Dr. Curtis J. Wray, MD, MS

Expert Publications

• Expression and binding activity of the glucocorticoid receptor are upregulated in septic muscle.
• Interposition of a jejunal segment as an alternative one-stage operation for acute left colon obstruction.
• Insulin-like growth factor-I inhibits lysosomal and proteasome-dependent proteolysis in skeletal muscle after burn injury.
• IL-1beta stimulates IL-6 production in cultured skeletal muscle cells through activation of MAP kinase signaling pathway and NF-kappa B.
• Superinduction of IL-6 by cycloheximide is associated with mRNA stabilization and sustained activation of p38 map kinase and NF-kappaB in cultured caco-2 cells.
• Colon cancer angiogenesis and antiangiogenic therapy.
• Treatment of cultured myotubes with the calcium ionophore A23187 increases proteasome activity via a CaMK II-caspase-calpain-dependent mechanism.
• The relationship of lymph node dissection and colon cancer survival in the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry.
• Pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a patient with situs inversus: a case report of this rare coincidence.
• Modified Makuuchi incision for foregut procedures.
• Hepatocellular carcinoma survival in uninsured and underinsured patients.
• Clinical implications of DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Unretrieved gallstone mimicking an intra-abdominal soft tissue mass.
• Cytomegalovirus enteritis manifesting as recurrent bowel obstruction and jejunal perforation in patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: rare report of survival and review of the literature.
• Relationship between documentation status and survival for medically underserved Hispanic breast cancer patients.

Clinical Trials

• Tissue Reinforcement of Incisional Closure Among High Risk Patients

Media Releases

Get to know Surgical Oncologist Dr. Curtis J. Wray, who serves patients throughout the State of Texas.

A devoted surgical oncologist, Dr. Wray is affiliated with UT Physicians, working with patients at UTMIST – Bellaire Station, UT Memorial Hermann Cancer Center – Texas Medical Center, and UT Physicians – Sugar Land.

His expertise in surgical techniques is vast and diverse. He possesses expertise in both open and minimally invasive surgery for gastric, liver, pancreas, and colorectal cancers. Moreover, his commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology is evident in his proficiency with robotic surgery for GI cancers. Notably, in 2018, he initiated a robotic pancreas surgery program at Memorial Hermann TMC, further enhancing the treatment options available to patients.

One of Dr. Wray’s significant achievements was the groundbreaking robotic Whipple (pancreaticoduodenectomy) procedure, which he and his colleagues performed in June 2019, using the daVinci Xi robotic surgical system at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Born with a passion for science, he pursued his academic journey at the University of Louisville, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in chemistry. However, his true calling lay in medicine, which led him to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree in 1998.

Following his medical studies, Dr. Wray embarked on a rigorous journey to refine his surgical skills. He completed the general surgery residency program at the prestigious University of Cincinnati in 2005, where his dedication and aptitude for research were rewarded with an NIH T32 postdoctoral research fellowship. It was during this time that his interest in cancer research began to flourish, inspiring him to pursue a surgical oncology fellowship at the esteemed University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 2005 to 2008.

Furthermore, he pursued his quest for knowledge by obtaining a master’s degree in clinical research from UTHealth, solidifying his expertise in cancer research and clinical outcomes.

With an unwavering commitment to his specialty, the doctor is board-certified in surgical oncology and general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Remaining up to date in his field, Dr. Wray is an active member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Cancer Research, the Society of University Surgeons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Beyond his impressive academic and research endeavors, he has actively served in various capacities within healthcare institutions and organizations. In particular, he has been a cancer liaison physician for Harris Health System, actively contributing to the improvement of cancer care in the community. He was also appointed to the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, where he continues to influence policy and practice in cancer care.

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery applied to oncology. It focuses on the surgical management of tumors, especially cancerous tumors. A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. He or she also performs certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.

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