Featured in the Media
Doctors diagnose the treatment options for stage II prostate cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), more than 186,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in
2009. One of those recently diagnosed with the disease is radio legend Don Imus. Doctors told the 68 year old that he has
stage 2 prostate cancer, which is the second most common type of cancer among men – behind only to skin cancer – in the U.S.
, per the NCI. Dr. Leonard Gomella, chair of the Department of Urology , and associate director of Clinical Affairs at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson , provided expert insight into the
treatment options available for Imus in a New York Daily News article, and locally on the 6 ABC Web site.
Media Coverage
New York Daily News
6 ABC.com
Proepithelin Encourages Cell Growth and Migration in Prostate Cancer
(Published 3-11-2009) Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have identified a protein that appears to play a significant
role in the growth and migration of prostate cancer cells, especially androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. The study
was published in the American Journal of Pathology.
Akhil K. Das, M.D., Joins the Department of Urology at Jefferson
(Published: 11-25-2008) Akhil K. Das, M.D., recently joined the Department of Urology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
(TJUH), and was also named assistant professor of Urology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Dr.
Das specializes in female urology and laser treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate).
Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center Network Appoints New Clinical Director
(Published 11-17-2008) The Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center Network has appointed Leonard Gomella, M.D., F.A.C.S., clinical
director of the network after serving as interim clinical director for nine months. Three other physicians also took on new
leadership roles as associate clinical directors: Scot Fisher, D.O.; Ernest “Gary” Rosato, M.D., F.A.C.S.; and William Tester,
M.D., F.A.C.P.
Jefferson, Ohio State Team Find Gene Signature Profile for Metastasis
(Published: 5-30-2008) A common signature of tiny, specific pieces of non-coding genetic material known as microRNAs (miRNAs)
may be directly involved in the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson
in Philadelphia and Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus have identified such a signature, made up mostly of overexpressed
miRNAs. The findings, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, may represent
a novel diagnostic tool in characterizing gene targets in metastatic cancer.
Monitoring Blood Flow Helps Improve Prostate Biopsies, Jefferson Researchers Report
(Published 5-23-2008) Using a special ultrasound technique to spot areas of blood flow in the prostate gland may substantially
reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, according to a new study by urologists and radiologists at the Jefferson Prostate
Diagnostic Center and the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia.
High Intensity Ultrasound Being Studied as New Treatment for Prostate Cancer
(Published: 2-14-2008) Urologic researchers at Jefferson’s Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia are studying whether high
intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can be an effective treatment for low-risk prostate cancer and an alternative to using
surgery, radiotherapy or cryosurgery.
Featured in the Media
Grow Your Own Replacement Parts
(Published: 2-6-2008, CBS News) About 98,000 people are on a waiting list for transplants right now. Many of them will die
before they get one. Now, a new generation of researchers is changing that, one cell at a time. CBS News, in the first in
a two-part series on the innovative field of regenerative medicine, reports on a clinical trial at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital in Philadelphia, a patient got a bladder transplant -with a new bladder grown from her own cells.
Department of Urology
Media Coverage
CBS News
CBS 3
Featured in the Media
Reading Hospital surgeons applaud robotic assistant
(Published 12-27-07, Reading Eagle) The newest member of Reading Hospital's surgical team has never worn scrubs, attended
college or graduated from medical school. The hospital has joined a growing list of hospitals worldwide to acquire a surgical
robot called daVinci to help surgeons work. The machine's $1.5 million base price puts robotics surgery out of financial reach
for many hospitals, said Dr. Costas D. Lallas, assistant professor of oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital in Philadelphia. Lallas has been training Reading Hospital surgeons how to use the daVinci machine.
Department of Urology
Kimmel Cancer Center
Media Coverage
Reading Eagle
Jefferson Urologists Studying Regenerated Neo-Bladder to Help Spinal Cord Injury Patients
(Published: 10-3-2007) Urologists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are studying whether a neo-bladder construct grown
from a patient’s own cells can improve bladder function for adult spinal cord injury patients.
Featured in the Media
New Procedure Could Improve Bladders in Spinal Cord Patients
(Published 10-1-07) Urologists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are studying a procedure that could improve the bladder
control of adults with spinal cord injuries.
Department of Urology
Media Coverage
KYW Newsradio 1060AM
Circulating Tumor Cells Predict How Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients Fare, Jefferson Scientist Finds
(Published: 6-4-2007) The number of tumor cells circulating in the bloodstream of patients with metastatic, hormone-resistant,
prostate cancer can predict how they will do with chemotherapy, according to results of an international trial. The findings,
if backed by larger studies, could have important implications for designing personalized treatments for this very dangerous
type of prostate cancer, the researchers say.
Featured in the Media
Robotic Procedure Improves Survival for Prostate Cancer Patients
(Published: 05-22-2007, Washington Post) Using robotic technology to perform laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) surgery
may improve survival rates for prostate cancer patients, a new study suggests.
Prostatectomy involves removal of the prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissue.
Urologic oncologists at the Genitourinary Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, in Philadelphia, compared
50 men who had robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and 197 men who had conventional LRP.
Department of Urology
CancerCare at Jefferson
Media Coverage:
Washington Post
Austin American-Statesman (Tx.)
HealthCentral
Courier-Post (South Jersey)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jefferson’s Urology Chair on National Men's Magazine’s List of Top Physicians for the 21st Century Man
(Published 4-27-2007) Men’s Health Magazine has named Leonard Gomella, M.D., FACS, Bernard Godwin Professor of Prostate Cancer
and Chair of Urology at Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to its first annual list of physicians
who have the “knowledge, the experience and the tools to maintain and repair the 21st century man.”
Featured in the Media
A New Test for Prostate Cancer
(Published: 04-25-2007, ABCNews.com) A new, more accurate test to detect prostate cancer may soon change the way doctors
screen patients for the disease. In practice the test would be similar to the one used today, which measures levels of a protein
called protein-specific antigen, or PSA, in a patient's blood. However, the new test would also aim to detect levels of a
protein called ECPA-2 in the blood. Dr. Leonard G. Gomella, chairman of urology at Jefferson Medical College, said data is
too limited to make promises to those who could benefit from the test. "Lots of patients will want it long before it is even
available experimentally," he said.
Department of Urology
CancerCare at Jefferson
Media Coverage:
ABCNews.com
What Pregnancy is Like -- A Women’s Perspective
(Published: 4-25-2007) A free seminar to assist a woman to better understand what her body and mind will experience during
pregnancy is being offered at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley Receives $2 Million Federal Grant to Continue Work as Designated
National Center
(Published: 8-17-2006) National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) also designated Thomas Jefferson
University’s Spinal Cord Injury Center as one of only 14 model centers in the United States and the only one in the Delaware
Valley
Jefferson’s pioneering Genitourinary Cancer Program Marks 10th anniversary as national model
(Published: 3-22-2006) Renowned specialists from Jefferson and other top institutions to speak at dinner symposium Thursday,
April 6
Jefferson Recruits Top Fundraiser
(Published: 1-31-2006) David R. Lepper is Newest Addition to Jefferson Executive Team