2020 News Archive - UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology


Dr. Wayne Brisbane

Fellow receives Young Investigator Award 

December 18, 2020
Dr. Wayne Brisbane -- The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) announced the 2020 Class of Young Investigator Award recipients including an award to UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO) Fellow Dr. Wayne Brisbane for innovative prostate cancer research.  PCF Young Investigator Awards are intended to identify a cohort of future research leaders who will keep the field of prostate cancer research vibrant with new ideas, and offer career and project support for postdoctoral fellows and junior research faculty who are committed to advancing the prostate cancer field. Twenty-six PCF Young Investigator Awards totaling $5.8 million were granted to the promising next generation of cancer researchers.  Dr. Calais, mentored by IUO Member Leonard Marks, MD, submitted his project “Micro-Ultrasound and MRI Investigation of Human Prostate Cancer” for consideration of award. News Release > 


Dr. Jeremie-Calais

New scan finds prostate cancer cells hiding in the body

December 18, 2020
Dr. Jeremie Calais and Dr. Johannes Czernin -- New York Times reported on a recent FDA approval of a prostate cancer imaging technique that locates cancer lesions in the pelvic area and other parts of the body to which the tumors have migrated. The prostate-specific membrane antigen PET imaging was a collaboration between the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.  UCLA Connect >


Dr. Jeremie-Calais

Researcher receives Young Investigator Award 

December 16, 2020
Dr. Jeremie Calais -- The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) announced the 2020 Class of Young Investigator Award recipients including an award of $250K to UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO) Member Dr. Jeremie Calais for innovative prostate cancer research.  PCF Young Investigator Awards are intended to identify a cohort of future research leaders who will keep the field of prostate cancer research vibrant with new ideas, and offer career and project support for postdoctoral fellows and junior research faculty who are committed to advancing the prostate cancer field. Twenty-six PCF Young Investigator Awards totaling $5.8 million were granted to the promising next generation of cancer researchers.  Dr. Calais, mentored by fellow IUO Members Johannes Czernin, MD; Matt Rettig, MD, and Robert Reiter, MD, submitted his project “Validating a PET Imaging Biomarker for Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein in Prostate Cancer Stroma” for consideration of award. News release >


Dr. Paul Boutros

Researchers create framework to help determine timing of cancer mutations 

December 11, 2020
Dr. Paul Boutros 
-- Yahoo! News, ScienMag and eight other outlets reported on a new UCLA study led by Paul Boutros, PhD, professor of urology and human genetics and director of cancer data science at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and member of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology. Researchers created a framework that helps determine which tool combinations are best for pinpointing the exact timing of DNA mutations in cancer genomes. Full story >  UCLA Health Newsroom


Dr. Jeremie-Calais

FDA approves drug for PET imaging of prostate cancer 

December 11, 2020
Dr. Jeremie Calais -- Oncology Nurse Advisor featured continued coverage on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of a new imaging technique for prostate cancer that locates lesions in the pelvic area and other parts of the body to which the tumors have migrated. The prostate-specific membrane antigen PET imaging, or PSMA PET, was a collaboration between UCLA and UCSF. Jeremie Calais, MD, assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, was quoted.


Dr. Amar Kishan

December 10, 2020
Amar Kishan, MD
 -- A team of specialists led by UCLA radiation oncologists Luca Valle and Amar Kishan performed a rigorous review of studies evaluating treatment options for patients with recurrences in the prostate after initial radiation for prostate cancer, using an approach called a meta-analysis. A major finding was that certain types of repeat radiation, specifically, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) are safe and effective options, which is encouraging.  Dr. Amar Kishan, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a researcher at the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO) and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center served as the senior author.  Other UCLA IUO contributing authors include Drs. Michael Steinberg, Nick Nickols, Matt Rettig and Rob Reiter. Full abstract > 


December 1, 2020
FDA approves prostate cancer imaging technique developed by Pharmacology and Institute of Urologic Oncology faculty - The FDA recently granted a New Drug Application (NDA) for a novel prostate cancer imaging approach (PSMA-PET) to UCLA and UCSF, the outcome of a four-year interdepartmental and inter-institutional collaboration. The UCLA cohort was directed by Drs. Johannes Czernin and Jeremie Calais.


