Clinical Interests
- Pathogenesis and treatment of biliary, liver, and pancreatic malignancies
Cancer Specialties
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Gallbladder Cancer
Research Interests: Gallstone pathogenesis, pancreatic cancer, biliary malignancies.
Clinical Interests: Pathogenesis and treatment of biliary, liver, and pancreatic malignancies. My research involves both laboratory and clinical studies.Laboratory studies have focused in 2 areas: gallstone pathogenesis and biliary physiology. In recent years our group has been interested in the role of nonmucin glycoproteins and calcium in gallstone pathogenesis. We have identified nonmucin glycoproteins in both cholesterol and pigment human gallstones and have shown that some of these proteins are immunoglobulins. Moreover, these gallstone-derived nonmucin glycoproteins have been demonstrated to shorten the cholesterol crystal appearance time. In the prairie dog model new nonmucin glycoproteins appear in bile early after cholesterol feeding before cholesterol crystals or stones have formed. Separate electron microscopy (EM) studies have defined the calcium salt distribution in the core and periphery ofcholesterol and pigment gallstones. My recent studies have also investigated the role of octreotide in both gallstone formation and sphincter of Oddi motility. The effect of erythromycin on both gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi motility have also been investigated. The role of nitric oxide as a nonadrenergic noncholinergic mediator of resting sphincter of Oddi motility has also been studied.My clinical studies have focused on the treatment of cholangitis and cholangiocarcinoma. We have previously shown that a broad spectrum penicillin, piperacillin, is equally efficacious as a penicillin aminoglycoside combination in the treatment of patients with cholagitis. We are presently studying the role of ceoperozone sulbactam in biliary infections. We have also been conducting a randomized trial of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The role of angiography andmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in staging these patients has also been investigated. A cluster of patients with cholangiocarcinoma in West Virginia is also being investigated.
- Gall stone pathogenesis, biliary disorders, clinical trials
- Pancreatic, hepatic and biliary surgery
- biliary surgery; pancreatic surgery; liver surgery
Dr. Pitt’s current research interests include quality and outcomes in pancreatobiliary surgery. He has participated in multiple clinical trials to improve outcomes in pancreatobiliary surgery. Obesity and pancreatic cancer, biomarkers in biliary malignancies
Animal Physiology, Biliary Infection, Biliary Physiology, Biochemistry, Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma, Disease Prevention, Gallstone Pathogenesis, Gastroenterology, Motility, Pancreas, Prevention, Sphincter, Sphincter of Oddi
