Jeffry P. Simko, MD, PhD

Research Interests

Diagnostic Surgical Pathology

Simko is a surgical pathologist whose primary mission is to diagnose and recognize urologic tumors and other disease in biopsy and resection tissue specimens. He regularly reviews the histology of prostate, urinary bladder and renal malignancies, as well as other types of tumors. He is available for consultation to review case pathology. Simko participates in clinical-pathologic correlation research, which aims to discover new histological facts that can be used to enhance patient care.

Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation Studies

In collaboration with John Kurhaenwicz, PhD, Fergus Coakley, MD and John Clarke, PhD a physicists at UC Berkeley, Simko is conducting research to identify the various tissue characteristics that correspond to the contrasts seen in prostate and renal tumor images created by imaging technologies. This research is particularly focused on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of the prostate, and seeks to detect and follow the evolution of prostate cancer disease. It includes the development of new imaging therapies and hardware, including tumor detection using new technologies, such as Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). Simko has aided Chris Diederich, PhD of the Department of Radiation Oncology with the development of focal therapies for prostate cancer using high-energy ultrasound technologies.

Biomarkers and Biospecimen Resources

Simko oversees the Genitourinary (GU) Oncology Program's tissue core and chairs the GU Tissue Utilization Committee; the core provides high quality tissue specimens to researchers for study. This resource is particularly important in the discovery of new biomarkers and molecular targets, which may be used to predict patient prognosis and response to therapy, with the ultimate goal of developing drug treatments. The database is responsible for providing fresh tissue specimens to researchers for tumor model construction, stem cell isolation, cell culture development and effector cell isolation. It is also responsible for histological and pathological support to researchers conducting research projects. Supported projects have included: a genome-wide study of gene copy number changes lead by Colin Collins, PhD, which aims to identify potential predictors of prostate cancer progression; various inflammatory cell studies, conducted by Hematology Oncology faculty member Lawrence Fong, MD that elucidate immune response mechanisms to prostate tumors; and prevalence studies of potential new biomarkers. The resource and these studies are possible because of the generosity of UCSF’s patients who have confidentially donated their tissues and medical information to the database in support of the Prostate Cancer Center's research efforts.

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