Urologic Oncology
Genitourinary (Urologic) Oncology
The Urologic Oncology Program, the most comprehensive in North Carolina for treating genitourinary cancers, offers a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options, plus studies that advance the treatment of cancer, as well as access to novel clinical trials.
Advanced, Historical Urologic Surgeries
Our urologic surgeons are pioneers and innovators in robotic surgery. Our Urological Oncology fellowship trained urologic surgeon, K.C. Balaji, MD, performed the first robotic radical nephrectomy and urinary diversion in the world using the robotic surgery tool, known as the daVinci® Surgical System. Our team of urologic oncologists regularly performs reconstructive surgery with the daVinci.
Our doctors were one of the first teams in the world to remove the bladder, kidneys and part of the ureter using the daVinci. They then reconstructed the ureter using the robotic surgery tool. This minimally invasive approach to urologic reconstruction is critical to regaining as much function as possible after cancer treatment.
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Experienced, Multidisciplinary Teams
Highly specialized experts in urologic cancer surgery, robotic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, pathology and clinical research work seamlessly together to offer patients the most effective treatments and the best long-term outcomes. Meet our team of cancer experts.
Special expertise is directed toward the diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of patients with tumors of the prostate, bladder, kidney/ureter, testis and other genitourinary sites. Uro-radiologists in this program have extensive experience with image-guided thermal ablation of renal tumors, a procedure unavailable at most cancer centers. Learn more about our treatments for urologic cancers.
Advanced Research Program in Urologic Oncology
Our clinicians take part in an active research program, including numerous in-house and cooperative oncology group trials. We collaborated on a Wake Forest Center for Cancer Genomics project that identified five genetic variants associated with prostate cancer risk and is currently working to combine somatic mutations with germ line mutations to determine risk.
Other research projects include a trial evaluating pre-surgery chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer, a trial evaluating pre-operative chemotherapy and radiation in bladder cancer, and an international phase III trial for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Learn more about our cancer research.
Regenerative Treatments for Nerve Regeneration
In conjunction with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, urologists are working in the area of nerve regeneration, with the goal of transferring laboratory-engineered nerves to prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy as a way to induce early recovery of sexual function.