zymeworks Inc.
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)

If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].

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