Genitourinary Cancer Epidemiology and Population Science (G-CEPS)

The Genitourinary Cancer Epidemiology and Population Science (G-CEPS) program encompasses all studies involving patients or populations conducted by or in collaboration with our department. Current research efforts are focused on urologic malignancies, but will expand in the future to include those with benign urologic diseases. This program provides necessary oversight and infrastructure for study prioritization and implementation to faculty research and collaborations. The Program Director, June Chan, ScD, facilitates the implementation and execution of research projects, assists in setting research priorities and developing new collaborations, and establish goals and budgets for the overall program. The co-Director, Badrinath Konety, MD, MBA brings clinical expertise and additional scientific leadership to the program. The current areas of research are described below.

UCSF Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE™)

CaPSURE™ is a longitudinal, observational study of more than 13,500 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer. Patients have been enrolled from 40 community urology practices, academic medical centers and VA hospitals throughout the United States since the inception of the project in 1995. Twenty-seven sites actively participate in the study.

CaPSURE™ research findings have expanded knowledge of prostate cancer risk prediction, diagnostic trends, treatment patterns, outcomes and quality of life. As of January 2008, CaPSURE™ investigators have published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented over 200 papers at professional conferences. Residents, medical students and fellows have authored many of the publications under the direction of senior investigators. The experience gained by these junior investigators has helped to shape and accomplish career goals.

Click here for details about working with CaPSURE data.

The CaPSURE™ study is funded and coordinated by the UCSF Department of Urology. CaPSURE™ is grateful to our generous founding sponsor, TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

UCSF CaPSURE Scholars Program

The CaPSURE™ Study seeks applicants annually for the UCSF CaPSURE™ Scholars Program in Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research. The goals of the scholarship are to advance prostate cancer research and to support the career development of young investigators. Research topics include clinical outcomes, utilization of health care resources and quality of life.

Since 1999, scholarships have been offered to qualified residents and fellows at accredited US training institutions. Scholars, working from their home institutions, formulate research plans under the mentorship of senior CaPSURE™ investigators. Mentoring is conducted through email, telephone consultations and in-person meetings. Scholars, UCSF statistical analysts and mentors work together to complete the project within the study year.

The annual study year runs from July through June. Each Scholar receives a monetary stipend to fund presentation of results at a national meeting. Results also are submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The UCSF CaPSURE™ Scholars Program is funded and coordinated by the UCSF Department of Urology. Complete details about this program are in the fellowship area of our webpage.

Clinical Trials

The goal of the clinical trials unit is to improve diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of urologic cancers. There are over 30 open studies analyzing the effects of drug therapies, treatment interventions, nutritional and lifestyle interventions, and active surveillance (watchful waiting). This group manages protocols for both intervention trials and observational research for the department. Studies are funded by the National Institutes of Health, industry and intramurally. Study protocols include research collaborations with cancer cooperative groups, the National Cancer Institute, other academic medical centers, and private industry. One such study is the Molecular Effects of Nutrition Supplements (MENS) Prostate Study. The MENS trial is a NCI funded randomized clinical trial of men with prostate cancer, opting for active surveillance (watchful waiting). This trial is designed to better understand how two nutritional supplements, lycopene (tomato extract) and fish oil, affect the prostate tissue microenvironment. More information about the unit can be found on our Clinical Trials page. A comprehensive listing of open studies can be found on this page, and in the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center's web searchable database located at http://cancer.ucsf.edu/trials.

Diet, exercise, quality of life, and prostate cancer progression

The Department of Defense Idea Development Award will provide funding to measure and examine modifiable risk factors,the risk of prostate cancer progression, and quality of life among men with prostate cancer from The Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE™). This project will addresses whether changing diet and activity level after diagnosis has any effect on the risk of prostate cancer progression and mortality. Survey questions will ask patients about smoking, exercise levels, current food consumption, dietary changes, and vitamin/mineral supplement use. Certain diet and lifestyle practices may help men reduce their risk of progression and improve their health-related quality of life.

Molecular Discovery Studies

Molecular discovery studies are scientific studies involving human biospecimens conducted in conjunction with the Genitourinary Tissue Core. These studies seek to identify novel biomarkers to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary cancers by collecting and banking blood, urine, and tissue for basic science, epidemiologic, and clinical research studies.

Translational, genetics, genomics, proteomics, nutritional & genetic epidemiology, expression arrays, novel imaging, and immunohistochemistry studies are being conducted by utilizing tissue, serum, urine, and plasma from consenting prostate, bladder, kidney and testis cancer patients.

