Overview
Background
Emeritus Professor Mark Smithers is a surgical oncologist who specialises in surgery for oesophago-gastric diseases, melanoma, advanced skin cancer and soft tissue sarcoma. He was the Director of the Upper GI and Soft Tissue Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Brisbane, Australia from 1998 - 2023. Commencing his academic career with the University of Queensland in 1987, he progressed to be the Mayne Chair in Surgery and head of the Academy of Surgery. He is the second University of Queensland Medical graduate to be appointed to this role. His research has been focussed on the development and assessment of outcomes from minimally invasive upper GI surgery, and trials assessing the role of perioperative multidisciplinary therapy for esophageal and gastric cancer. As well he has led, or been involved with, clinical trials from phase I to III, for all stages of melanoma through his role as the Chair of the Queensland Melanoma Project. More recently he has been involved with the assessment of access to, and outcomes from, surgery for cancer in Queensland, Australia.
He has overseen the administration and development of the surgery curriculum, and the teaching, in the Academy of Surgery, in the UQ Faculty of Medicine. He was on a number of committees relevant to the implementation of the UQ MD design course. He has held various leadership and committee roles with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, as well as leadership roles, including the Presidency, in the Australian and New Zealand Oesophago Gastric Surgeons Association. He has also been on the committees of international organisations related to oesophageal and gastric surgery. He has published 250 articles, eight book chapters, and has been on the editorial board of a number of surgical journals.
He has been recognised for his clinical and academic roles by the award of Member of the Order of Australia (AM). The citation reads, "for service to medicine in the fields of gastro-intestinal and melanoma surgery, to medical education and to professional organisations". The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons awarded him the Sir Hugh Devine medal, for services to surgery and the community. This is the College’s highest honour. Internationally, he has been awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and recently, in the United States, he was elected as an Honarary Fellow of the American Surgical Association.
Availability
- Professor Mark Smithers is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Honorary Fellow, American Surgical Association, American Surgical Association
- Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Surgeons of England
Research interests
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Cutaneous Melanoma
epidemiology, public health issues and management of all stages
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Management of Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer
Investigation and management of benign and malignant diseases of the oesophagus and the stomach.
Works
Search Professor Mark Smithers’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Journal Article
Australian multicenter study of isolated limb infusion for melanoma
Kroon, Hidde M., Coventry, Brendon J., Giles, Mitchell H., Henderson, Michael A., Speakman, David, Wall, Mark, Barbour, Andrew, Serpell, Jonathan, Paddle, Paul, Coventry, Alexander G. J., Sullivan, Thomas, Smithers, Bernard Mark and Thompson, John F. (2016). Australian multicenter study of isolated limb infusion for melanoma. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 23 (4), 1096-1103. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-4969-2
2016
Conference Publication
Intralesional rose bengal for stage III and IV melanoma
Agarwala, S. S., Andtbacka, R. H. I., Hauschild, A., Rice, K. N., Ross, M., Scoggins, C. R., Smithers, M., Whitman, E. and Wachter, E. A. (2016). Intralesional rose bengal for stage III and IV melanoma. 41st Congress of the European-Society-for-Medical-Oncology (ESMO), Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-11 October, 2016. OXFORD: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdw379.52
2016
Conference Publication
Prognostic value of nomograms incorporating biomarkers vs. sentinel node status in patients with stage IB and II melanoma
Rowe, C., Tang, F., Hughes, M. C., Rodero, M., Malt, M., Lambie, D., Barbour, A., Hayward, N., Smithers, B. M., Green, A. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2016). Prognostic value of nomograms incorporating biomarkers vs. sentinel node status in patients with stage IB and II melanoma. Australasian College of Dermatologists 49th Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, Australia, 14–17 May, 2016. Richmond, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12480
2016
Conference Publication
A phase 2 study of intralesional PV-10 followed by radiotherapy for localized in transit or recurrent metastatic melanoma.
