Research Interests
In collaboration with the UC San Diego Division of Urology, beginning in 2002 I established the first dedicated genitourinary malignancies clinic in San Diego County, devoted to the care of patients with prostate cancer, testicular cancer (germ cell tumors), kidney cancer, bladder cancer and other cancers of the urinary tract. We now have a large and vibrant group incorporating surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, basic scientists, clinical research associates and other ancillary personnel, and a biweekly tumor board. We maintain a menu of clinical trials investigating new approaches to these diseases. Examples of recent and ongoing studies include:
*Use of the cellular immunotherapy sipuleucel-T in combination with abiraterone for advanced prostate cancer;
*Sipuleucel-T in early stage (PSA-only) prostate cancer;
*Anti-cMET antibody for advanced prostate and kidney cancer;
*Anti-PD1 (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) for kidney cancer
*Cabozantinib (XL184, a combined inhibitor of VEGFR and cMET) for advanced prostate cancer;
*Adjuvant and neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitors in kidney cancer;
*Collaboration with the Global Germ Cell Cancer Group (G3) project on defining the natural history and optimal treatment of brain metastases in germ cell tumor patients.
Education and Training
MD - Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA - 1980
Residency - Internal Medicine, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA - 1984
Fellowship - Hematology/Onclogy, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA and Scripps Clinic - 1987