George J. Bosl, MD

I am a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of genitourinary tumors, particularly testicular cancer (a germ-cell tumor). I am part of a team of expert, compassionate physicians who work together to provide multidisciplinary care to patients with genitourinary cancers. Through my research I have helped identify more effective and less toxic treatments for testicular cancer, a marker chromosome for germ-cell tumors that allows more specific treatment for this disease, and have led studies that may help us better understand why these tumors spread and fail to respond to treatment.

As Chair of the Department of Medicine, I oversee a department that is leading the development and testing of better cancer therapies. Some of these therapies target the specific defects in cancer cells that distinguish them from normal cells while theoretically sparing the healthy cells from attack. For example, our investigators are testing the effectiveness of novel small molecules, antibodies, and vaccines in patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and many other cancers. Our goal is to find treatments that are specific enough to attack the machinery that allows a cell to grow and divide. We are evaluating many of these types of drugs in clinical trials, both alone and with other drugs, and in treatments that integrate radiation therapy or surgery.

I speak frequently to lay and professional groups about the progress that clinical and laboratory researchers are making in cancer treatment and research. Through these forums the public and other cancer professionals have an opportunity to learn more about the latest advances in treatment and research.