Genitourinary tumors

Abstract

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has made many notable contributions to the scientific understanding and care of patients with common urologic cancers. Many of the advances represented paradigm shifts in management and established new standards of care. This review highlights the surgical procedures and treatment strategies originated and pioneered by urologic surgeons and colleagues at MSK during the past 50 years. K E Y W O R D S genitourinary surgical oncology, tumors 1 | INTRODUCTION Genitourinary (GU) neoplasms comprise biologically distinct tumors of the prostate, bladder, kidney, and testis. They account for 23% of all malignancies and 7% of cancer deaths. An estimated 438 580 new cases in men and women with these malignancies are diagnosed each year, with 65 980 (15%) dying of their disease. 1 From 1971 to 2019, age-standardized cancer mortality has declined for prostate (−11.9), bladder (−1.5) and kidney (−0.9) cancers, 2 due in part to improvements in earlier detection and treatments. Testis cancer survival rates have remained stable at over 90%. GU tumors may be highly malignant or indolent and slow growing. Surgery is essential for diagnosis, staging, and cure. Based on an evolving understanding of tumor biology, the over-arching principle is to aggressively treat those patients who need it and avoid unnecessary treatment for those who do not. Over the past 50 years, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) devised treatment strategies for GU tumors that shifted previous management paradigms and established new standards of care. Although many individuals working in multiple institutions worldwide have contributed to improved outcomes for patients with GU tumors, this review highlights significant surgical procedures and treatment strategies originated and pioneered by urologic surgeons and colleagues at MSK.