Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses the importance of understanding novel agents such as immunotherapeutic across disciplines in the treatment of genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

The rise of multidisciplinary care in GU malignancies means that it is no longer solely the job of the oncologists to administer novel agents such as immunotherapy.

Lallas says that this rise in multidisciplinary care, in addition to workforce shortages, means that it is very important for urologists and advanced practice providers to understand chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens for GU malignancies.

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Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses the importance of understanding novel agents such as immunotherapeutic across disciplines in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies.

Dr. Lallas on Understanding Immunotherapy in GU Malignancies

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses the future of immunotherapy in patients with genitourinary malignancies.

Checkpoint inhibitors are generating more interest, states Lallas. As far as the T-cell response goes, there are agents which can move the immune process ahead. There are stimulating agents, which are being looked at actively in clinical trials.

Checkpoint inhibitors allow T cells to be activated, as well as the cellular response against those malignancies, which is why they have shown efficacy, explains Lallas.

Dr. Lallas on the Future of Immunotherapy in Genitourinary Malignancies

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses multidisciplinary care for genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

More and more patients with GU malignancies are being treated with multidisciplinary teams rather than solely urologists or medical oncologists.

Through this, many patients are receiving a treatment combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Lallas says. He advises urologists that they must become familiar with the combination, as treatment is no longer just in the hands of the medical oncologist.

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses multidisciplinary care for genitourinary malignancies.
 

Dr. Lallas Discusses Multidisciplinary Care for Genitourinary Malignancies

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses ongoing trials investigating immunotherapy regimens for patients with genitourinary malignancies.

There are current ongoing trials investigating the use of checkpoint inhibitors for superficial disease, particularly for patients with bladder cancer, explains Lallas. Additionally, trials looking at immunotherapy combinations are particularly interesting for clinicians.

Dr. Lallas on Ongoing Trials Investigating Immunotherapy for GU Cancer

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses challenges with immunotherapy in genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

Most checkpoint inhibitors in GU cancers are still relatively new, says Lallas. Physicians want to be sure that they are giving the patients what they believe to be the best treatment, but as of now there is not a lot of information regarding immunotherapy in these diseases.

Additionally, the cost of these agents is very high, says Lallas, but as more positive data and knowledge about immunotherapy comes out in this disease, the cost may become more reasonable.

Dr. Lallas on Challenges With Immunotherapy in Genitourinary Malignancies

Costas Lallas, MD, professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses combinations of immunotherapy for genitourinary malignancies.

The checkpoint inhibitors are how the body recognizes itself, explains Lallas. Checkpoint inhibitors allow T cells to be activated, and increase cellular response against malignancies, which is a reason why immunotherapy has been efficacious.

Hypothetically, if you can combine regimens that ramp up the immune system maximally to fight these malignancies, it is going to be beneficial, states Lallas.

Costas Lallas, MD

Articles

Dr. Lallas on Understanding Immunotherapy in GU Malignancies

Dr. Lallas on the Future of Immunotherapy in Genitourinary Malignancies

Dr. Lallas Discusses Multidisciplinary Care for Genitourinary Malignancies

Dr. Lallas on Ongoing Trials Investigating Immunotherapy for GU Cancer

Dr. Lallas on Challenges With Immunotherapy in Genitourinary Malignancies

Dr. Lallas on Immunotherapy Combinations in Genitourinary Malignancies