Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD
Director, Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute
Edmund Andrews Professor and Chair
Department of Urology
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine
In January 2019, the Polsky family made a transformational gift to establish the Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Over the past three years, we have expanded our team of expert physicians and leading scientists, enhanced our clinical trial network, and continued to provide innovative care to optimize outcomes for urologic cancer patients.
This year, the Department of Urology was the top ranked urology program in Illinois for the 22nd consecutive year and the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital was ranked No. 6 in the nation for cancer by US News & World Report. Additionally, Northwestern Memorial Hospital was recognized among the top hospitals in the country, ranking No. 10 on the prestigious "America's Best Hospitals" Honor Roll.
Over the past year, we have expanded urologic cancer care to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest, Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, and will be expanding to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in 2022. With enhanced access to care across hospitals, the Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute of the Lurie Cancer Center was able to provide patients with coordinated system-wide specialty care, access to clinical trials throughout communities across Chicagoland, and magnified interregional partnerships and knowledge exchange among providers.
Our "Year in Review" highlights our notable achievements, and the people who make them possible. We will continue to build upon this excellence with continued growth, new scientific discoveries and innovative patient care in Chicago and beyond.
Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD
Director, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Jesse, Sara, Andrew, Abigail, Benjamin and Elizabeth Lurie Professor of Oncology
Despite the challenges faced throughout 2021, our clinicians, scientists and staff continued to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and make advances on all fronts.
Prostate cancer research and treatment at the Lurie Cancer Center reached a new level, bolstered by a $9.2 million grant renewal from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for our continued leadership of a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Prostate Cancer. Lurie Cancer Center's Prostate Cancer SPORE is one of only eight in the country, and the only one in Illinois. Led by co-principal investigators Sarki Abdulkadir, MD, PhD, and Maha Hussain, MD, our SPORE's interdisciplinary teams are focused on designing and conducting innovative clinical trials to improve outcomes and overall quality of life for patients with prostate cancer.
As in years past, we will continue to expand our efforts to increase collaboration and maximize impact across all areas of urologic cancer research and care. We thank the Polsky family for their continued support and Ted Schaeffer for his leadership of the Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute of the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Together, the Lurie Cancer Center and Polsky Institute bring together some of the brightest minds in urologic cancer research and treatment.
The Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute of the Lurie Cancer Center offers innovative, multidisciplinary treatment of all genitourinary cancers through a disease centric program of research, education and discovery.
We are thrilled to welcome Channa Amarasekera, MD and Ziho Lee, MD to Northwestern.
Dr. Amarasekera is assistant professor of Urology and director of the Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program at Northwestern Medicine. Clinically, Dr. Amarasekera specializes in men’s health, sexual medicine and reconstructive surgery. He is a leader in the research of health outcomes in urology for gay and bisexual men and has developed a framework for how to optimize treatment for prostate cancer among this patient population. He will lead Northwestern’s efforts to improve the urologic care experience, outcomes and quality of life for gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer and other urologic conditions.
Dr. Amarasekera earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed residency training in urology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and a fellowship in sexual medicine and reconstructive urology at Rush University Medical Center.
Dr. Lee joins as assistant professor of Urology, with a specialization in male urologic reconstruction and robotic reconstructive surgery. His research focuses on surgical techniques and outcomes of robot-assisted urologic reconstruction procedures, as well as surgical techniques and outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University. He completed urology residency and fellowship in advanced robotic oncology and reconstruction at Temple University. He also completed a fellowship in genitourinary reconstructive surgery and trauma at the University of Washington. Dr. Lee’s unique training brings leading-edge, individualized treatments for patients undergoing genitourinary reconstruction following prostate cancer treatment.
Following FDA approval in 2021, Northwestern Memorial Hospital was the first site in Chicagoland to perform prostate imaging studies using the positron emission tomography (PET) agent Pylarify® (piflufolastat F-18). Pylarify has been shown to enhance the detection of prostate cancer by enabling visualization of suspected metastasis in lymph nodes, bone and soft tissue. This allows for precision in initial staging and treatment decisions, and detection of suspected recurrence when serum PSA is elevated. Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, has integrated Pylarify into his practice for newly diagnosed patients and those with cancer recurrence. "It is a valuable tool in the evaluation of prostate cancer, particularly with respect to surgical and radiation planning," he says. Dr. Schaeffer is the principal investigator of a clinical trial that is using the agent for staging newly diagnosed prostate cancer with PET magnetic resonance (PET-MR).