Dr. Mark Litwin

November 20, 2020
Mark Litwin, MD 
--  UCLA IUO and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center member, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management and professor and chair of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, received notice of an additional award to extend the state-funded IMPACT program through 2023.  Initiated in 2001 with a demonstration grant from the California Department of Health Services under the leadership of then-chief of the Cancer Detection Section, Dr. Georjean Stoodt, IMPACT was established to optimize access and quality of prostate cancer care for low-income, uninsured men in California. Since the program's inception, thousands of (primarily minority) men across all 58 counties of California have been served and effectively created a model for similar efforts in other states.  In addition to providing cancer care for all of these men and their families, the affiliated team has also completed numerous academic projects in population science and health services research, from which innumerable medical students, residents, fellows, post-docs, and faculty members have published and presented scholarly work.  Learn more >


Dr. Leonard Marks

Cryotherapy treatment for some prostate cancers 

November 18, 2020
Dr. Leonard Marks -- Everyday Health covered a UCLA-led study finding the use of hemi-gland cryoablation, or cryotherapy, is an effective primary treatment for men with clinically significant, or grade 2, prostate cancer. Research was led by Leonard Marks, MD, DeKernion Chair in urology, clinical professor and member of the UCLA IUO and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.


Dr. Amar Kishan

PSMA PET: A 'Real Game Changer' in High-Risk Prostate Cancer

November 18, 2020
A team of UCLA investigators, led by IUO Member Dr. Amar Kishan (Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research and Chief of the Genitourinary Oncology Service for the Department of Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) and Dr. Martin Ma, evaluated how many patients who have high risk prostate cancer are likely to have disease outside the prostate found on PSMA PET-CT scans. Medscape covered the work that was a featured oral presentation at the 2020 ASTRO Meeting and involved other IUO Members Drs. Jeremie Calais, Nick Nickols, Rob Reiter and Matt Rettig.


Dr. Amar Kishan

Black Men Have Better Outcomes From Radiation-Based Treatment for High-Risk Prostate Cancer

October 28, 2020
Renal & Urology News highlighted the findings of a meta-analysis presented at 2020 American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) which determined that Black men with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) have better oncologic outcomes following definitive radiation treatment (RT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared with White men. The lead investigator is Dr. Amar Kishan, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a researcher at the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Full Story >


Dr. Albert Chang

October 8, 2020
Albert Chang, MD, PhD 
-- Radiation therapy, brachytherapy have similar outcomes for prostate cancer
Reuters reported on a study led by UCLA that found long-term survival among men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer did not differ regardless of whether they received stereotactic body radiation therapy, dose-escalated external beam radiation or brachytherapy. Albert Chang, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiation oncology, was the senior author.


Dr. Mark Litwin

October 2, 2020
Mark Litwin, MD 
-- Renal & Urology News interviewed Mark Litwin, MD,  UCLA IUO member, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management and professor and chair of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, about human factors in the use of different techniques to treat prostate cancer across the United States. Dr. Litwin also is a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. 


Dr. Isla Garraway

September 25, 2020
Isla Garraway, MD, PhD 
-- KABC7 interviewed Isla Garraway, MD, PhD, associate professor of urology and member of the UCLA IUO and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, about who is most at risk of prostate cancer and what can be done to help lower that risk.


Dr. Matthew Rettig

August 28, 2020
Matthew Rettig, MD 
-- WebMD interviewed Matthew Rettig, MD, member of the UCLA IUO, professor of medicine and urology and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, on how male hormones may make men more susceptible to COVID-19.


SPORE in Prostate Cancer Awardees

June 16, 2020
Paul Boutros, PHD, MBA, Robert Reiter, MD, MBA, Hans David Ulmert, MD, PhD, Huihui Ye, MD. MS -- The UCLA SPORE in Prostate Cancer announced $525,000 in funding support for eleven translational research projects in prostate cancer. Four members of the IUO received funding. Hans David Ulmert, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, received a Career Enhancement Program award that supports new investigators to the field of prostate cancer. Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA, a professor of urology and human genetics and director of cancer data science at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Robert Reiter, MD, MBA, a professor of urology, received Developmental Research Program awards that support novel translational approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of men with prostate cancer. Huihui Ye, MD, MS, Associate Clinical Professor of Urology and Chief of Genitourinary Pathology, received a Developmental Research Program award to support novel translational approach in the identification of the key immune inhibitory molecules in "hot" prostate cancer of African American men (a Spatial Transcriptomic Approach).


