We are a clinical and translational research team working on cancers of the genitourinary tract. While our group does research pertaining to several different urological cancers, we are particularly interested in bladder and prostate cancer. Our approach to research is highly disease focused, which means that we use a wide variety of research methodologies to investigate a single cancer. For example, we use animal models, genetic and immunologic examination of human bladder cancer biospecimens, and biomedical engineering to develop new tests and treatments for bladder cancer. At the same time, we lead several clinical trials in patients with urological cancers and are testing new therapies and diagnostic tests. Our laboratory is therefore exceptionally positioned to translate pre-clinical research to early clinical trials. Our laboratory is an excellent training ground for budding surgeon scientists.

Topics and Achievements

Our laboratory is part of the Duke Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary Prostate and Urologic Cancer Center, a dedicated team of researchers from different academic backgrounds focused on the common problem of genitourinary malignancies. We are co-located in a large, open concept, shared-resource, wet laboratory environment on the 3rd floor of the Snyderman building. We are heavily committed to team science and multidisciplinary research and encourage new collaborations with outside groups. I co-direct the Prostate and Urologic Cancer Center with Daniel George from the medical oncology service.

1. Tumor immunology and immunotherapy

Our research has addressed the role of several co-stimulatory molecules (a.k.a. immune checkpoints) in urologic tumors. Our team was the first to describe the role of PD-L1 in bladder cancer and provided early evidence that it might adversely affect outcomes. Dr. Inman is involved in several clinical trials using PD-L1 and PD-1 blocking antibodies for bladder cancer. In conjunction with this, the team also characterized a soluble form of PD-L1 that is biologically active and exhibits immunosuppressive effects in cancer patients. This is present in biofluids such as urine and blood. We developed a diagnostic test to measure the presence of this biomarker in body fluids. Lastly, we were part of the first team to describe the important role of B7-H3 in prostate cancer and how it too negatively affects outcomes. We are currently assessing B7-H3 as a prostate cancer biomarker (serum and exosomes) and are developing a dendritic cell vaccine that presents antigen and block B7-H3 simultaneously (Grant: DOD-CDMRP PCRP PC150161 PI: Inman BA).

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17340590

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22138406

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21355078

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21355078

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33630063

2. Hyperthermia and heat-targeted therapy

Our team performed some of the first clinical trials of novel heat-based treatments for non-invasive bladder cancer. We have also developed novel devices and methods for performing bladder hyperthermia in the lab, such as magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia and gold nanoparticle hyperthermia, and we have created preclinical models for these therapies in mice, rats and swine. Recently, we have extended our methods to include novel heat-targeted drug delivery and heat-mediated immune stimulation. We are also exploring combinations of hyperthermia and immunotherapy (Grants: DOD-CDMRP PRCRP CA160715 PI: Inman BA and R01-EB028078-01A1).

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24697672

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24490762

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28819209/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32664768/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33485761/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35037963/

3. Diagnostic test development

Our team has studied several novel biomarkers for bladder cancer including urine-based diagnostic assays and tumor-based genetic sequencing classifiers. Where possible we have collaborated in multi-institutional efforts to increase generalizability. We have also carefully evaluated the performance of existing bladder cancer biomarkers and demonstrated key problems with these tests using very large sample sets.

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28106542

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28074325

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27296150

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25420920

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31120373/

4. Drug development and clinical trials

Our team has investigated and developed several novel therapies for urologic cancers. This includes performing early preclinical development and translating discoveries to human trials. In addition, Dr. Inman is overall or site PI for several clinical trials testing new drugs and immunotherapies for genitourinary cancers.

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28834453/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33253641/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33485761/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34933753/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31561993/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29661592/

5. Cancer biology and genetics

Our team also works on the discovery of important genetic and biologic aspects of cancer. We have experience in many kinds of DNA and RNA sequencing related to genitourinary cancer and routine process human biospecimens for biological research.

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28106542/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27520487/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28106542/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34645983/

6. Health economics and factors affecting cancer outcomes

My team is also interested in observational research related to genitourinary malignancies. We have been interested in the costs of bladder cancer to Medicare and in the roles physical activity and diet in cancer outcomes.

Key references:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31412015/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31761612/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32713504/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33765337/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30664736/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30126776/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25584487/

Advanced Training

We accept medical students, urology residents, and urologic oncology fellows as trainees in the laboratory.

Contact Us

Please contact Teri Brooks for further information.

Teri Brooks

919-684-1322

• Wiguins Etienne, BS

Administrative assistant

• Teri Brooks (Administrative assistant)