Foote, Matthew C., Burmeister, Bryan H., Thomas, Janine, Read, Tavis and Smithers, Bernard Mark (2016). A phase 2 study of intralesional PV-10 followed by radiotherapy for localized in transit or recurrent metastatic melanoma.. Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Clinical-Oncology (ASCO), Chicago Il, Jun 02-06, 2017. ALEXANDRIA: AMER SOC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.34.15_suppl.e21072
2016
Conference Publication
An AGITG trial - A randomised phase II study of pre-operative cisplatin, fluorouracil and DOCetaxel plus /-radio Therapy based on poOR early response to cisplatin and fluorouracil for resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma
Barbour, A., Walpole, E., Mai, G. T., Chan, H., Barnes, E., Watson, D., Ackland, S., Wills, V., Martin, J., Burge, M., Karapetis, C., Shannon, J., Nott, L., Gebski, V., Wilson, K., Thomas, J., Lampe, G., Zalcberg, J., Simes, J. and Smithers, M. (2016). An AGITG trial - A randomised phase II study of pre-operative cisplatin, fluorouracil and DOCetaxel plus /-radio Therapy based on poOR early response to cisplatin and fluorouracil for resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma. 41st Congress of the European-Society-for-Medical-Oncology (ESMO), Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-11 October 2016. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdw371.02
2016
Conference Publication
Long-term prospective assessment of quality of life and lymphedema after inguinal or inguinal and pelvic lymphadenectomy for recurrent melanoma in the groin
Henderson, M. A., Fisher, R., Di Iulio, J., Gyorki, D., Spillane, J., Speakman, D., Burmeister, B., Smithers, B., Hong, A., Shannon, K., Ainslie, J., Scolyer, R., Carruthers, S., Coventry, B., Babington, S., Duprat, J., Hoekstra, H. and Thompson, J. (2016). Long-term prospective assessment of quality of life and lymphedema after inguinal or inguinal and pelvic lymphadenectomy for recurrent melanoma in the groin. 69th Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, United States, Mar 02-05, 2016. New York, United States: Springer New York LLC. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-5010-5
2015
Journal Article
Sentinel node biopsy in patients with intermediate and thick melanomas - A balanced view
Saw, Robyn, Allan, Christopher, Barbour, Andrew, Ch'ng, Sydney, Coventry, Brendon J., Gyorki, David, Henderson, Michael, Howle, Julie, Hughes, T. Michael, Lee, Kenneth, Neuhaus, Susan, Saunders, Christobel, Shannon, Kerwin, Smithers, Mark, Speakman, David, Spillane, John and Stretch, Jonathan (2015). Sentinel node biopsy in patients with intermediate and thick melanomas - A balanced view. Australian Family Physician, 44 (12), 876-876.
2015
Journal Article
Building a sustainable clinical academic workforce to meet the future healthcare needs of Australia and New Zealand: Report from the first summit meeting
Windsor, J., Searle, J., Hanney, R., Chapman, A., Grigg, M., Choong, P., Mackay, A., Smithers, B.M., Churchill, J.A., Carney, S., Smith, J.A., Wainer, Z., Talley, N.J. and Gladman, M.A. (2015). Building a sustainable clinical academic workforce to meet the future healthcare needs of Australia and New Zealand: Report from the first summit meeting. Internal Medicine Journal, 45 (9), 965-971. doi: 10.1111/imj.12854
2015
Journal Article
Prospective study of patterns of surgical management in adults with primary cutaneous melanoma at high risk of spread, in Queensland, Australia
Smithers, B.Mark, Hughes, Maria Celia B., Beesley, Vanessa L., Barbour, Andrew P., Malt, Maryrose K., Weedon, David, Zonta, Mark J., Wood, Dominic J., Triscott, Joseph A., Bayley, Gerard J., Brown, Lee J., Allan, Christopher P., D'Arcy, Justin, Williamson, Richard, Khosrotehrani, Kiarash and Green, Adele C. (2015). Prospective study of patterns of surgical management in adults with primary cutaneous melanoma at high risk of spread, in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Surgical Oncology, 112 (4), 359-365. doi: 10.1002/jso.24013
2015
Conference Publication
TOPGEAR: A randomized phase II/III trial of perioperative ECF chemotherapy versus preoperative chemoradiation plus perioperative ECF chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer. Interim results from an international, intergroup trial of the AGITG/TROG/NCIC CTG/EORTC
