Episode 163: Building Better Treatments for Genitourinary Cancer

Silke Gillessen, Director of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland, joins Jonathan to discuss her specialty of genitourinary oncology, and why personalised and precise treatment is so vital. 

Listen to the following timestamps to navigate the content in this episode:

(00:00)-Introduction 

(03:10)-Gillessen’s origin story 

(04:25)-Differences and similarities in access to care between countries 

(06:26)-Inspiration to start the medical oncology unit for genitourinary cancer Kantonsspital St. Gallen 

(08:16)-Gillessen’s experience in the UK 

(11:00)-How evidence-based medicine can best influence adoption of ESMO guidelines 

(14:18)-The meaning of precision oncology and novel treatments for prostate, testicular, and penile cancers 

(17:17)-How ESMO can help support patients dealing with a cancer diagnosis 

(20:47)-Treatment for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer 

(23:52)-Optimising treatment for metastatic prostate cancer 

(25:51)-Molecular targeted drugs and immunotherapy in prostate cancer 

(27:40)-Three wishes