Dr. Andrea Cercek

Dr. Andrea Cercek, MD, is a nationally recognized leader in gastrointestinal oncology and a physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where she specializes in colorectal, rectal, anal, appendiceal, and biliary cancers. She earned her medical degree from New York Medical College, completed her residency in Internal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and pursued her fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at MSKCC. Dr. Cercek serves as Section Head of Colorectal Cancer and co-directs the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer, one of the first clinics worldwide dedicated to patients under 50. Fluent in English and Spanish, she cares for a diverse patient population both in-person and via telehealth.

Dr. Cercek has spearheaded groundbreaking clinical trials in colorectal cancer, most notably leading an experimental immunotherapy-only study using dostarlimab in mismatch repair-deficient rectal cancer, in which 100% of participants experienced complete tumor disappearance and avoided surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This remarkable outcome led the FDA to grant Breakthrough Therapy designation and sparked revisions to national treatment guidelines. Her work was subsequently recognized by TIME magazine's 2024 and 2025 TIME100 Health list. Dr. Cercek also conducts research focused on biomarker-driven therapies in gastrointestinal cancers, including targeted approaches for HER2-amplified and KRAS-mutant colorectal tumors.

In addition to her clinical and research leadership, Dr. Cercek holds national and international roles that help shape the future of cancer care. As co-director of MSKCC’s Center for Young Onset GI Cancer, she investigates the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in younger patients. She is an active member of professional societies such as ASCO, ESMO, AACR, and ASCI, contributing to the design of pivotal trials and guidelines. Through her exceptional outcomes in immunotherapy trials, innovative research programs, and leadership in multidisciplinary care models, Dr. Cercek is considered one of the top experts in colorectal and gastrointestinal oncology.