Research

I am the lead for solid tumor research at Barts Cancer Institute. I also lead the genitourinary (GU) cancer group at BCI.

My work focuses on a spectrum of clinical studies from phase I to randomised phase III. The majority of the studies are translational phase II studies investigating novel targeted and immune therapies. They exploit functional imaging and tissue collection.

Alongside these trials, our research focuses on correlation of novel biomarkers and aims to define markers that are of prognostic value and can predict response or resistance to therapy.

I have written over 100 peer review papers in this area and have grant income from national and international funding bodies.

I am on the editorial board of a number of journals and am part of the faculty for the major global oncology meetings.

Other Activities

• NCRN bladder cancer CSG
• NCRN renal cancer CSG
• NCRN translational oncology group
• NCRN CRPC studies group
• EORTC-GU executive committee
• ESMO faculty for GU cancer
• Editorial board of Clinical Genitourinary Cancer
• Co chair of trans Atlantic bladder cancer consortium
• International guidelines for testis cancer and renal cancer

Major Funding

• 2015-2020- Astrazeneca UK Limited, PDL-1 combination targeted therapy with AZ6094 in metastatic renal cancer (CALYPSO)
• 2015-2020- F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder-ABACUS
• 2013-2018- Millenium Pharmaceuticals Inc, NEPTUNE study of neoadjuvant TAK-700 and leuprorelin acetate versus surgery alone in intermediate and high risk clinically localized
• 2012-2017- AstraZeneca UK Limited, Comparing AZD2014 and EVEROLIMUS
• 2010-2015- GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, A phase II study investigating upfront pazopanib in metastatic clear cell renal cancer (PANTHER)

Recent Publications

Predictive biomarkers for survival benefit with ramucirumab in urothelial cancer in the RANGE trial van der Heijden MS, Powles T, Petrylak D et al. Nature Communications (2022) 13(7)

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Renal Cell Carcinoma: The 2022 Update Ljungberg B, Albiges L, Abu-Ghanem Y et al. European Urology (2022) 82(7) 399-410

Health-related Quality of Life Analysis from KEYNOTE-426: Pembrolizumab plus Axitinib Versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Bedke J, Rini BI, Plimack ER et al. European Urology (2022) 82(7) 427-439

Pembrolizumab versus placebo as post-nephrectomy adjuvant therapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-564): 30-month follow-up analysis of a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial Powles T, Tomczak P, Park SH et al. The Lancet Oncology (2022) 23(7) 1133-1144

Final Results of Neoadjuvant Atezolizumab in Cisplatin-ineligible Patients with Muscle-invasive Urothelial Cancer of the Bladder Szabados B, Kockx M, Assaf ZJ et al. European Urology (2022) 82(7) 212-222

Cytoreductive nephrectomy and exposure to sunitinib – a post hoc analysis of the Immediate Surgery or Surgery After Sunitinib Malate in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer (SURTIME) trial Abu-Ghanem Y, van Thienen JV, Blank C et al. BJU International (2022) 130(7) 68-75

Exposure-response relationship of ramucirumab in RANGE, a randomized phase III trial in advanced urothelial carcinoma refractory to platinum therapy de Wit R, Powles T, Castellano D et al. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2022) 88(7) 3182-3192

Nivolumab plus cabozantinib versus sunitinib in first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (CheckMate 9ER): long-term follow-up results from an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial Motzer RJ, Powles T, Burotto M et al. The Lancet Oncology (2022) 23(7) 888-898

Re: Atezolizumab with Enzalutamide versus Enzalutamide Alone in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Phase 3 Trial Powles T, Yuen KC, Gillessen S et al. Journal of Urology (2022) 208(7) 214-215

Imaging Response to Contemporary Immuno-oncology Combination Therapies in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Navani V, Ernst M, Wells JC et al. JAMA Network Open (2022) 5(7) E2216379

Biography

I qualified from St Bartholomew’s Medical School in 1996 and trained in medical oncology at Imperial College. I completed post-graduate training in oncology in 2005 and received an MD from the University of London in 2006. My thesis was in mechanisms of resistance to therapy in urology cancers.