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Urologic Oncology
Research
Our physicians and scientists are committed to building on their
research findings to develop new methods of cancer treatment,
prevention, and diagnosis. They encourage patients, their families,
and friends to work as advocates to improve access to clinical
trials for all, including under-represented groups, and become
involved in public policy development.
| The specific objectives of
this program are to: |
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Develop new methods of cancer assessment
which better determine prognosis and response to treatment
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Develop and test novel and/or less
morbid approaches to the management of urological cancers,
including those that have failed to respond to conventional
treatment regimens |
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Determine the impact of cancer
diagnosis and treatment on patient health-related-quality
of life (HRQOL). Define sociodemographic features which
impact on HRQOL. Develop treatment techniques which preserve
a high quality of life. |
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Understand the importance of the
patients' role in decision making, psychosocial support,
and individual treatment regimens on cancer outcomes |
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Develop and validate genetic, cytometric
and phenotypic markers of prognosis and response to treatment. |
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Identify genetic mechanisms involved
in causing urologic cancers allowing them to progress. |
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Define the roles of growth factors,
cell-to-cell interactions and differentiation agents in
modulating malignant prostate growth; build on such research
to develop novel methods of preventing and treating prostate
cancer. |
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Develop new and refine existing
imaging modalities to detect and characterize urological
cancers. |
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Encourage interaction among program
members leading to translational research. |
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Refine surgical techniques to preserve
urinary continence and sexual function and enhance the quality
of life |
Bladder Cancer
The laboratory of Fred Waldman has a longstanding interest in
identifying molecular markers of bladder cancer development and
progression. They were the first to apply FISH probes for chromosome
and gene specific copy number in bladder cancers, and showed the
sensitivity and specificity of this approach for identifying cancer
cells in urine and bladder washes. They also applied tools of
Comparative Genomic Hybridization to identifying chromosomal copy
number alterations in tumor specimens, and most recently have
used array-based approaches for high resolution analysis. In collaboration
with Carroll, they have identified a number of gene specific copy
number alterations in bladder tumors which are associated with
tumor progression.
Rajvir Dahiya's laboratory is testing the hypothesis that, the
inactivation of genes through epigenetic pathways is involved
in bladder carcinogenesis. To test this hypothesis, his lab is
investigating the molecular mechanisms of bladder cancer through
analysis of epigenetic pathways of various genes. Inactivation
of various genes including tumor suppressor genes and cell adhesion
genes is frequently associated with bladder cancer. the Dahiya
lab is analyzing the functional significance of such genes in
bladder cancer.
Badrinath Konety's laboratory is conducting serveral research
projects. One is looking at new markers for diagnosing and monitoring
bladder cancer. His group is participating in a prospective randomized
clincial trial, at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs, which
seeks to determine if the new markers can be used to monitor
patients with bladder cancer. Another investigates the role of
urine based markers in evaluating the efficacy of intravesical
therapy for bladder cancer. This includes several commercially
available bladder cancer markers such as UroVysion and Immunocyt.
Additionally his laboratory is also assessing quality of life,
and developing new instruments to evaluate quality of life, in
patients with bladder cancer. They collaborate in multi-institutional
studies to evaluate new therapies for treatment of superficial
bladder cancer, and to evaluate agents which may prevent recurrence
of bladder cancer. Konety is engaged in health services research
to evaluate factors that influence radical cystectomy outcomes,
and to establish benchmarks for measuring quality of bladder
cancer care. Additionally, Konety is a member of the Bladder
Cancer Advocacy Network's Scientific Advisory Board. Information
about the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Networ can be found at http://www.bcan.org/
Kidney (Renal) Cancer
The Renal Cancer Program at UCSF is committed to advancing understanding
of renal cancer and to designing innovative treatments.
Pioneering research using gene-based research helps physicians
understand how to treat renal cancer. Using array-based comparative
genomic hybridization, researchers extract DNA from various tumors
and study which genes have been amplified or deleted. By associating
the genetic alterations with more aggressive or less aggressive
tumors, the researchers are cataloging prognostic markers that
can help physicians and patients decide on an appropriate course
of treatment, and has led to improved treatments.
UCSF is leading a national clinical trial for patients with metastatic
renal cancer whose disease has progressed despite standard immunotherapy
treatment. UCSF offers a clinical trial in allogeneic stem cell
transplantation, is a unique form of immunotherapy which attempts
to use the immune cells from a sibling to fight a patient's cancer.
Waldman and his UCSF colleagues invented array-based comparative
genomic hybridization, a technique in which researchers extract
DNA from various tumors and study which genes have been amplified
or deleted. By associating the genetic alterations with more aggressive
or less aggressive tumors, the researchers are cataloging prognostic
markers that can help physicians and patients decide on an appropriate
course of treatment. Waldman and his colleagues used this approach
to find alterations for different sub-types of kidney cancer.
They have found that conventional or clear-cell renal cancer shows
loss of the short arm of chromosome 3, whereas papillary cancers
do not.
Dahiya's laboratory is testing the hypothesis that genetic instability
and mismatch repair genes are one of the key pathways of renal
cell carcinoma. To test this hypothesis, they are investigating
the molecular genetics of renal cell carcinoma through the analysis
of mismatch repair genes such as hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6.
Additionally, the Dahiya laboratory is investigating genetic instability,
loss of heterozygosity and CGH analysis of renal cell carcinoma.
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Contents of This Page
Faculty
Peter Carroll,
MD, MPH
Rajvir Dahiya,
PhD
Badrinath Konety,
MD, MBA
Frederic Waldman,
MD, PhD
Appointments & Location
Research
Laboratory, VAMC
4150 Clement Street, Building
203
Cancer
Research Laboratories
Comprehensive Cancer Center
2340 Sutter Street
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