Advanced Therapies, Highly Targeted Treatments
Medical oncologist Dr. Michael Adashek specializes in the latest systemic, targeted therapies to treat GU cancers, working closely with you and the care team to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Treatments include:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo) uses cancer-fighting drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemo is a systemic treatment, meaning that it travels through the bloodstream to kill cancer cells that have spread. It may be used to cure, control, or ease symptoms of advanced cancer.
Chemotherapy can be used alone to treat GU cancer or in combination with other treatments such as before or after surgery or in conjunction with radiation therapy.
Most patients will receive chemotherapy via infusion in Chesapeake Urology’s Infusion Therapy Center. Some patients, however, may receive oral chemo (pills) or a skin patch. Dr. Adashek will walk you through the best type of chemo for your cancer type as well as the side effects to expect and how to manage them.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy activates your body’s immune system to fight cancer. It stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Immunotherapy is particularly effective for certain bladder and kidney cancers and may be used alone or with other treatments.
Provenge®, which uses the body’s own immune system to fight prostate cancer, and Keytruda®, which helps the immune system detect and fight cancer cells, are two types of immunotherapy treatments.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy is commonly used for prostate cancer and works by blocking or lowering the levels of hormones (like testosterone) that fuel cancer cell growth. Treatments may involve medications that suppress hormone production or surgical options such as orchiectomy (removal of the testicles).
Hormone therapy is used when prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body or returned after treatment. It can also be used temporarily during radiation therapy for six months to three years to improve outcomes for localized cancers. Though not curative, hormone therapy can be effective for several years.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a precision approach that attacks specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. These therapies are often used in kidney and bladder cancers when tumors have certain molecular markers or mutations.
PARP Inhibitors, for example, block an enzyme that prostate cancer cells need to repair themselves before they die. This type of targeted therapy kills cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy cells. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies are other types of targeted therapies that disrupt signals that tell cancer cells to grow. Targeted therapies often have fewer side effects than chemotherapy, but they can still cause high blood pressure, fatigue, diarrhea, or skin changes.
These treatments are most effective when the cancer has known genetic targets, and genetic testing may be done before starting therapy.
Active Surveillance
Not all cancers need to be treated immediately. For certain slow-growing or early-stage cancers, such as low-risk prostate cancer, active surveillance can be a safe, effective option. Active surveillance involves monitoring the disease and watching for progression, rather than undergoing surgery, radiation treatment, or medical therapies right away. This option typically entails regular office visits, bloodwork, imaging, and additional biopsies to keep a close eye on the disease. Our team works with each patient to make informed decisions and move from active surveillance to active treatment if needed.
Clinical Trials
The Chesapeake Urology Cancer Center offers patients access to clinical trials through our robust research division, Chesapeake Urology Research Associates. A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that investigates the effectiveness of a specific treatment for a particular group of people. Participation is voluntary and can provide access to promising new treatments before they are widely available. We offer several clinical trials for a variety of GU cancers including prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma. Talk to your care team to see if you are a candidate.
At the Chesapeake Urology Cancer Center, our team coordinates closely with your primary care provider, urologist, radiation oncologist, and other specialists to ensure comprehensive, patient-centered care.