Leong, T., Smithers, B. M., Michael, M., Gebski, V., Simes, J., Boussioutas, A., Miller, D., Zalcberg, J., O'Connell, R., Swallow, C., Darling, G., Wong, R., Schuhmacher, C., Lordick, F. and Haustermans, K. (2015). TOPGEAR: A randomized phase II/III trial of perioperative ECF chemotherapy versus preoperative chemoradiation plus perioperative ECF chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer. Interim results from an international, intergroup trial of the AGITG/TROG/NCIC CTG/EORTC. European Cancer Congress, Vienna Austria, 2015. OXFORD: ELSEVIER SCI LTD. doi: 10.1016/S0959-8049(15)30043-5
2015
Journal Article
A systematic review of non-surgical treatments for lentigo maligna
Read, T., Noonan, C., David, M., Wagels, M., Foote, M., Schaider, H., Soyer, H. P. and Smithers, B. M. (2015). A systematic review of non-surgical treatments for lentigo maligna. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 30 (5), 1-6. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13252
2015
Journal Article
TOPGEAR: A randomised phase III trial of perioperative ECF chemotherapy versus preoperative chemoradiation plus perioperative ECF chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer (an international, intergroup trial of the AGITG/TROG/EORTC/NCIC CTG)
Leong, Trevor, Smithers, B. Mark, Michael, Michael, Gebski, Val, Boussioutas, Alex, Miller, Danielle, Simes, John, Zalcberg, John, Haustermans, Karin, Lordick, Florian, Schuhmacher, Christoph, Swallow, Carol, Darling, Gail and Wong, Rebecca (2015). TOPGEAR: A randomised phase III trial of perioperative ECF chemotherapy versus preoperative chemoradiation plus perioperative ECF chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer (an international, intergroup trial of the AGITG/TROG/EORTC/NCIC CTG). BMC Cancer, 15 (532) 532, 2252-2258. doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1529-x
2015
Journal Article
Adjuvant lymph-node field radiotherapy versus observation only in patients with melanoma at high risk of further lymph-node field relapse after lymphadenectomy (ANZMTG 01.02/TROG 02.01): 6-year follow-up of a phase 3, randomised controlled trial
Henderson Michael A., Burmeister, Bryan H., Ainslie, Jill, Fisher, Richard, Di Iulio, Juliana, Smithers, B. Mark, Hon, Angela, Shannon, Kerwin, Scolyer, Richard A., Carruthers, Scott, Coventry, Brendon J., Babington, Scott, Duprat, Joao, Hoekstra, Harald J. and Thompson, John F. (2015). Adjuvant lymph-node field radiotherapy versus observation only in patients with melanoma at high risk of further lymph-node field relapse after lymphadenectomy (ANZMTG 01.02/TROG 02.01): 6-year follow-up of a phase 3, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Oncology, 16 (9) 155, 1049-1060. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00187-4
2015
Journal Article
Two cases of NSAID-induced gastropathy and enteropathy of the ileum
Auld, Michael C., Dodd, Benjamin R., Barbour, Andrew P. and Smithers, Mark (2015). Two cases of NSAID-induced gastropathy and enteropathy of the ileum. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 85 (7-8), 584-585. doi: 10.1111/ans.12462
2015
Journal Article
Australian clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma
Whiteman, David C., Appleyard, Mark, Bahin, Farzan F., Bobryshev, Yuri V., Bourke, Michael J., Brown, Ian, Chung, Adrian, Clouston, Andrew, Dickins, Emma, Emery, Jon, Eslick, Guy D., Gordon, Louisa G., Grimpen, Florian, Hebbard, Geoff, Holliday, Laura, Hourigan, Luke F., Kendall, Bradley J., Lee, Eric Y. T., Levert-Mignon A., Lord, Reginald V., Lord, Sarah J., Maule, Derek, Moss, Alan, Norton, Ian, Olver, Ian, Pavey, Darren, Raftopoulos, Spiro, Rajendra, Shan, Schoeman, Mark ... Yusoff, Ian F. (2015). Australian clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Australia), 30 (5), 804-820. doi: 10.1111/jgh.12913
2015
Journal Article
International consensus on standardization of data collection for complications associated with esophagectomy: Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG)
Low, Donald E., Alderson, Derek, Cecconello, Ivan, Chang, Andrew C., Darling, Gail E., D'Journo, Xavier Benoit, Griffin, S. Michael, Holscher, Arnulf H., Hofstetter, Wayne L., Jobe, Blair A., Kitagawa, Yuko, Kucharczuk, John C., Law, Simon Ying Kit, Lerut, Toni E., Maynard, Nick, Pera, Manuel, Peters, Jeffrey H., Pramesh, C. S., Reynolds, John V., Smithers, B. Mark and van Lanschot, J. Jan B. (2015). International consensus on standardization of data collection for complications associated with esophagectomy: Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG). Annals of Surgery, 262 (2), 286-294. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001098
2015
Journal Article
Patterns of recurrence in patients with stage IIIB/C cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck following surgery with and without adjuvant radiation therapy: is isolated regional recurrence salvageable?