Hatice Savas, MD, assistant professor of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, is a co-investigator on the trial with Dr. Schaeffer. "This new and innovative prostate cancer imaging agent combines the high image quality of PET with the precision of targeting the prostate cancer-specific marker PSMA," says Dr. Savas. "We are also proud to offer PSMA-targeted PET imaging using the new hybrid technologies PET-MR and state-of-the-art digital PET-CT scanners."
In this podcast, Dr. Schaeffer, Dr. Savas and Ashley E. Ross, MD, PhD, associate professor of Urology and clinical director of the Polsky Institute, discuss this breakthrough diagnostic tool and what it means for the field.
Joshua J. Meeks MD, PhD, associate professor of Urology and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, specializes in the surgical treatment of non-muscle and muscle-invasive bladder cancer with an emphasis on maintaining urinary and sexual function after bladder removal. An author on over 150 research manuscripts, Dr. Meeks is conducting research to provide the most effective clinical treatments for bladder cancer.
In this podcast, Dr. Meeks discusses his work in epigenetics and genetic mutations associated with cancer, and how muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancers are some of the most complex diagnoses to treat. Dr. Meeks also shares his study on how chromatin remodeling genes play a role in bladder cancer. In the future, he hopes to develop novel systemic and intravesical therapies to improve survival of patients with bladder cancer.
Sean Sachdev, MD, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, specializes in the treatment of prostate cancer utilizing image-guided conformal dose-escalated radiotherapy for improved outcomes and better normal structure sparing. Dr. Sachdev started the Stereotactic Radiotherapy Prostate Treatment Program at Northwestern. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) is a type of radiation therapy that uses state of the art imaging guidance as well as precisely targeted radiation beam technology to deliver radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. Historically SBRT was used for other areas of the body, but advances in technology have expanded its use for the treatment of prostate cancer. For eligible patients, treatment can be completed in as few as five sessions. In this podcast, Dr. Sachdev discusses his unique focus on stereotactic radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Cancer and its treatments can affect fertility in a variety of ways, and recent advances in cancer detection and treatment have led to an increasing number of cancer survivors for whom future fertility is a primary concern. Combining techniques from oncology and reproductive medicine, the Polsky Institute offers leading-edge fertility preservation to expand fertility options for adolescent and adult male patients with cancer.
In this video, Robert E. Brannigan, MD, vice chair of Clinical Urology, chief of Male Reproductive Medicine and Men’s Health, and professor of Urology describes Northwestern’s approach to male fertility preservation and translational advances in the field of oncofertility.
In this video, Shilajit D. Kundu, MD, chief of Urologic Oncology and associate professor of Urology, shares the story of a testicular cancer patient who underwent fertility preservation at Northwestern prior to treatment. “We had to navigate within the whole process of his diagnosis and treatment, how we could treat his cancer effectively and also maintain his quality of life in terms of fathering future children,” says Dr. Kundu.
Watch to learn more
Published in The Journal of Urology, Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, developed a quality improvement initiative to improve detrusor muscle sampling on transurethral resection of bladder tumor for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Because detrusor muscle presence is essential for accurate staging of bladder cancer, Dr. Meeks and his research team sought to increase surgeon awareness of detrusor sample rates. The team extracted the presence of detrusor muscle in the pathology report and transurethral resection specimen from medical records and distributed scorecards to individual surgeons. In the year following scorecard distribution, rates of detrusor muscle sampling increased and was associated with decreased risk of disease recurrence.
Our team of scientists are working to drive breakthroughs in treatment and accelerate new discoveries in the field of urologic oncology.
The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University was awarded a five-year, $9.2 million grant renewal from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its continued leadership of a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Prostate Cancer.
