Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and of Urology; Chief, Genitourinary Oncology
Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer HospitalBladder Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Medical Oncology, Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Urology
As Professor of Medicine and Urology at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Daniel P. Petrylak is a pioneer in the research and development of new drugs and treatments to fight prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer. For patients fighting these types of cancers, Petrylak finds recent developments in the field of immunotherapy particularly promising. “Up until recently, bladder cancer had not seen any major advancement in more than 30 years,” he says. “Studies are ongoing, but interim results are exciting so far.” At the Smilow Cancer Hospital, Dr. Petrylak’s position as a national leader on clinical trials for men with prostate and bladder cancer has opened up a world of treatment options for patients in New England. “We offer the latest investigational drugs for these conditions, while providing the highest level of care,” he says. Dr. Petrylak received his MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and joined the Yale faculty in 2012. In addition to his role as professor, he is also a member of the Cancer Signaling Networks Research Program at Yale Cancer Center, which studies how cancer stem cells are regulated in the body and communicate with surrounding tissue. Roughly 40 physicians and scientists in the program work together to develop the best methods for matching patients with the appropriate cancer drugs. One of Dr. Petrylak’s key goals is to continue to successfully translate basic research into clinical practice. “One of the most significant accomplishments in my career was moving docetaxel (an antineoplastic agent) therapy for the most advanced form of prostate cancer from phase I to III,” he says. “We ran a trial which supported its approval for the most advanced form of prostate cancer.” Dr. Petrylak currently serves as either the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on seven Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) clinical trials for genitourinary cancers. To date, he has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on prostate and bladder cancer research.
Associate Professor of Urology; Co-Chair, Cancer Liaison Committee, Oncology; Co-Chair, NCCN Guidelines Committee on Prostate Cancer Early Detection; Division Chief, Division of Urology at VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Urology; Director, Urology Research Fellowship, Urology; Director, Urologic Oncology Clinical Fellowship Program, Urology
Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer HospitalBladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Sarcoma, Testicular Cancer, Urology
Dr. Preston C. Sprenkle specializes in the treatment of urologic cancers, including prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer and sarcoma – a rare kind of cancer that grows in cells that connect or support other parts of the body, like bone or muscle. Dr. Sprenkle has dedicated his career to using the latest imaging technologies to improve diagnosis. He was one of the first physicians nationwide to implement the use of the Artemis Device. This machine, introduced in 2009, allows a surgeon to use 3D ultrasound technology and merge it with even more precise magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately identify cancerous tumors. “Skilled and experienced radiologists are rare for this relatively new technique,” Dr. Sprenkle explains. “At Yale, we are fortunate to have some of the world leaders in prostate MRI.” Dr. Sprenkle is also a pioneer in “focal therapy,” which allows a surgeon to treat tiny prostate lesions, rather than the whole organ. This avoids many of the side effects—such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence—that may follow the removal of the whole prostate. “Exciting technological advances are revolutionizing urology. Prostate cancer is very common and current treatments can majorly impact a man's sexual and urinary function,” Dr. Sprenkle says. “Developing ways to minimize the impact of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment on a man's health and quality of life is tremendously rewarding.” Dr. Sprenkle believes in working with patients to come up with individualized treatment plans. “I want my patients to feel that I hear their concerns and treat them like a person. I am pleased at the end of a long consultation when they feel like they understand their disease and their options.” Education & Training: Non Degree Program-Yale School of Management, Emerging Leaders Program (2018) Fellowship-Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2011) Residency-New York Presbyterian Hospital (2009) Internship-New York Presbyterian Hospital (2005) MD-Columbia University (2004) BA-Stanford University, Human Biology (1998)
Member, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Case Western Reserve UniversityASCO 2024, Bladder Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Oncology, Testicular Cancer
Dr. Gupta is a genitourinary oncologist with a research focus on clinical and translational research in genitourinary cancers. Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic in June 2019, Dr. Gupta was an associate professor at the University of Minnesota where she led the phase I interdisciplinary Solid Tumor Program and Genitourinary Oncology Research.
Research Information
Research Interests
Dr. Gupta has expertise and interest in novel targeted therapy and immunotherapy trials across genitourinary cancers. She has led several early and late-phase clinical trials including investigator-initiated trials with novel combinations in bladder cancer and testicular cancer, for example, neoadjuvant use of nivolumab and platinum doublet in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, enzalutamide and platinum-doublet in metastatic androgen receptor-positive bladder cancer, brentuximab and bevacizumab in CD30+ germ cell tumors. In collaboration with her basic science colleagues including Dr. Scott Dehm at University of Minnesota, she is studying the molecular efficacy of enzalutamide.
Dr. Gupta is also interested in understanding the resistance mechanisms to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies and serves as a member of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 resistance taskforce. She has also been appointed to serve as a member on the annual scientific committee for non-prostate cancers.