Barbour, Samantha, Smithers, B. Mark, Allan, Chris, Bayley, Gerard, Thomas, Janine, Foote, Matthew, Burmeister, Bryan and Barbour, Andrew P. (2015). Patterns of recurrence in patients with stage IIIB/C cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck following surgery with and without adjuvant radiation therapy: is isolated regional recurrence salvageable?. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 22 (12), 4052-4059. doi: 10.1245/s10434-014-4356-4
2015
Conference Publication
Immune cell infiltrate subtypes inform on melanoma survival in stage Ib and II melanomas
Rowe, C., Tang, F., Rodero, M., Malt, M., Lambie, D., Smithers, M., Green, A. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2015). Immune cell infiltrate subtypes inform on melanoma survival in stage Ib and II melanomas. Australasian College of Dermatologists 48th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia, 16 May 2015. Richmond, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12337
2015
Conference Publication
Treatment of oesophageal adenocarcinoma-what is the ideal? Results from a survey of Augis and Anzgosa members
Couper, G., Paterson-Brown, S. and Smithers, M. (2015). Treatment of oesophageal adenocarcinoma-what is the ideal? Results from a survey of Augis and Anzgosa members. 2nd Digestive Disorders Federation Conference, London, England, United Kingdom, Jun 22-25, 2015. London, United Kingdom: B M J Group. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309861.598
2015
Conference Publication
Complex cancer surgery for rare cancers: Volume-associated outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in Queensland
Eden, Tania, Cossio, Danica, Dunn, Nathan, Colquist, Shoni, Guan, Tracey, Tran, Nancy and Smithers, Mark (2015). Complex cancer surgery for rare cancers: Volume-associated outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in Queensland. COSA’s 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting. Rare Cancers: Common Goals, Hobart, Australia, 17–19 November 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/ajco.12432
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Smithers is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Retroperitoneal sarcoma: Impact of the patterns of care on patient outcomes in Queensland.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barbour
-
Master Philosophy
Trends in the regional nodal management of cutaneous melanoma.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer
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Master Philosophy
Factors Influencing Anastomotic Complications after Oesophagectomy
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising the Multi-Disciplinary Resources at Tertiary Centres to Improve Outcomes from Pancreatic Cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Cavallucci
Completed supervision
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2020
Master Philosophy
An assessment of the impacts of centralising complex upper-gastrointestinal surgery in Queensland
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Master Philosophy
In vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) with 2-Dimensional (2D) COrrelated Spectroscopy (COSY) applied to breast cancer
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Natural history of high-risk cutaneous primary melanoma and risk factors for disease progression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
An evaluation of the role of locoregional treatments for the management of in-transit melanoma metastases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer, Associate Professor Helmut Schaider
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Mark Smithers directly for media enquiries about:
- Advanced endoscopic surgery
- Cancer surgery
- Endoscopic surgery
- General surgery
- Melanoma
- Surgery - cancer
- Surgery - oesophageal, gastric cancer
- Surgery - upper GI
- Upper GI surgery
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