FRI-12 DR. ALAN YAGODA AND THE EVOLUTION OF GENITOURINARY MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory of Urology I (Podium)1 Apr 2014FRI-12 DR. ALAN YAGODA AND THE EVOLUTION OF GENITOURINARY MEDICAL ONCOLOGY Diana Cardona-Grau and Mark White Diana Cardona-GrauDiana Cardona-Grau More articles by this author and Mark WhiteMark White More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2014.02.1730AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail Introduction and Objectives In the mid 1980s Dr. Alan Yagoda and his group at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center introduced the combination chemotherapy methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplastin (MVAC) for the treatment of bladder cancer. This was one of the first successful systemic therapies in the treatment of genitourinary (GU) malignancies. This review will focus on the seminal research and pivotal investigators that helped shape the field of genitourinary medical oncology as we recognize it today, with a special focus on Dr. Alan Yagoda. Methods A review of the available literature was performed on the history of genitourinary oncology, the early research on systemic therapies for GU malignancies and Dr. Alan Yagoda. A literature search was performed using PUBMED as well as conventional search engines. Further information about Dr. Yagoda was obtained via email communication with medical oncologists and urologists who trained and worked with Dr. Yagoda, currently leaders in their respective fields. Results Prior to the advent of systemic therapies for GU cancers, malignancies of the testes, bladder, kidneys and prostate were regarded as primarily “surgical diseases.” A key figure in the advancement of the field of genitourinary medical oncology, Dr. Yagoda, led investigations of systemic therapies to treat cancers of the testes, bladder, kidneys and prostate with a special interest in bladder cancer. Dr. Yagoda was eccentric and those who worked with him described him as “larger than life.” However, as a researcher, he was brilliant and as a mentor, he was selfless and fair. Through his systematic and rigorous research methods his group introduced the first successful systemic therapy for advanced bladder cancer. His scientific accomplishments were significant but his legacy was even more outstanding and reflected by the accomplishments of those he mentored. Breakthroughs in systemic therapies for all GU malignancies contributed to the shaping of the field of genitourinary oncology and provided the impetus for the current breadth of investigation and advancements in the field. Conclusions The advent of systemic therapies for GU cancers led to the evolution of the field of genitourinary medical oncology at a time when GU malignancies where regarded as “surgical diseases” and their care relegated to urologists. The seminal research in chemotherapy for bladder cancer, and many other GU malignancies, was led by Dr. Alan Yagoda an enigmatic character and brilliant researcher. His contributions and his legacy have helped shape the field of multidisciplinary genitourinary oncology as we recognize it today. © 2014FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 191Issue 4SApril 2014Page: e624-e625 Peer Review Report Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2014MetricsAuthor Information Diana Cardona-Grau More articles by this author Mark White More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...