Alan Pollack, MD, PhD

Professor and Chairman of Radiation Oncology

tel: 305-243-4200
fax: 305-243-4363

Education

Clinical Specialties

 I specialize clinically in: GU Malignancies (Prostate, Bladder and Testicular cancers) and Sarcomas.

Research Interests

My research interests are: Radiation fractionation, gene and small molecule therapy to enhance the response of prostate tumor cells to radiation and/or androgen deprivation, and biomarkers to predict response and determine the most appropriate treatment.

My clinical research has focused on prostate and bladder cancers. I am the principal Investigator on a large Phase III prostate cancer randomized trial through the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG protocol 0534). This is a post-prostatectomy trial testing the benefits of treating the pelvic lymph nodes and the concurrent use of androgen deprivation with radiation.  I am the co-PI on a national bladder cancer trial through the RTOG testing the use of Herceptin in her-2 expressing muscle-invasive bladder tumors (RTOG protocol 0524). Also, I am developing a new trial at the University of Miami designed to target areas of bulky tumor in men with prostate cancer using dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging. 

My laboratory research has involved primarily the exploration of potential biomarkers and the addition of targeted therapy (gene and small molecule) to radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy. Through the RTOG translational research program a number of potential biomarkers for prostate cancer have been investigated using immunohistochemical staining and analysis (image and manual quantification of biomarker expression). The targeted therapy studies have included preclinical investigations of a number of agents, such as adenoviral-p53, adenoviral-E2F1, antisense-MDM2, antisense-PKA and antisense-bcl-2 in mouse models. The effects of these agents on prostate cancer cell survival in vitro and tumor growth in vivo are being examined.

Publications

Awards & Recognition

Personal Statement

My determination to find a cure for prostate cancer developed in 1980. At that time, I had recently obtained a Ph.D. related to the effects of radiation on cell proliferation. After studying prostate cancer models for the next five years, I realized that in order to best help men with the disease, I needed to be a physician as well as a scientist. Radiation Oncology was a natural fit. Twenty seven years later, I continue to be deeply entrenched in the fight against prostate cancer. The effects of radiation combined with hormone therapy and novel targeted agents are being examined in my laboratory using cell culture and animal models. More importantly, I have instituted and steered to completion two major randomized prostate cancer clinical trials. The first trial, which was completed in 1998, contributed significantly to establishing a new standard in the radiotherapy management of prostate cancer. The second trial was completed in 2006 at Fox Chase Cancer Center and has similar promise.

The systematic approach I have embraced in the study and treatment of men with prostate cancer typifies the University of Miami Department of Radiation Oncology approach to all types of cancer. The results of radiation and other treatments, including the ability to eradicate the cancer and the side effects that may occur as a consequence, are carefully inspected. Based on the findings, newer methods are formulated to further enhance outcome. In this manner, not only are the effects of the treatments understood because they are continually studied, but the treatments are constantly improved upon—allowing us to provide the best cancer care possible.