Led by co-principal investigators Sarki Abdulkadir, MD, PhD, the John T. Grayhack, MD, Professor of Urological Research, vice chair for research in the Department of Urology, and associate director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Lurie Cancer Center, and Maha Hussain, MD, the Genevieve E. Teuton Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology and deputy director of the Lurie Cancer Center, the multi-center consortium provides an integrated scientific environment that leverages the expertise and resources of its investigators to conduct highly translational research projects. First funded in 2001, Lurie Cancer Center’s Prostate Cancer SPORE is one of only eight in the country, and the only one in Illinois.
The Prostate Cancer SPORE brings together basic scientists, clinicians, pathologists, biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, and patient advocates to advance collaborative research projects that will be carried out by investigators at the Lurie Cancer Center, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center and NorthShore University HealthSystem. In addition, the interdisciplinary teams will design and conduct innovative clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes and overall quality of life for patients with prostate cancer.
The SPOREs are a cornerstone of the NCI’s efforts to promote collaborative, translational cancer research. The projects supported by the grant will focus on two urgent issues in prostate cancer today, led by co-investigators from the Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine with complementary basic and clinical science expertise.
The Polsky Institute’s multidimensional, highly transformative research program aims to translate scientific discoveries into impactful medical solutions for patients. Below are some of our team’s transformative breakthroughs in urologic cancer research.
Research by Qi Cao, PhD, associate professor of Urology, is improving the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer development and progression, as well as pinpointing genes that drive the development of cancers, which may help identify patients who will benefit from immunotherapy
Dr. Cao has identified a potential therapeutic target for treating solid tumors, such as those found in prostate cancer and breast cancer. “The novelty of this work is that we found the function of EZH2 at a translational level. We call this a ‘non-canonical’ function of EZH2,” Cao said.
EZH2 is a well-known oncogene found in solid tumors and has also been identified as a transcription repressor — EZH2, the protein, binds to specific sites on DNA, blocking the transcription of surrounding genes into mRNA. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in EZH2’s role in regulating oncogenesis and overall cancer development have remained unknown, according to Cao.
In a recent study published in Nature Cell Biology, the investigators utilized ribosome profiling technology to analyze active ribosomes in human prostate cancer cell lines. They discovered that EZH2 regulates two crucial RNA modification and translation processes in the cancer cells: impairing one kind of methylation and reducing a specific form of translation initiation in the ribosome. The findings suggest EZH2’s dual role in regulating transcription and translation in EZH2-high cancer cells promote cancer progression by accelerating ribosome functions and contributing to cancer-related translational control.
Using circulating tumor DNA to identify patients at risk of urothelial cancer relapse after surgical resection could help improve post-surgery treatment, according to a study published in Nature.
Patients who test positive for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery and who were treated with immunotherapy had improved disease-free survival compared to patients who were positive for ctDNA but did not receive immunotherapy. These results demonstrate the power of personalized medicine in cancer therapy, according to Maha Hussain, MD, a co-author of the study. “Better risk prediction allows for better individualized therapy intensification targeting micro-metastatic disease in patients who are at risk of relapse,” said Hussain, who is deputy director of the Lurie Cancer Center and a member of the Polsky Institute Advisory Board.
Research by Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD,shows that Black men die more often of prostate cancer, but have greater survival benefits from immunotherapy treatment. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could lead to immune-based precision medicine treatment for men of all races with localized aggressive and advanced prostate cancer.
The research found that tumors from Black men and men of African ancestry have an increased proportion of a special immune cell called plasma cells compared to the tumors of white men. This increase in plasma cells correlated with improved cancer survival following surgery and identified plasma cells as potential drivers of prostate cancer immune-responsiveness.
The team is now developing immunotherapy-based precision medicine clinical trials to investigate whether increased levels of plasma cells in prostate cancers from men of all races and ancestry can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and improve survival.
A clinical trial led by Adam Murphy, MD, MBA, MCSI, assistant professor of Urology and Preventive Medicine, sought to understand how assays such as the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) impact treatment selection and decision making in diverse populations.
