Noted Prostate Cancer Specialist Joins Cedars-Sinai

Edwin Posadas, M.D., a noted clinician and researcher with expertise in treating advanced prostate cancer and the biology of cancer’s spread, has joined Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as the clinical director of the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program in the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.

Posadas, in his research, has focused on mechanisms through which cancer cells in localized tumors spread to other parts of the body. A protein called FYN, which is a member of a cancer-causing gene family, was identified in his laboratory as a possible regulator involved in metastasis, the spread of cancer. In upcoming studies at Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Posadas will work to define comprehensively FYN’s function in prostate cancer cells, with the goal of applying his basic science findings to developing new therapies to benefit men with advanced prostate cancer.

“Dr. Posadas is an innovative researcher focused on finding effective ways to treat cancer and stop it from spreading,” said Steven Piantadosi, M.D., Ph.D., director of Cedars-Sinai’s Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and Phase One Foundation Chair. “His understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer growth may well lead to targeted therapies that stop cancer cells from gaining footholds in other organs, essentially keeping the disease contained and manageable.“

Besides bringing a research laboratory funded by a Department of Defense grant to the medical center, Posadas will lead a group of expert physicians providing specialized and high quality care to patients with prostate and other cancers. “This is an exciting time in prostate cancer research,” Posadas said. “Ten years ago if you had advanced prostate cancer, we could do nothing but treat the pain. Now we have effective chemotherapy and a growing repertoire of agents relatively nontoxic to normal cells that very well may have a greater effect on the disease.”