This research includes collaborations with other academic institutions and industry, and is supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense, The American Association of Cancer Research, The California Department of Health, and private industry.

Observational Research / Population Science

The observational research group seeks to understand modifiable risk factors for diagnosis, prognosis, and survival to improve quality of care and health-related quality of life for patients with genitourinary cancer. Over 20 studies are being conducted with topics that address behavioral science, diet, quality of life, psychosocial issues, health disparities, and nutritional and genetic epidemiology.

Funding to support observational research includes the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and intramural sources. The observational research group collaborations with Veterans Affairs, Harvard School of Public Health & School of Medicine, and Kaiser Permanente.

Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic

The Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic identifies familial cancer syndromes and genes associated with genitourinary cancer. The centralized clinic collects family histories to provide screening, counseling and education for persons at high-risk for cancer. These histories are used in research studies, which include: qualitative and descriptive studies, and genetic epidemiology research. The clinic is supported by intramural funds. An in depth description of patient services is available at the Prostate Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic web pages.

Prostate Cancer Symptom Management

For a study funded by the National Cancer Institute, men treated for prostate cancer, their partners, and health care providers are asked how symptoms associated with prostate cancer treatment such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction are managed. The reports of effective and ineffective symptom management practices will be analyzed to develop a set of instructional objectives that can be used in a patient education program to help newly treated men better manage their symptoms. Further funding will be sought to test the educational program in a clinical trial.

Patient Education Needs of Men Selecting Active Surveillance (Watchful Waiting)

Urology faculty are funded to conduct qualitative interviews of 50 men with localized prostate cancer who have selected active surveillance (watchful waiting) instead of active treatment for their cancer. Participants will complete the 2-hour interview and a paper-and-pencil quality of life questionnaire. This project has two goals. The first is to better understand the physical and psychosocial experience of men on watchful waiting and what an intervention to improve their quality of life should contain. The second is to better understand the decision-making process that leads men to select watchful waiting and, for some men, to later select an active treatment method.

Patient Preferences

Patient preferences are critical considerations in the choice of treatment for localized prostate cancer.  In this project, the Department of Veterans Affairs has funded UCSF urology faculty to develop and test a new measure of patient values and goals for prostate cancer treatments. Over 600 men diagnosed with localized disease will participate in the project that will include focus groups, in-depth interviews and survey research. Ultimately, this measure will permit physicians to incorporate patient values and goals in the treatment decision making process, an effort crucial in advancing patient-centered care and improving outcomes.

Tailored Counseling Intervention for Men with Prostate Cancer

Funded by the California Cancer Research Program, this randomized clinical trial compared education methods for men receiving either radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy. Patients were randomized to receive three counseling sessions with a clinical psychologist or print educational materials. 132 men were enrolled in this project. All were followed for one year and completed questionnaires on quality of life, ability to cope with prostate cancer, and satisfaction with care. Results have been presented at conferences and a publication is under development.

Urologic Oncology Database (UODB) Prostate and Renal Studies

The Urologic Oncology Database records detailed clinical baseline and follow-up data on patients seen and treated for genitourinary cancer at UCSF to enhance clinical care and support research in the department. The database contains data on n early 3,000 prostate cancer patients, and supports research studies including biomarker discovery, nutritional epidemiology, novel therapeutics, quality of life and high-risk markers. Extensive clinical and pathological data on over 700 renal cancer patients is also available. The database is funded intramurally and by the UCSF prostate cancer SPORE grant funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.

Click here for details about working with UODB data.

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Contents of This Page

Faculty

June Chan, ScD Program Director
Badrinath Konety, MD, MBA Co-Director

Key Staff

Jeanette Broering, RN, MS, MPH, Director of Data Procurement and Quality Assurance
jbroering@urology.ucsf.edu
415/514-0203

UCSF CaPSURE Scholars Program
Janet Cowan
Programmer Analyst & CaPSURE Scholars Coordinator
Email: jcowan@urology.ucsf.edu

Clinical Trials
Imelda Tenggara, Clinical Research Coordinator, Supervisor
itenggara@urology.ucsf.edu
415/353-7348 

Risk and Prevention Clinic
Certified Genetic Counselor
415/885-7779

Appointments & Location

Academic Administration
The activities of the G-CEPS program are managed at the Mount Zion Medical Center

Clinical Trials Office
UCSF Department of Urology
San Francisco, CA 94143-1695

Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic - Patient Information
1600 Divisadero Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143-1711
For patient consultation please call 415/353-7397

Contact Number

For more information about the G-CEPS program please call June Chan at 415/885-3679