Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS, Author at Grand Rounds in Urology

Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS

University of Texas Health San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

Michael A. Liss MD, PhD, MAS, FACS is a Urologic Oncologist and Associate Professor at the University of Texas (UT) Health San Antonio. He earned his BS from Benedictine University in Illinois and received his MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Michael Liss completed his residency at the University of California Irvine and then the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO)-approved Urologic Oncology Fellowship at the University of California San Diego and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Liss won Clinical Investigator of the Year 2017 for the UT Health Cancer Center and is also the Director of Clinical Research at UT Health, San Antonio. His surgical skills include robotic and traditional open surgical procedures. His training allows him to be able to choose a patient-specific approach to surgical resection.

Dr. Liss completed a Masters Degree in Applied Science with a focus in Clinical Research to acquire the knowledge to design and implement cutting-edge clinical trials. He was selected as the principal investigator of SWOG (formerly Southwest Oncology Group), which is a partner in the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). In this capacity, he works with oncologists at UT Health Cancer Center to open the newest clinical trials in San Antonio to include the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His primary research interests include incorporating imaging and biomarker translational research into interventional clinical trials.

Talks by Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS

The Microbiome and Prostate Cancer

Posted by Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS | Jun 2024

Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS explores the relationship between various microbiomes and prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. He begins with a brief summary of the history of microbes in medicine and the role of various microbiomes in the human body.

Dr. Liss then explores the relationships between the genitourinary microbiome, the gut microbiome, the prostate microbiome, and prostate cancer. He notes the direct relationship between the genitourinary and prostate microbiomes and prostate cancer, focusing on the interactions of specific microbes with prostate tissue and their potential predictive value in determining prostate cancer prognosis.

Dr. Liss concludes with an overview of the indirect relationship between the microbiome of the gut and prostate cancer. He focuses on the deleterious interactions of specific gut microbes on prostate cancer treatments like ADT and the potential use of certain gut microbes in combating urologic cancers.

Restriction Spectrum Imaging Guided Biopsy

Posted by Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS | May 2024

Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS, discusses how Restriction Spectrum Imaging (RSI) Guided Biopsy can aid in processing and interpreting MRIs by reducing false positives and improving MRI distortion. Dr. Liss begins by describing the top current issues with MRI sequencing: varied positive predictive values and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) distorting MRI results.

Dr. Liss then discusses the role of RSI-guided biopsy in mitigating the weaknesses of conventional MRI. He illustrates what an MRI sequence with RSI using compartmental, nuclear volume, and geometric filtering looks like.

Dr. Liss concludes with examples of RSI-MRI results in patients with different Gleason scores and inflammation. He compares the efficacy of RSI-MRI in differentiating between inflammatory and regular lesions and presents data that supports the use of RSI-MRI in lowering the frequency of false positive biopsies due to the misclassification of inflammatory lesions.

Molecular Testing with Next Generation Sequencing: Role in Urology

Posted by Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS | Sep 2023

Michael A. Liss, MD, PhD, MAS, FACS, discusses the profound significance of molecular testing with Next-Gen Sequencing (NGS) in the field of urology. With a primary focus on DNA and RNA analysis, NGS facilitates the identification of genetic mutations present in both germline and tumor DNA. This opens up new avenues for understanding the role of environmental factors, genetics, age, and dietary habits in shaping the microbiome and its impact on urological conditions.

He then discusses the potential therapeutic targets that can be identified through NGS. By analyzing the genetic profiles obtained through this advanced sequencing technique, healthcare professionals can pinpoint specific molecular aberrations that can serve as targets for innovative treatment approaches. Additionally, NGS allows for the identification of biomarkers associated with urological diseases, facilitating early detection and more precise monitoring of patients’ conditions.