Dr. Murphy and team designed a randomized clinical trial in a predominately Black population from three public hospitals in Chicago. Published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, this was the first clinical trial of a prognostic multigene expression score on initial treatment choice among men with favorable-risk prostate cancer.
The study found that GPS did not impact acceptance of active surveillance, and there was no significant difference of its effect between races. However, acceptance of active surveillance was much lower among men with low health literacy, highlighting the importance of counseling patients about treatment options to encourage informed decision making.
As part of the Lurie Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute provides leading-edge clinical trials for patients with genitourinary cancers, many of which are only available at Northwestern Medicine.
Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, is leading one of the first biomarker-directed trials of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The Thor-2 trial (NCT04172675) targets tumors with driver mutations in the FGFR3 gene. FGFR3 is altered in 40-70% of early stage bladder cancers, and is hypothesized to be a rare driver mutation in bladder cancer. To enroll patients, we will begin sequencing patients with NMIBC as they receive standard therapy. If they have recurrence or progression, and they have a mutation in FGFR3, they may be candidates to receive a pill, erdafitinib (balversa), which targets the mutated FGFR3. In prior trials with erdafitinib, almost half of patients with mutations in FGFR3 with advanced cancer responded to erdafitinib. We anticipate an even greater response in this early setting. If erdafitinib is successful, it would the first precision therapy for early stage bladder cancer. Additionally, for patients with NMIBC, taking a pill may more preferable that repeated catheterization, and could be a new paradigm in bladder oncology.
Sean Sachdev, MD, is national co-chair and the Northwestern primary investigator of a multi-site trial that aims to use the Decipher genomic risk score to appropriately tailor the duration of ADT deprivation therapy for men with newly diagnosed high risk prostate cancer. With over 100 sites, this will be the first large phase III prostate cancer trial using a genomic risk stratifier.
Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD, is collaborating with Jim Hu, MD, MPH, at Weill Cornell Medicine to lead a multisite randomized controlled trial to evaluate in-office transperineal MRI-targeted prostate biopsy. Sponsored by the NCI, this trial compares transperineal MRI-targeted biopsy under local anesthesia against standard practice transrectal MRI-targeted prostate biopsy to evaluate infection, comparable pain/discomfort, and determine if there is improved detection of prostate cancer.
Sarki Abdulkadir, MD, PhD, was named Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Lurie Cancer Center. In this new role, Abdulkadir will lead the Lurie Cancer Center's efforts to enhance the diversity of the research workforce, promote career-enhancing research opportunities for early- and mid-career researchers from diverse backgrounds, and foster an equitable and inclusive environment throughout the Lurie Cancer Center.
Dr. Abdulkadir was also named on the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition’s third annual list of “Researchers to Know” at Illinois universities under the category “Preventing Disease.”
Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, was elected to the Bladder Cancer Task Force of the National Cancer Institute’s Genitourinary Cancer Steering Committee. As the Southwest Oncology Group Early Career Investigator Representative, Meeks will advise on bladder cancer research and priorities proposed by the National Cancer Institute’s Genitourinary Cancer Steering Committee.
Sarki Abdulkadir, MD, PhD, was awarded a R01 by the National Cancer Institute for his proposal “Small molecule probes of MYC stability and function in tumorigenesis.” The MYC oncogene is the most common cancer gene involved in human cancer and is overexpressed in over half of all cancers. However, there has been a paucity of small molecule MYC inhibitors amenable to in vivo efficacy studies. Dr. Abdulkadir has developed new small molecule inhibitors of MYC, which will be applied as chemical probes to unmask distinct biology that complements the knowledge derived from genetic manipulations of MYC proteins. The findings will contribute to the efforts aimed at developing small molecule MYC as potential therapeutics for prostate cancer.
Qi Cao, PhD, received a R01 by the National Cancer Institute for his proposal “A non-canonical role for EZH2 in rRNA methylation.” EZH2 is a well-known histone lysine methyltransferase and an oncogene upregulated in many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. In this project, Dr. Cao will investigate the novel role for EZH2 in rRNA 2’-O-ribose methylation, ribosomal functions and protein synthesis. Successful completion of this project will provide novel mechanistic insights into EZH2’s functions beyond lysine methyltransferase and transcription repressor activities.
