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Phillip J. Koo, MD

Phillip J. Koo, MD

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Phoenix, Arizona

Phillip J. Koo, MD, is the Chief of Diagnostic Imaging at the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to this, he was Chief of Nuclear Medicine and Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Koo completed his transitional internship at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center-Presbyterian and his radiology residency at Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his fellowship at the Harvard Medical School Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Koo is a diplomate of both the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and American Board of Nuclear Medicine(ABNM). His academic interests have focused on PET imaging in prostate cancer, response to novel therapies using PET, and data-driven motion correction. He has lectured nationally and internationally on topics related to imaging and radiopharmaceutical based therapies in prostate cancer. In 2022, Dr. Koo was the recipient of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Presidential Distinguished Service Award.

Disclosures:

Dr. Koo has the following disclosures:
Speaker: Bayer
Consultant: Janssen

Talks by Phillip J. Koo, MD

Future Directions in Molecular and Multi-Modality Imaging and Theranostics of Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Feb 2021

Phillip J. Koo, MD, Division Chief of Diagnostic Imaging and Northwest Region Oncology Physician Executive at the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, discusses the clinical, research, and educational targets that will advance nuclear medicine’s future role in prostate cancer treatment. He proposes that physicians should consider nuclear medicine the fourth pillar of a cancer specialty, not only for its role in diagnostics but also due to the increased use of radiopharmaceuticals. Dr. Koo reviews results from the TheraP and VISION trials that illustrate the efficacy of PSMA PET/CT, the current diagnostic standard in clinical care. Dr. Koo then describes how nuclear medicine clinicians and radiologists can partner with medical oncologists in clinical settings to create patient-friendly, multidisciplinary care models. This model further integrates nuclear medicine clinicians and radiologists into diagnostic and therapeutic discussions, with the aim of determining the appropriate type of therapy faster. Relatedly, he sees an opportunity for nuclear medicine physicians to lead clinical trials as principal investigators. Dr. Koo concludes with a discussion about the role of education, contending that exposing medical students and residents to nuclear medicine is key to developing a future workforce.

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Imaging Strategies for GU Cancers: PSMA PET

Posted by | Feb 2021

In conversation with E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego, Phillip J. Koo, MD, Division Chief of Diagnostic Imaging and Northwest Region Oncology Physician Executive at the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, discusses the recent FDA approval of Gallium (Ga) 68 PSMA-11 PET/CT and its implications for prostate cancer care. Dr. Koo discusses the indications for use approved by the FDA, noting the emphasis on PSMA PET/CT’s role in treating oligometastatic disease. He observes that it is still unclear what impact the availability of PSMA PET will have on patient care and outcomes, but suggests that studies like the ORIOLE trial indicate that better imaging will lead to better outcomes. Dr. Koo then goes over the availability and potential of different PSMA imaging agents, noting that while Ga 68 PSMA-11 is the only approved agent and has the benefit of being a generic product, it is prohibitively difficult to manufacture and its supply may always be limited. Not-yet-approved alternatives like the Ga 68 PSMA kit, F-18 PyL, and F-18 rhPSMA could all potentially be easier to distribute but may be very expensive. Dr. Koo also mentions that coverage might be a concern for PSMA generally, and he argues that physicians must fight to ensure that insurance pays for PSMA imaging. The talk concludes with a Q&A session during which Drs. Crawford and Koo discuss whether PSMA will replace bone scans and how PSMA compares to MRI.

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Timing and Optimization of Radium 223 in CRPC

Timing and Optimization of Radium 223 in CRPC

Posted by | Jun 2019

Phillip J. Koo, MD, briefly reviews several clinical trials examining the use of radium 223, focusing on its use in combination with second generation AR inhibitors. He also reviews the data from the ERA 223 trial that was recently reported at ESMO 2018 and discuss lessons learned, including the optimal use of radium 223 in patients with endocrine resistant prostate cancer.

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