UROLOGIC RESEARCH AT MAYO CLINIC

Urologists diagnose and treat problems involving the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Urologists encounter a broad range of clinical problems, so they are familiar with many other medical fields including internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, geriatrics, and oncology - in addition to surgical areas. Our faculty cover the spectrum of clinical urology, including urologic cancer, stone disease, endourology, female urology, pelvic reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive urologic surgery, and pediatric urology.

The Department of Urology at Mayo Clinic has a strong legacy and rich tradition of basic science and translational research in urologic disease. Our focus is on the patient and how we, as scientists, can improve their lives. Much akin to our clinical programs, faculty in the Department of Urology are committed to promoting newer and more innovative approaches to treatment. Our research efforts are directed towards improving the quality of life of our patients by developing improved therapies and treatment paradigms that incorporate novel therapies and technologies, resulting in state-of-the-art treatments.

We have three dedicated research scientists in our laboratories and 17 additional faculty members performing research along side their clinical responsibilities. Each faculty member has his or her own research agenda and area of expertise, all founded on improving our understanding and treatment of urologic diseases.

Clinical Research
Our physicians are leaders in clinical research that enhances our capability to offer the most advanced treatments available. We are currently working on developing innovative therapies for treatment of advanced urologic cancers and other urologic diseases. Our vast clinical experience and ongoing research into minimally invasive procedures are reflected in our low complication rates and improved outcomes. Our clinical trials are designed in the true spirit of translational research, in which laboratory discoveries are applied to patient management and observations from the clinic are explored at the bench.

Translational Research
The objective of our translational research efforts are to integrate clinical and laboratory research efforts to improve the management of patients with urologic disease. Developing improved therapies and treatment paradigms that incorporate the latest research, allows our patients benefit directly. In turn, by observing these new treatments in the clinical setting, we are able to advance our studies of these new areas of research in the laboratory.

The Department of Urology has three labs working on translational studies:

Donald J. Tindall, Ph.D., is investigating the molecular mechanisms by which androgens regulate gene expression in target tissues, particularly the prostate, which is prone to develop adenocarcinomas. It is well known that prostate cancer development requires androgens and that tumors regress following the withdrawal of androgens. However, most tumors return in an androgen insensitive state and kill the patient. Visit Dr. Tindall's laboratory page

Charles Y. Young, Ph.D interests are in molecular mechanisms of hormone action via nuclear receptors and of cytoskeletal associated proteins on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of normal and cancerous prostate cells. Research also emphasizes the study of mechanisms by which naturally occurring and/or synthetic compounds effect the chemoprevention and/or chemotherapy of prostate cancer. Lastly, through molecular biology and proteomic approaches, potentially useful genes will be discovered and used as tools for the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. Visit Dr.Young's laboratory page

Eugene D. Kwon, M.D. is conducting research focused on methods to evoke a potent immune response to treat relatively advanced forms of kidney cancer. Specific areas of research pertain to the preclinical and clinical use of novel vaccines and antibodies to activate antitumoral T cells; the use of hormone manipulations to boost or rebuild host immunity; the treatment of patients with immunotherapy in order to induce clinical tumor regression. A special emphasis is placed on developing highly state-of-the-art immunotherapies to be tested in clinical phase I or II trials to treat patients with prostate, kidney or bladder cancer. Visit Dr. Kwon's laboratory page

Clinical Trials
New drugs and treatments are often evaluated through a series of studies called clinical trials. These are closely monitored and regulated studies in which the effectiveness and safety of new drugs and technologies are evaluated. Clinical trials consist of three phases. The purpose of phase 1 is to determine possible side effects of a drug or treatment method. If results from phase 1 trials are positive, the drug is tested in a larger group of patients to determine how it affects a specific disease and what its short-term side effects may be. Phase 2 studies focus on comparing the new treatment with the current treatment or placebo. In phase 3 clinical trials, the drug is further studied for safety and efficacy in a much larger group of patients who have the disease being studied.