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Institute of Urologic Oncology

UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology

Institute of Urologic Oncology
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UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology

Clinical Programs

Clinical Programs

Clinical Programs

  • Bladder Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Integrated Cancer Program
  • Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Program
  • Second Opinion for Cancer
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Integrated Cancer Program
  • Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Program
  • Second Opinion for Cancer
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  4. Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer

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UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO)

Bladder Cancer Program

Program Director: Karim Chamie, MD, MSHS

Medical Director: Alexandra Drakaki, MD

Being diagnosed with bladder cancer is often the beginning of a stressful and confusing time in a person's life. Obtaining information about the disease and treatment options can often help reduce this stress and aid in the personal decision-making process. The UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (the "IUO") and its multidisciplinary team of world-renown physicians and scientists are working together as a team to personalize patient care and to develop revolutionary treatments for men and women diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Overview

According to the American Cancer Society, this year approximately 77,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer and about 16,390 people will die from this disease.  Bladder cancer accounts for about 5% of all new cancers in the US. It is the fourth most common cancer in men, but it is less common in women.

Comprehensive Care

The UCLA IUO’s Bladder Cancer Program has a multidisciplinary comprehensive program offering the latest treatments and compassionate, individualized care.  Patients of the IUO have the benefit of our long-held team approach to the treatment and management of bladder cancer that includes world-class urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and our clinical trial's team of physicians and nurses.
Meet our expert team >

Innovative Treatment

Innovations in Treating Bladder and Kidney Cancer

View Webinar

UCLA urologist, Karim Chamie, MD, MSHS, presented a live-streaming webinar to discuss new cancer treatments that do not require the unnecessary removal of the kidney or bladder. Webinar >

The UCLA IUO offers a variety of innovative treatment options to patients who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, including standard, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as clinical trials. Treatment plans are individualized to each patient’s cancer grade and stage as well as current state of health. The management of bladder cancer requires extensive collaboration among specialists. The UCLA IUO holds bi-weekly conferences with a multidisciplinary team that provides a forum with diverse, specialized perspectives for deciding upon the best option for each individual patient.

UCLA has been a pioneer in the innovative, multidisciplinary, translational approach to care, including:

  • Robotic Radical Cystectomy, which is the robotic-assisted, minimally invasive removal of the bladder.
  • Reconstruction of the urinary tract for selected patients, where a portion of the intestines is used to create a new bladder or neo-bladder.
  • Radiation Preservation Therapy for Bladder Cancer, using preservation techniques that may require patients to have both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cases are discussed in a multidisciplinary fashion with radiation oncology, medical oncology and urology physicians to provide an integrated and comprehensive treatment plan for our patients.
  • Immunotherapy and neoadjuvant treatment, including BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)
  • New therapies and approaches for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)
  • Diagnostic tools using biomarker testing and personalized medicine

Learn more about how we diagnose and treat bladder cancer >

Pioneering Research--the Life Blood of Patient Care

Breakthroughs in immunotherapy are revolutionizing the treatment of genitourinary cancer, with new treatment options imminent for patients with bladder cancer. UCLA was an early innovator in treatments that bring the patient’s immune system to bear against cancer. With more than 25 years of experience, the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology maintains one of the nation’s largest immunotherapy treatment and research programs, leading to ground-breaking clinical trials offered to our UCLA patients.
Learn more about our pioneering research >

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials at the UCLA IUO evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new ways to diagnose and treat bladder cancer, and play an important role in the development of future treatments for those with this disease.  At UCLA we are offering innovative clinical trials, including studies for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer.
Join a bladder cancer clinical trial >

For an appointment with our UCLA IUO bladder cancer team, call (310) 794-7700.

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