Dr. David C. Rice

About Dr. David Rice

Dr. David C. Rice is a distinguished thoracic surgeon and professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he has worked since 2001.

Dr. Rice treats patients with mesothelioma and other thoracic malignancies (cancers of the chest and lungs).

“I operate on patients who have cancers that involve the lungs, the esophagus, and the organs of the chest.”
– Dr. David C. Rice, pleural mesothelioma specialist

Dr. Rice can perform several types of surgeries to remove cancer tumors and help improve patients’ life expectancies. He also works with other MD Anderson Cancer Center doctors to create the most effective treatment plans for his patients.

Patients under Dr. Rice’s care have noted that he is compassionate, respectful, and has their best interests at heart. By working with him, mesothelioma patients can get the expert care they need.

What Conditions Does Dr. David C. Rice Treat?

Dr. David Rice specializes in treating cancers and other health problems that affect the lungs and chest.

Notably, he can perform surgery on patients with pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of this cancer and forms in the lining of the lungs (pleura) about 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Dr. Rice can also treat:

• Cardiovascular issues
• Esophageal cancer
• Lung cancer

Dr. Rice uses surgeries geared to a patient’s specific health issue to give them the best quality of life possible.

Use our Free Doctor Match for help connecting with Dr. Rice or other leading mesothelioma specialists near you.

Dr. David C. Rice’s Mesothelioma Treatment Approach

Dr. David C. Rice can treat pleural mesothelioma using different surgical techniques.

Mesothelioma surgeries he can perform include:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Doctors remove all visible cancer tumors from the lung lining (pleura), along with the pleura and the lung closest to the cancer.
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): This extracts the mesothelioma tumors and pleura, but leaves the lung intact.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): This minimally invasive surgery can help remove a biopsy sample, which is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Dr. Rice works closely with other doctors on staff who specialize in other treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. Many patients have better health outcomes when multiple mesothelioma treatments are combined.

“I always try to imagine, if I were in the patient’s shoes, what I would want. The whole attitude of the institution is also very patient-centered, so you can really concentrate on doing what is best for the patient. And that’s everyone’s goal at this institution.”
— Dr. David C. Rice, pleural mesothelioma specialist

Dr. Rice also continues to explore new mesothelioma treatment options through clinical trials, which may hold promise in improving patient survival times.

Dr. David C. Rice’s Medical Background

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Dr. Rice received his medical degree from the University of Dublin Trinity College School of Medicine in 1991.

He moved to the United States in 1992 to start a general surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, which he finished in 1999. He investigated a key cancer treatment known as immunotherapy while studying surgery during this time.

“I was always interested, even from medical school, in malignancy. I knew I wanted to do something related to cancer.”
— Dr. David C. Rice, pleural mesothelioma specialist

He then studied cardiothoracic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1999 to 2001. He was hired by MD Anderson Cancer Center after finishing his training.

Dr. Rice is board-certified by leading organizations like the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, the ‌American Medical Association, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. David Rice’s Work Experience

Dr. Rice has practiced thoracic surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center for nearly 25 years.

He is the associate director of the Minimally Invasive New Technology in Oncologic Surgery (MINTOS). This division helps patients get essential surgeries with a lower risk of complications and shorter recovery times.

He also serves as a professor of surgery at the University of Texas, helping to teach medical students about surgical procedures and researching new treatment options.

Highlights of Dr. David C. Rice’s Medical Career

Dr. David Rice has received many awards and honors throughout the course of his medical career.

Notable accolades include:

• 5-star patient rating from U.S. News & World Report
• Castle Connolly top doctor status since 2009
• Featured in Modern Luxury Houston
• University of Texas Surgery Chief Resident Teaching Award

Outside of these honors, Dr. Rice’s patients have consistently given him praise. He has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on almost 160 patient reviews featured on his MD Anderson website profile.

“Dr. Rice was excellent, explained everything, spent a lot of time with me about my different options and my scans. And I really appreciate him and the rest of the staff at MD Anderson. Everyone has been excellent.”
— Patient of Dr. David C. Rice

Dr. David C. Rice’s Mesothelioma Research

Dr. David C. Rice studies new treatments that could help patients with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases through a wide range of clinical trials and peer-reviewed studies.

Some of his recently published studies include:

• “The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Staging Project: Proposals for Revisions of the “T” Descriptors in the Forthcoming Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification for Pleural Mesothelioma.” Published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology, September 2024.
• “Tumor thickness in mesothelioma predicts differential response to neoadjuvant therapy and survival.” Published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, August 2023.
• “Extrapleural Pneumonectomy Versus Pleurectomy/Decortication for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.” Published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, January 2022.
• “Evolution of Genomic and T-cell Repertoire Heterogeneity of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Under Dasatinib Treatment.” Published in Clinical Cancer Research, October 2020.

While there are never any guarantees, Dr. Rice and the MD Anderson Cancer Center hope to find more effective ways of diagnosing and treating mesothelioma through clinical trials.

Pleural mesothelioma patients being treated by Dr. Rice could potentially qualify to join an ongoing trial.

Download our Free Questions to Ask Your Doctor Checklist and get the answers you need about top mesothelioma treatments and clinical trials.

Connect With Dr. David C. Rice

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a specialist like Dr. David C. Rice can provide the expert care you need during this challenging time.

With decades of experience helping patients, Dr. Rice can recommend the best mesothelioma treatments in your case and will do everything possible to improve your health outlook and quality of life.

“Helping one single patient live longer — or hopefully even be cured of their cancer — is a tremendous privilege. That’s how we’re making cancer history, really: by treating one patient at a time.”
— Dr. David C. Rice, pleural mesothelioma specialist

Mesothelioma Hope is proud to help cancer patients connect with specialists like Dr. Rice. Call (866) 608-8933 now or use our Free Doctor Match to get started.