Adam Murphy, MD, MBA, MCSI, was awarded a Translational Science Award by the Department of Defense. The proposal titled “Expanding an active surveillance cohort to improve survivorship for Black men with favorable-risk prostate cancer” hopes to enable increased use of active surveillance among Black and low socioeconomic men to improve survivorship. The study also aims to increase active surveillance selection in these populations to prevent overtreatment and unnecessary treatment-related side effects.
Ashley Ross, MD, PhD, and Vishal Kothari, PhD, research assistant professor of Urology, were named George M. Eisenberg Foundation Scholars by the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute. Eisenberg Scholars explore the most provocative and novel research directions in the field of translational medicine.
By analyzing gene expression data from nearly 20,000 prostate cancer patients with localized disease, Dr. Kothari was part of a research team that previously identified a novel class of prostate cancer characterized by low androgen receptor activity, increased metastasis, and a faster development of resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy. In identifying this subtype of aggressive prostate cancer, the research team sought to identify, characterize, and target the gene that promotes its progression. This project will explore that gene (NFATc4) in an attempt to understand how it imparts aggressiveness to low androgen receptor prostate cancer. The data obtained are expected to be critical in providing a strong rationale for developing an effective therapy directed at target gene NFATc4.
Dr. Ross is working with C. Hendricks Brown, PhD, professor of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences and Medical Social Sciences to lead a project that seeks to identify strategies to increase rates of genetic testing among men with advanced prostate cancer. Increases in the utilization of genetic testing for men in this population may improve survival rates through personalized treatment and the identification of family members who may benefit from earlier and more frequent prostate cancer screening. This study will be the first to define the landscape of genetic testing practices among men with metastatic prostate cancer since widespread endorsement of this practice by national guidelines and professional societies. Further, it will be the first to report on attitudes towards prostate cancer genetic testing, with a goal of using this information to increase utilization.
Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD, received a R01 by the National Cancer Institute for his proposal “PARTIAL: Pelvic fascia spARing radical prostatectomy TrIAL.” He will collaborate with investigators at Cornell and Johns Hopkins to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate pelvic fasica sparing radical prostatectomy, a new surgical technique that may preserve fascial support structures and nerves that are severed and resected during conventional radical prostatectomy.
The Lurie Cancer Center Supportive Oncology Program provides emotional and practical support for patients and families coping with the challenges of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. A multidisciplinary team comprised of oncology social workers, psychologists, and dieticians are dedicated to listening and responding to patient concerns, promoting well-being, and treating each individual with respect and compassion. In partnership with the Polsky Institute, the Lurie Cancer Center's social workers provide tailored counseling and resources for our patients with urologic cancers.
The Polsky Institute hosts online support groups for patients with bladder and prostate cancers. The groups are complimentary and open to anyone regardless of where they were treated. Led by patient advocates and social workers, the monthly groups allow patients, caregivers, and survivors from across the nation to share experiences and receive support.
The Women’s Bladder Cancer Support Group of Northwestern Medicine is the only one of its kind in the United States. The group was created as a result of research by Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, which suggested a gap in supportive care for female bladder cancer patients. Published in Bladder Cancer, the study describes patient perspectives on strategies for enhancing support and improving the overall healthcare experience for women with bladder cancer.
Established in 2021, the Northwestern Medicine Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program is designed to improve the urologic care experience, outcomes and quality of life for gay and bisexual men. The first of its kind in the United States, the program was conceptualized by Dr. Schaeffer due to the increasing number of prostate cancer patients who identify as gay or bisexual.
Led by Channa Amarasekera, MD, the program provides comprehensive urologic care in an inclusive environment where sexual orientation and sexual health can be openly discussed. The patient-provider relationship is grounded in trust, which allows providers to develop care plans tailored to the specific needs and treatment goals of each patient.
In addition to clinical care, the program will conduct research to address urologic healthcare disparities among sexual minorities as well as educate clinicians, residents and medical students on culturally appropriate care for these patients. Dr. Amarasekera discusses the Northwestern Medicine Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program and how it’s filling an unmet need in The New York Times.
