Genitourinary Cancers

This book addresses the most pressing current questions in the management of urologic malignancies. The rapid advances in imaging and molecular markers are placed into a clinical context, with explanation of their effects on prognosis and treatment planning. Similarly, progress in immunotherapy is carefully examined, focusing in particular on the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in both early- and late-stage urologic malignancies. Looking beyond the improvements in minimally invasive techniques for urologic cancers, the impacts of care coordination pathways and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols are reviewed. Readers will also find enlightening discussion of the decision algorithm for the treatment of early-stage, high-grade bladder cancer, taking into account evidence on the most advanced treatment options and the circumstances in which surgery may need to be expedited. The penultimate chapter discusses the Cancer Genome Atlas project for bladder cancer, and the book closes by considering contemporary medical and surgical management of testicular cancer.

Dr. Sia Daneshmand earned his medical degree at the University of California, Davis and completed his residency at the University of Southern California (USC) followed by a two-year fellowship in Urologic Oncology at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. He spent almost 6 years at Oregon Health and Science University and was then recruited to USC Institute of Urology in 2010 as Director of Urologic Oncology. He is currently an Associate Professor of Urology with Clinical Scholar designation and serves as director of clinical research as well as the urologic oncology (SUO) fellowship director. Dr. Daneshmand’s main interests include bladder cancer, advanced kidney cancer and testicular cancer. He has extensive experience in urinary diversion and reconstruction following radical cystectomy as well as nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) following chemotherapy for advanced testis cancer. He is one of the highest volume surgeons for these diseases in the country. He also has extensive experience in the management of advanced kidney cancers with vena caval tumor thrombus involvement, as well as prostate cancer, retroperitoneal sarcomas and surgeries requiring replacement of the great vessels. His main research interests focus on the use of pathways to improve peri-operative outcomes following radical cystectomy, use of serum and molecular markers and new technologies in diagnosis and management of bladder cancer, as well as functional outcomes following orthotopic urinary diversion. He is a leading authority on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) following radical cystectomy and his protocol has significantly reduced hospital stay while improving the patient experience. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Urology, Bladder Cancer Journal, Current Opinions in Urology, the scientific advisory board of Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) as well as the AUA/SUO Guideline Committee on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer as well as testicular cancer. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and has been designated one of the “America’s Top Cancer Doctors” for the past 8 consecutive years. He is an active member of the Society of Urologic Oncology, has presented over 300 abstracts at scientific meetings and has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters. 

Dr. Kevin Chan earned his medical degree at the University of Southern California and completed his urology training at the University of Southern California. Following his training, he joined the urology faculty at City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Urology and the Head of Reconstructive Urology at City of Hope Cancer Center.

At City of Hope, Dr. Chan has established one of the largest programs in continent urinary diversion using robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Chan conducts research in surgical techniques and postoperative pathways that will help minimize complications and improve outcomes in the treatment of bladder cancer. He has vast experience in the surgical treatment of male urinary incontinence and has created a database at City of Hope with the goal of improving surgical techniques used to treat male urinary incontinence. Dr. Chan's research interests also include the development of novel diagnostic techniques to improve the detection and progression of prostate cancer.