May 2025

UROLOGY

SPRING 2025 CONFERENCE RECAP FROM NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE UROLOGY

The Department of Urology participated in several key conferences this spring, including the AUA Annual Advocacy Summit, AUA Annual Meeting and ASCO. Explore our highlights and insights from these impactful events below.

​Key Priorities From the AUA Annual Advocacy Summit 2025
Jennifer U. Miles-Thomas, MD, treasurer of the AUA, attended the American Urological Association Annual Advocacy Summit, held March 3–5, 2025, where she discussed key priorities for enhancing urological care, including:
  • Medicare payment reform and workforce expansion
  • Streamlining prior authorization and addressing drug shortages
  • Responsible use of artificial intelligence in health care while encouraging advocacy among medical students and residents
Innovation in Endourology and Building Successful Clinical Programs
Amy E. Krambeck, MD, emphasized the need for careful evaluation of new technologies for benign prostatic hyperplasia to avoid a “gadget mentality.” She outlined three key pillars for successful clinical practice:
  • Research on quality outcomes
  • Education for trainees
  • Clinical excellence through consistent procedures

Balancing BCG With New and Emerging Treatments in the Era of Personalized Medicine
Joshua J. Meeks, MD, PhD, participated in a debate on the management of high-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), focusing on the role of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy compared with new and emerging treatments.
  • Emphasized the importance of BCG therapy
  • Advocated for BCG as the standard treatment compared with emerging options

Northwestern Medicine Urology Wins National Residency Abstract Olympics at AUA 
Northwestern Medicine Urology Residency Program has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the gold medal in the inaugural National Residency Abstract Olympics at the AUA 2025 Annual Meeting. 
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State-of-the-Art Lecture: Urothelial Markers
Dr. Meeks delivered the State-of-the-Art Lecture on urothelial markers, highlighting key advancements in urothelial cancer management:
  • Tissue-based biomarkers predict chemotherapy response and guide treatment.
  • Urine assays like Cxbladder aid in noninvasive monitoring for high-risk patients.
  • Blood-based biomarkers, including ctDNA, are essential for early detection and targeted therapies.

Joshua J. Meeks, MD, PhD, Discusses NIAGARA Data for Patients Undergoing Cystectomy
The NIAGARA trial showed that perioperative durvalumab (Imfinzi) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduces disease recurrence in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Meeks discussed:
  • A shift toward immunotherapy as the new standard of care
  • The need for systemic therapy discussions in patient care
  • Expected outcomes and timelines for neoadjuvant therapy with immunotherapy

Joshua J. Meeks, MD, PhD, Discusses the Impact of Neoadjuvant Durvalumab Approval in MIBC
Dr. Meeks discussed the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of durvalumab (Imfinzi) in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for neoadjuvant use, followed by adjuvant durvalumab monotherapy after radical cystectomy for adults with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. He offered key insights on:
  • How the NIAGARA trial is changing the way we treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer
  • Why it’s important to bring immunotherapy into the picture earlier
  • The implications for surgical decision making and post-operative care after radical cystectomy

Mitchell Huang, MD, on the Link Between Obesity and Pain on Transperineal Biopsy
In an interview with Urology Times, Mitchell M. Huang, MD, discusses data from the PREVENT trial, ​suggesting that obesity may be a risk factor for higher levels of pain on transperineal biopsy. Dr. Huang shares his hypotheses on the findings. 

ASCO 2025 - Trials-in-Progress: TroFuse-027 Study
​Dr. Meeks presented the TroFuse-027 study, which investigates the role of intravesical sacituzumab tirumotecan in patients with intermediate-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
  • Objective: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of sac-TMT as a monotherapy in this patient population.
  • Study aims to provide new insights into treatment options for patients facing high recurrence rates in intermediate-risk NMIBC.

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