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2024 BREAKTHROUGHS IN RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
The Northwestern Medicine Department of Urology proudly highlights significant research discoveries and clinical advances that have the potential to reshape the landscape of urology. This year has been marked by the development of therapies to treat urologic cancers, and breakthrough innovations in biopsy techniques that reduce patient risks.
Celebrate these transformative insights and achievements from the past year below.
Celebrate these transformative insights and achievements from the past year below.
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES
Bladder Cancer Updates
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Combination Treatment Extends Survival in Advanced Bladder Cancer
Immunotherapy administered before and after chemotherapy along with surgical removal of the bladder improved survival compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to results of a recent clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
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Biomarker May Predict Treatment Response in Bladder Cancer
Patients with metastatic urothelial cancer and increased expression of the NECTIN4 gene had a dramatically better response to antibody treatment than patients with reduced gene expression, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. |
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Prostate Cancer Updates
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A Better Prostate Biopsy Technique Advances the Standard of Care
A Northwestern Medicine study in JAMA Oncology suggests an alternative approach, a percutaneous, transperineal prostate biopsy, is as effective at detecting cancer as the transrectal approach, but without the risk of infection or need for prophylactic antibiotics. |
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MYC Oncoprotein Activity Fuels Prostate Cancer Progression
Investigators have discovered that aberrant activation of a specific oncoprotein drives key tumor-promoting changes in the prostate tissue microenvironment during cancer progression, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Communications. |
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Experts Develop Prostate Biopsy Risk Calculator for Black Men
The goal was to create a risk calculator tailored to Black men and validate its effectiveness in predicting outcomes. The findings showed that this risk calculator performed better than established calculators, particularly in identifying low-risk individuals and helping them avoid unnecessary biopsies. |
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CLINICAL ADVANCES
Surgical Technique and Footage
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Pelvic Fascia-Sparing Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Watch Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, demonstrate a prostate-removal approach he used that spared the anterior pelvic fascia on a 67-year-old male with localized prostate cancer. |
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CME: Special Considerations for HoLEP After Failed Prior BPH Surgery
In this 30-minute CME video, Dr. Krambeck presents the case of a 68-year-old patient with a long history of BPH who had previously undergone two failed prior surgical interventions elsewhere. |
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Treating Kidney Stones With RIWO D-URS and Holmium Laser
Dr. Krambeck shares insight on her approach to treating kidney stones using the Richard Wolf Disposable Ureteroscope (RIWO D-URS) alongside a holmium laser. |
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Case studies
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Prostatectomy Following Aquablation: A Case Report Discussion
Dr. Schaeffer discusses how to approach patients who underwent an aquablation procedure and are then diagnosed with prostate cancer. |
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HoLEP for Large Prostate and Bladder Stone
Dr. Krambeck presents a case of a 67-year-old man with an enlarged prostate at a volume of 660 CCs, and he had a 4-centimeter bladder stone. |
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Managing Complex Stone Disease With Unusual Anatomy
A 44-year-old woman with a history of spina bifida who had previously been treated for stone disease presented to Dr. Krambeck with multiple stones in her left kidney and a large stone in her right kidney. |
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Preserving Fertility Post-orchiectomy
A 30-year-old male patient presented to Dr. Brannigan with testicular cancer and a desire to have biological children in the future. |
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Resolving Chronic Testicular Pain: A Complex Case Study
A 41-year-old male presented with chronic testicular pain. Despite undergoing pelvic floor physical therapy and trying various medical treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medication, his pain remained unresolved. |
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Insights and Strategies
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CME: Insights On AUA's Updated Guidelines For Male Infertility
Robert E. Brannigan, MD, expands on the American Urological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s 2024 amendment to the male infertility guideline. |
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Using AI to Improve Local Staging for Prostate Cancer
Hiten D. Patel, MD, joins this episode of Better Edge to discuss his research on using AI to help more accurately detect and stage prostate cancer. |
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The Influence of Sheath Size on HoLEP Outcomes
Amy E. Krambeck, MD discusses her experience performing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) procedures and the evolution of the procedure, including the influence of scope size. |
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Strategies For Managing BCG Shortage in Bladder Cancer
These approaches include prioritizing high-risk patients for BCG administration, reducing therapy duration and frequency, and coordinating clinic visits for partial dosing. |
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department news
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Inside the Northwestern Medicine Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program
Channa A. Amarasekera, MD, dives into the creation of the Northwestern Medicine Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program — the first clinic of its kind in the U.S. |
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Leading Prostate Cancer Research for More Than 20 Years
The NCI established seven Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in prostate cancer across the U.S. beginning in 2001, including the Prostate Center SPORE at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. |
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Northwestern Medicine Welcomes Several Faculty
Awards and physician recognitions
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Channa Amarasekera, MD
Excellence in Medical Student Teaching, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Nelson E. Bennett, Jr., MD Best Black Doctor, Castle Connolly Robert E. Brannigan, MD ASRM Star Award William J. Catalona, MD Highly Ranked Scholars, ScholarGPS America’s Best Prostate Cancer Surgeons, Newsweek/Showmark Amy E. Krambeck, MD HoLEP Center of Excellence award by Boston Scientific |
Ziho Lee, MD
Rising Star Award, Society of Urologic Robotic Surgeons Jennifer U. Miles-Thomas, MD Treasurer-Elect, American Urological Association (AUA) Adam B. Murphy, MD Distinguished Contribution Award to Enhance Diversity, North Central Section, AUA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Health Equity in Prostate Cancer, AdMe Tech Foundation Hiten D. Patel, MD Distinguished Peer Reviewer, JAMA Oncology British Journal of Urology International Americas Prize 2nd Place, Charles B. Huggins Essay Contest (Clinical Research) (mentor), Chicago Urological Society |
Northwestern Medicine Urology
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Northwestern Medicine Urology is committed to providing personalized, integrative and innovative urologic care and conducting leading-edge research to prevent, diagnose and treat urologic conditions.
The Urology Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the highest-ranked in Illinois for the 27th year in a row and among the top-ranked in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, 2024 – 2025. |