Genitourinary Cancer Program
Quick Access to Comprehensive GU Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
At City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago, located in Lake County, Illinois, we provide specialized, collaborative care to diagnose and treat all stages of genitourinary cancers, including early-stage, recurrent and metastatic disease. As part of our commitment to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care, our program incorporates genomic sequencing and profiling of the patient’s tumor to determine whether targeted therapies or clinical trials would be beneficial. We also have the structure to move quickly, seeing patients for consultations and initiating treatment within a week or less from the time of referral.
Meet Our Illinois Genitourinary Oncology Physicians
Our multidisciplinary team is staffed by experts in genitourinary cancers, including urologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, pathologists and supportive care team members. Several of our physicians hold faculty positions at City of Hope Chicago and externally.
Walter Stadler, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.S.C.O.
Medical Oncologist
Chief Clinical Officer
Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
As chief clinical officer, Dr. Stadler is focused on driving innovation and delivering leading-edge treatment and research to patients. He has over 30 years of experience treating genitourinary cancers in the Chicagoland area.
Sutchin Patel, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Urologist
Fellowship-trained in endourology, laparoscopy and robotics, Dr. Patel is an expert in minimally invasive and robotic urologic surgeries. His philosophy is to have patients be active participants in their treatment planning.
Meng Gan, M.D.
Radiation Oncologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
Dr. Gan specializes in the treatment of genitourinary cancers with radiation therapy. She is an expert in multiple techniques, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, brachytherapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy and hypofractionated approaches.
About Our Program
Our program in Northern Illinois is part of the national City of Hope network, which was one of the first centers in the United States to perform robotic-assisted prostatectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System, and is considered one of the most robust single-port prostate cancer surgery programs in the world.
Types of genitourinary cancers we treat include:
We offer a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, including:
Additionally, our team has a strong focus on preservation of urinary and sexual health and function, offering patients urologic reconstruction, pelvic floor therapy, psychosocial support and prosthetics.
Expedited Access to Radiation Therapy
Our radiation oncology department offers a wide spectrum of radiation therapy services, encompassing definitive, salvage and palliative indications. With a focus on expedited care pathways, our team is equipped to initiate treatment often within 48 hours or less following computed tomography (CT) simulation.
Key capabilities include:
- Salvage radiation therapy for recurrent prostate cancer
- Hypofractionated approach for prostate cancer, allowing certain subsets of patients to complete treatment within five fractions
- High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for patients with localized prostate cancer
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for patients with low- to intermediate-risk, localized disease
- Perirectal hydrogel spacers to create separation between the target radiation area and healthy tissues during external beam radiation therapy
- PSMA-targeted PET/CT imaging with external beam radiation delivery to enable precision and dose escalation for prostate cancer
Expertise in Radiopharmaceutical Treatment
Our interventional radiology team provides a deep expertise in theranostic oncology, leveraging U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved radiopharmaceuticals to precisely detect and treat recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer.
Treatment offerings include:
- Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide textraxetan (Pluvicto®), a radioligand therapy for patients with PSMA-expressing metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. City of Hope Chicago was the second hospital in the state of Illinois to offer this treatment, and now also offers it for the FDA-expanded use for prostate cancer progression on one ARPI and prior to chemotherapy
- Pilufoastat F-18 (Pylaryify®), a PSMA-targeted PET radiotracer for detection of prostate cancer in initial staging and biochemical recurrence
- Radium Ra 223 dichloride (Xofigo®) for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and symptomatic bone metastases without visceral disease
Open Chicago-Area Genitourinary Cancer Clinical Trials
City of Hope Chicago is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment by leveraging innovative therapies and offering best-in-class clinical trials. As part of this commitment, we are currently enrolling for the following genitourinary cancer clinical trial at our location in Zion, Illinois:
Study of Casdatifan and Cabozantinib Versus Placebo and Cabozantinib in Patients With Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Description: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) of casdatifan versus placebo when each is given in combination with cabozantinib in adult patients with confirmed advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma who have experienced progression on or after prior anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.
- Conditions:
- Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- Advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- Study sponsor: Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT07011719
- Note: At the time the study opened, the City of Hope Chicago location was the only one in the Midwest to offer this trial.
A Study to Learn About the Medicine Called PF-08634404 Dosed Alone and in Combination With Other Anticancer Therapies in Adults With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer
- This study is testing a new medicine called PF-08634404 and how it works in adults with advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)-. The study will look at the safety of the study medicine, when given alone or with other anticancer medicines, and how this type of cancer responds to them.
- Conditions:
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Renal neoplasm
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- Metastatic renal cell carcinoma
- Study Sponsor: Pfizer
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT07227415
Docetaxel to Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors in Patients With Metastatic Castration Sensitive Prostate Cancer and Suboptimal PSA Response (TRIPLE-SWITCH)
- This is an international multi-centre, open-label, randomized phase III trial comparing Docetaxel chemotherapy added to standard of care Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) + Androgen-Receptor Pathway Inhibitor (ARPI) versus standard of care Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) + Androgen-Receptor Pathway Inhibitor (ARPI) in participants with metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) who have a suboptimal PSA response after 6-12 months of androgen-targeting therapy.
- Conditions: Prostate cancer (adenocarcinoma)
- Study Sponsor: Canadian Clinical Trials Group
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06592924
Refer a Patient to City of Hope
We strive to offer a well-coordinated experience for our referring providers. Upon receiving your referral, our team will immediately begin processing it, with minimal work on your end.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our Illinois cancer center is recognized by several organizations that evaluate the quality of hospital programs as:
Latest Genitourinary Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient cancer care locations are intentionally structured to maximize speed to care, with: