Video Archives

Updates with Addressing the Microbiome

Posted by Priya N. Werahera, PhD | Sep 2024

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, explores the characterization of urinary microbiomes in healthy individuals and their implications for understanding disease processes such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other urologic conditions. In this 10-minute talk, he shares that urogenital microbiota, residing in the urinary and genital tracts, is now better understood due to advancements in next-generation sequencing.

The study identified urinary microbiomes in healthy men and women. Dr. Werahera discusses key findings, including identifying 609 species dominated by four major phyla and notable differences in microbial profiles between genders. This data encourages further discussion, questioning whether medication, gender, or age affect microbiome profiles.

The findings suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate; instead, personalized assessment of urinary microbiomes, considering individual patient factors, is crucial for accurately diagnosing and managing bladder-related symptoms and infections.

Role of Precision Medicine in the Diagnosis and Management of Prostate Cancer

Posted by Leonard G. Gomella, MD, FACS | Sep 2024

Leonard G. Gomella, MD, FACS explores the rapid evolution of precision medicine, particularly in the context of prostate cancer, highlighting the shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to more personalized, genomics-based strategies. Precision medicine aims to tailor treatment and prevention strategies to the individual, moving beyond traditional methods to incorporate genetic, genomic, and molecular data.

In this 12-minute presentation, Dr. Gomella discusses key components of precision medicine in prostate cancer, including biomarkers, risk prediction, stratification, and drug repurposing. Advances in imaging technologies, such as improved MRI and ultrasound, as well as liquid biopsies, allow for deeper insights beyond histology, utilizing biomarkers, RNA tumor markers, and detailed genomic analysis. These innovations facilitate a more precise understanding of individual patients’ cancer profiles, helping to refine screening and treatment decisions.

Further, he asserts that precision medicine has substantially impacted the management of advanced prostate cancer, with targeted therapies tailored to genetic mutations and molecular characteristics. This approach exemplifies the precision targeting of treatments based on individual tumor profiles, optimizing outcomes and minimizing unnecessary interventions.

ChatGPT and AI for Academic Urologists: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted by Sigrid V. Carlsson, MD, PhD, MPH | Sep 2024

Sigrid V. Carlsson, MD, PhD, MPH, explores the role of generative AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), in enhancing academic and research activities, while highlighting both the benefits and challenges associated with these technologies. In this 8-minute talk, she focuses on LLMs, such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Google Gemini, which produce text and are widely used by researchers to improve grammar, style, and clarity.

The presentation also addresses significant ethical and practical concerns related to AI usage. Dr. Carlsson stresses that AI should not be treated as a substitute for human expertise but as a supplementary tool that requires diligent oversight.

Biomarkers for Radiation Therapy

Posted by Peter F. Orio III, DO, MS | Sep 2024

Peter F. Orio III, DO, MS, focuses on the evolving role of biomarkers in radiation oncology, particularly for prostate cancer. He asserts that biomarkers serve as biological indicators that help predict and monitor responses to treatment, thereby optimizing therapeutic outcomes and reducing toxicity.

In this 12-minute presentation, Dr. Orio categorizes radiation biomarkers into diagnostic, predictive, prognostic, and monitoring types, emphasizing their distinct roles in disease prediction, treatment response, and patient prognosis. Orio provides examples and discusses how these tools influence radiation planning and decision-making across various medical disciplines, including radiation oncology, medical oncology, and surgery.

The presentation underscores that while many biomarkers are prognostic, the future lies in their predictive capabilities, which are crucial for truly personalized treatment.

How Well Do You Know Doublets and Triplets? – A Pop Quiz

Posted by Marc B. Garnick, MD | Sep 2024

Marc B. Garnick, MD, tests knowledge on doublet and triplet therapies in prostate cancer. In this quiz-themed 13-minute presentation, he poses a series of questions. After each, he discusses the correct response.

Dr. Garnick begins by matching prostate cancer stages—such as non-metastatic castration-resistant, metastatic castration-sensitive, first-line castration-resistant, and castration-resistant post-docetaxel—with corresponding clinical trials. He incorporates key studies, including SPARTAN, PROSPER, ARAMIS, TITAN, and PREVAIL, and therapies like apalutamide, enzalutamide, daralutamide, and abiraterone in his questions. He also quizzes his audience on side effects and NCCN Guidelines for treating metastatic disease.

The presentation provides a unique comprehensive examination of the landscape of doublet and triplet therapies in prostate cancer, emphasizing the critical importance of personalized treatment approaches based on a detailed understanding of clinical trial data and drug-specific side effect profiles.