Dr. Alexandra Drakaki

June 12, 2020
Alexandra Drakaki, MD -- OncLive interviewed IUO member Alexandra Drakaki, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, about research advances being made in urothelial cancer, as well as unmet needs and challenges.


Dr. Matthew Rettig

June 12, 2020
Matthew Rettig, MD 
-- The  UCLA Health Zone Show with Dr. Phil Cohen featured IUO member Matthew Rettig, MD, professor of medicine and urology and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Dr. Rettig talked about his clinical trial to determine if hormone therapy used for men with prostate cancer can help men with COVID-19.


Dr. Amar Kishan

Some types of prostate cancer may not be as aggressive as originally thought

June 5, 2020
Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed gene-expression patterns in the most aggressive prostate cancer grade group — known as Gleason grade group 5 — and found that this grade of cancer can actually be subdivided into four subtypes with distinct differences. The findings may affect how people are treated for the disease. The study's lead author is Dr. Amar Kishan, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a researcher at the UCLA Institute of Uroplogic Oncology and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.   UCLA Research Brief > MedicalXpress, Science Blog, ScienceMag and 13 other outlets reported on this study.


Dr. Matthew Rettig

May 22, 2020
Matthew Rettig, MD 
-- CBS News Los AngelesTelemundo 52, Yahoo News!, The Cancer LetterNBC Los AngelesHealthDayThe Santa Monica Daily Press and 12 other outlets reported on a new clinical trial led by Matthew Rettig, MD, professor of medicine and urology and member of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, that uses a hormone suppressor commonly used to treat men with prostate cancer to help improve clinical outcomes for men infected with COVID-19.


Dr. Karim Chamie

Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer Research Supports FDA IND Approved Application

April 15, 2020 
Karim Chamie, MD, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been extensively studying the role of chemoablation in the lab using a thermosensitive gel in the treatment of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. He performed a significant amount of the pre-clinical animal research and large animal toxicology studies that helped support the FDA IND application for this novel treatment using Jelmyto (FDA approved 4-15-20). Despite significant progress in the management of low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma, Dr. Chamie is now utilizing the same technology to take aim at treating high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma. He's looking to incorporate varying immotherapeutic agents in harnessing the immune system to treat high-grade disease.


Dr. Matthew Rettig

Multi-center VA Study for Male Veterans Hospitalized due to COVID-19 Illness

April 15, 2020
Dr. Matthew Rettig 
-- Matthew Rettig, MD, UCLA Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Urology, is conducting a multi-center VA study for male Veterans who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 illness. The study is a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study that is assessing the effects of temporary androgen suppression on clinical outcomes including mortality, need for ongoing hospitalization and requirement for intubation.  The rational for the study relates to an interesting convergence between prostate cancer research and COVID-19 research.  As it turns out, the virus gains entry into the lung through a receptor called TMPRSS2.  This receptor is very well known in prostate cancer research, because it plays a role in the development of prostate cancer in about half of the cases.  Interestingly, the receptor is regulated by male hormones in prostate cancer, and it may also be regulated in lung tissue by male hormones.  In the trial, the plan is to suppress male hormones temporarily to shut down the production of the receptor and thereby reduce the ability of the virus to gain entry into lung tissue.  The study is being conducted at the Greater Los Angeles VA as well as other VA sites including Brooklyn, Manhattan and Puget Sound (Seattle).


Dr. Brian Shuch

Ask the Experts: Common Questions About Kidney Cancer and COVID-19

April 10, 2020 
Dr. Brian Shuch -- 
The Kidney Cancer Association interviewed Brian Shuch, MD, associate professor of UCLA Urology and director of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology Kidney Cancer Program, as part of an expert panel to answer patients' questions about how kidney cancer and the novel coronavirus COVID-19 impact each other.


