Research Abstract
The focus of our research is on bringing new therapeutic agents and regimens into clinical use for patients with genitourinary malignancy. In prostate cancer, we are testing a novel marine-based drug, ET-743, and studying the use of other new chemotherapy regimens in patients with advanced disease. Together with Dr. Matthew Smith, we continue to have an interest in understanding bone metabolism in patients with and without skeletal metastases from prostate cancer, and in developing bone-targeted treatment approaches. Many of these efforts are done in collaboration with other members and resources of the Prostate SPORE grant supervised by Dr. Phil Kantoff.
In renal cell carcinoma, there is great interest in new biologic agents, particularly small molecule angiogenesis inhibitors such as SU11248, PTK787 and Bay 43-9006. Each of these is in clinical testing at our institution and offer great promise. Future studies will continue to examine newer agents and combination therapies. We have established collaborative efforts within the Renal SPORE grant to focus on translational kidney cancer research, including tumor and serum banking with identification of serum tumor markers for diagnostic and potentially therapeutic purposes. Our interest in bone metabolism extends to kidney cancer, with a current clinical trial focusing on the potential impact of anti-osteoclast therapy with bisphosphonates in this disease.
We have also established a program for transitional cell carcinoma research, and will have clinical trials opening soon in both localized and advanced bladder cancer. One such study will continue a long tradition at Massachusetts General Hospital of studying selective bladder preservation therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and will incorporate new biologic agents into this program. We anticipate that many of the efforts described will lead in the near future to advances in our care of patients with these advanced malignancies.