In this video, Dr. Amarasekera discusses his research examining urologists’ knowledge and attitudes toward sexual minority patients and how the Northwestern Medicine Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program is working to reduce these disparities and improve gay and bisexual men’s urologic health.
Adam Murphy, MD, MBA, MSCI, has developed a transdisciplinary research collaborative of disparities-focused urologists, prostate cancer researchers, and pathologists at academic medical centers throughout Chicago. A major focus of the team is the inclusion of minority groups in prostate cancer clinical trials. To promote recruitment of a diverse population of individuals from various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, the team has partnered with John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago. In a previous trial led by Dr. Murphy, over 40% of participants were African American.
In this lecture, Dr. Murphy discusses the recruitment framework designed by this consortium, reviews factors that may influence minority participation in clinical trials and presents strategies for increasing diversity in clinical trials.
In 2020, Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford requested a prostate cancer screening from his primary care physician, but he was told he was too young at the age of 48.
As a Black man, he knew he had a higher risk of being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer compared to men of other races. He decided to advocate for himself and saw Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD, who diagnosed him with unfavorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
Thanks to early detection of the cancer followed by immediate surgery, Rep. Ford publicly announced his recovery in June 2021. Dr. Schaeffer says the implications of his survival are vital for local men in Black communities. "Prostate cancer disproportionally affects men of African ancestry," he explains. "Rep. Ford's story brings needed attention to this critical health disparity."
Northwestern and the Polsky Institute continue to develop initiatives designed to combat health disparities. We work closely with community partners to identify priority health concerns and jointly develop community-based initiatives designed to address healthcare disparities. Most recently, Rep. Ford collaborated with Adam B. Murphy, MD, MBA, MSCI, to educate men on Chicago's West Side about men’s health issues and the importance of prostate cancer screening. PSA testing was also available at the event, which was held at a local barbershop as part of a Lurie Cancer Center community outreach initiative.
The Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute promotes excellence in patient care and safety through accredited education activities based on up-to-date, clinically relevant, scientifically rigorous, evidence-based medical information.
In February 2021, the Polsky Institute implemented a didactic CME lecture series on critical topics in genitourinary oncology titled “Advances and Updates in Urologic Oncology.” With participants from around the world, leaders in urology, medical oncology, pathology and radiology delivered 17 lectures on developments and innovations in urologic cancer care. Topics included optimization of prostate biopsy, robotic reconstruction of complications in urologic oncology, and a review of practice changing articles in bladder cancer.
Experts from the Lurie Cancer Center's Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute participated in national committees to develop practice guidelines and clinical recommendations for the management of urologic malignancies.
Chair, Prostate Cancer Guidelines Panel, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD
Mohammad Rashid Siddiqui, MD, a fourth year resident in the Department of Urology, is the recipient of a Urology Care Foundation Residency Research Award. These awards provide motivated and exceptional urology residents with mentored training to prepare them for careers in urologic research. Siddiqui is working under the direction of Ashley Ross, MD, PhD, to study the utilization of MRI and other advanced prostate cancer screening tools prior to diagnostic prostatic biopsy to determine whether real world implementation of MRI allows for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer while limiting the absolute number of prostate biopsies.
These achievements are made possible through the generosity of the Polsky family and other philanthropic partners who share our commitment to innovative research and patient-centered care. Every gift is meaningful and brings us closer to the discoveries that save lives. The dedication of our supporters enables our physicians and scientists to push the boundaries of medical research and change the future of cancer care.
Northwestern’s Cancer Center, founded in 1974, was dedicated in 1991 through an endowment from Ann and Robert H. Lurie. The title was modified in 1997, when the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University received the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) prestigious “Comprehensive” designation, a reflection of our dedication to the highest standards of cancer research, patient care, education and community outreach.
Lurie Cancer Center is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 31 of the world's leading cancer centers, devoted to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, and also part of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium, a network of academic institutions working together on highly translational clinical trials using the expertise of Big Ten universities.
Through our clinical partnerships with Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Lurie Cancer Center is uniquely positioned to offer patients leading-edge treatments and exceptional cancer care.
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