Grant will help improve new imaging method for prostate cancer

April 6, 2020
Johannes Czernin, MD, Jeremie Calais, MD, Robert Reiter, MD and Matthew Rettig, MD -- A team of researchers from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded a two-year grant for $1 million that will help further develop a new method of prostate cancer molecular imaging. The team includes IUO members Dr. Johannes Czernin, Dr. Matthew Rettig, Dr. Jeremie Calais, and Dr. Robert Reiter.  UCLA Newsroom >


Dr. Owen Witte

Cracking Down on Cancer

April 3, 2020
Owen Witte, PhD
 -- The Scientist profiled Owen Witte, MD, whose studies on cancer-causing viruses have helped develop life-saving treatments. Dr. Witte is founding director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, presidential chair in developmental immunology and a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. 


Dr. Jeremie-Calais

Novel Imaging Method Proves Effective in Detecting Prostate Cancer Recurrence

March 20, 2020
Dr. Jeremie Calais -- Jeremie Calais, MD, assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology and a member of both the UCLA IUO and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, was featured in OncLive with an article on a new imaging method that helps detect the recurrence of prostate cancer.


Dr. Dennis Slamon

Dr. Slamon's Pioneering Work Helped Lead to the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Drug Trastuzumab

Feb 28, 2020
Dr. Dennis Slamon, Physician-scientist spotlighted for pioneering cancer research -- The American Cancer Society's journal Cancer profiled Dennis Slamon, MD, PhD, chair of hematology-oncology, director of clinical and translational research at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and member of the IUO Board of Directors, for his pioneering work that led to the breakthrough breast cancer drug Herceptin. Separately, The Kelly Clarkson Show featured Dr. Slamon in a segment highlighting activist and philanthropist Lilly Tartikoff, who raised $81 million for cancer research at UCLA.


Dr. Jeremie-Calais

PSMA-Targeted Therapy Well Tolerated in Men with mCRPC

Feb 28, 2020
Dr. Jeremie Calais -- Dr. Jeremie Calais, a member of the UCLA IUO and UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, had study results posted in the February 2020 issue of Urology Times. The Times presents expert clinical analysis, practical advice, and policy perspectives. The article, “PSMA-targeted therapy well tolerated in men with mCRPC” showed that greater than or equal to 50% of men saw a PSA decline in 38% of patients treated with lutetium-177.


Dr. Marks and Dr. Felker

Can MRI Replace Repeat Biopsy during Active Surveillance

Feb 28, 2020
Dr. Leonard Marks and Dr. Ely Felker -- Can MRI replace repeat biopsy during active surveillance? The February 2020 Issue of AUA News (Volume 25, Issue 2), the official newsmagazine of the American Urological Association highlighted 2 IUO Members on the front page with study follow-up to this question.


Dr. Amar Kishan

Applying New Data on SBRT for Low- and Intermediate- Risk Prostate Cancer

January 31, 2020
Amar Kishan, MD, an assistant professor of radiation oncology and a member of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology, provides an expert commentary during the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Radiobiologic models have suggested that prostate cancer cells might be uniquely sensitive to higher doses of radiation per treatment session than most other cancer cells and normal surrounding tissues, allowing for shorter radiotherapy courses than the conventional regimen. ASCO Daily News >


Dr. Brian Shuch

Gift Received to Study Genetic Forms of Rare Kidney Cancers

Jan 31, 2020 
Dr. Brian Shuch -- 
The UCLA Kidney Cancer Program received $102,483 from Driven to Cure, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy and providing funding for research on rare genetic forms of kidney cancer. The gift will support the work of physician-researcher Brian Shuch, MD, an associate professor of urology and director of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology Kidney Cancer Program.  UCLA Newsroom >U Magazine Article >   UCLA Health Video > 


Dr. Paul Boutros

New Framework Developed to Estimate the Growth of Individual Cancer

Jan 10, 2020
Dr. Paul Boutros 
-- Health News Digest and The Medical News reported on a study led by Paul Boutros, a professor of urology and human genetics and director of cancer data science at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.