Siamak Daneshmand, MD

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

Sia Daneshmand, MD, is a Professor of Urology and Medicine (Oncology) with a Clinical Scholar designation at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He serves as the Director of Urologic Oncology and the Fellowship Director for the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Fellowship. His primary clinical interests include bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and advanced kidney cancer.

Dr. Daneshmand earned his medical degree from the University of California, Davis. He completed an internship in Surgery with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, where he also completed his residency in Urology. Dr. Daneshmand subsequently completed a Urological Oncology Fellowship with Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Dr. Daneshmand is a leading authority in the management of complex germ cell tumors and nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) following chemotherapy for advanced testicular cancer. He is among the highest-volume surgeons for this disease in the country. His research focuses on optimizing perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy and post-chemotherapy RPLND, utilizing serum and molecular markers, and integrating new technologies in the diagnosis and management of bladder and testicular cancers. He also investigates functional outcomes following orthotopic urinary diversion.

Dr. Daneshmand has served on the American Urological Association (AUA) Guidelines Panels for both non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and testicular cancer. He is the Chair of the Bladder Cancer Section of the SUO Clinical Trials Consortium and a member of the scientific steering committees for several bladder cancer clinical trials. He has led over a dozen clinical trials in bladder cancer, as well as a pivotal investigator-initiated, multi-institutional trial in testicular cancer. He is the President of the Western Section of the AUA and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. For 15 consecutive years, he has been recognized as one of "America’s Top Cancer Doctors." A career leader in academic research on bladder cancer and germ cell tumors, he also serves as Chair of the SWOG Local Bladder Cancer Committee. Dr. Daneshmand has been a visiting professor at more than 30 institutions worldwide and has presented more than 550 abstracts at scientific meetings. He has authored or co-authored more than 450 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters.

Talks by Siamak Daneshmand, MD

Highlights of NCCN/AUA Guidelines 2024

Siamak Daneshmand, MD | Apr 2025

Siamak Daneshmand, MD, covers recent updates in bladder cancer guidelines, focusing on the 2024 NCCN and AUA recommendations.

Urine Biomarkers for the Detection of Urothelial Carcinoma

Siamak Daneshmand, MD | Jul 2021

Siamak Daneshmand, MD, Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Southern California discusses the ability of urinary markers to rule out bladder cancer and decrease the frequency of and need for cystoscopy and cytology. He goes over the limitations and adverse effects of cystoscopy and cytology before summarizing the findings of several studies looking at different urinary biomarkers for bladder cancer, including Cxbladder, Bladder EpiCheck, Bladder CARE™, and Decipher Bladder.

Industry Perspective: Panel Discussion on Cxbladder Genomic Urine Test for Bladder Cancer

Siamak Daneshmand, MD | May 2021

Siamak Daneshmand, MD, Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Southern California (USC), along with Anne Schuckman, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Urology at the USC, and Sima P. Porten MD, MPH, Associate Professor at the USC participated in a panel discussion on the Cxbladder Genomic Urine Test for Bladder Cancer at the 5th Annual International Bladder Cancer Update. Dr. Daneshmand reviews a research study that audited the clinical utility of the Cxbladder monitor assay and found that it accurately ruled out patients who did not have recurrent UC, enabling low risk patients to undergo cystoscopy at a longer-than-recommended interval, thereby reducing the cystoscopy burden by 39%. He then asks Drs. Porten and Schuckman questions about their experience with Cxbladder, leading the two to discuss ideal patient populations for Cxbladder, in-home sampling procedures, and situations wherein Cxbladder is most effective.

Updates in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Siamak Daneshmand, MD | Sep 2020

Sia Daneshmand, MD, Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Southern California, describes the current landscape of muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment, highlighting developments in radical cystectomy and chemotherapy. He observes that while radical cystectomy has long been the gold standard, efforts are being made to preserve reproductive organs in female patients who have low-stage disease. Dr. Daneshmand also notes the significant number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy phase II trials currently underway. While studies examining adjuvant chemotherapy have shown promise, the limitations of these trials necessitate further research. Similarly, research comparing super-extended lymph node dissection (LND) with extended LND have yielded insignificant p-values, but absolute numbers demonstrate a positive upward survival trend over 5 years. Dr. Daneshmand concludes that additional clinical trials will reveal the optimal combination and sequencing of treatment options.

Controversies in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Siamak Daneshmand, MD | Oct 2018

Siamak Daneshmand, MD, reports on recent controversies in treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) regarding chemotherapy options for reducing post-transurethral resection (TUR) recurrences and active surveillance for low-grade patients, as well as alternatives to cystectomy in high-grade patients.