Research Summary

Dr. Carissa Chu's research focuses on bladder and prostate cancer, including mechanisms of drug resistance and biological variation across different stages of disease. She runs a translational research lab that studies tumor tissues with the aim of improving treatments and identifying biomarkers to personalize care.

Research Funding

  • September 1, 1999 - July 31, 2030 - T32 Urologic Oncology Research Training Grant , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: T32CA082088
  • September 2, 2024 - August 31, 2029 - UCSF Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Prostate Cancer , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P50CA275741
  • September 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026 - Enhancing Nectin-4 targeting therapy in urothelial carcinoma with retinoic acid , . Sponsor: American Association for Cancer Research, Sponsor Award ID:
  • July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 - Improved molecular imaging of urothelial cancer using immunoPET targeting CD46 and Nectin-4 , . Sponsor: UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sponsor Award ID: 2019699
  • July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2026 - UCSF Paul Calabresi K12 Career Development Program in Clinical Oncology , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K12CA260225
  • June 14, 2024 - March 3, 2026 - Percuflex Urinary Diversion Stents , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: Boston Scientific, Sponsor Award ID: A145168
  • September 1, 2022 - - STEAP1-targeted immunotherapy in prostate cancer , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Sponsor Award ID: 24YOUN30
  • July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 - Clinical significance and regulation of PSMA expression in locally advanced high risk prostate cancer , Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: 5TL1TR001871-04

Education

  • University of California San Diego, B.S., 2010, Human Biology; Health Policy and Social Issues
  • University of California San Francisco, M.D. with Distinction, 2015, Medicine
  • University of California San Francisco, Intern, 2016, General Surgery
  • University of California San Francisco, Resident, 2021, Urologic Surgery
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Fellow, 2023, Urologic Oncology

Honors & Awards

  • 2019
    Best Poster in Session, Western Section AUA Annual Meeting
  • 2019
    Best Poster in Clinical Research, UCSF Prostate Cancer Program Symposium
  • 2019-2020
    NIH TL-1 Translational Research Grant, UCSF CTSI
  • 2020
    First Place, Miley B. Wesson Resident Essay Contest, Western Section AUA Meeting
  • 2020
    John Quale Travel Fellow, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN)
  • 2021
    NIH T-32 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
  • 2022
    American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award
  • 2022
    Ferdinand C. Valentine Award for Research in Urology, New York Academy of Medicine
  • 2023
    Peter T. Scardino Award for Leadership in Urology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • 2023
    NIH K-12 HDFCCC K12 Physician Scientist Program in Clinical Oncology (PSPCO)

Selected Publications

  1. Chu CE, Chen Z, Whiting K, Ostrovnaya I, Lenis AT, Clinton TN, Rammal R, Ozcan GG, Akbulut D, Basar M, Chen JF, Chen YB, Gopalan A, Fine SW, Tickoo SK, Arcila M, Brannon AR, Berger MF, Cha EK, Goh AC, Donahue TF, Bajorin DF, Teo MY, Rosenberg JE, Iyer G, Pietzak EJ, Bochner BH, Reuter VE, Sarungbam J, Solit DB, Al-Ahmadie H. Clinical Outcomes, Genomic Heterogeneity, and Therapeutic Considerations Across Histologic Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma. Eur Urol. 2025 Apr 26.  View on PubMed
  2. Zhu X, Chan E, Turski ML, Mendez CE, Hsu SC, Kumar V, Shipp C, Jindal T, Chang K, Onodera C, Devine WP, Grenert JP, Stohr BA, Ding CC, Stachler MD, Quigley DA, Feng FY, Chu CE, Porten SP, Chou J, Friedlander TW, Koshkin VS. HER2 overexpression in urothelial carcinoma with GATA3 and PPARG copy number gains. Oncologist. 2024 Aug 05; 29(8):e1094-e1097.  View on PubMed
  3. Lenis AT, Whiting K, Ravichandran V, Tallman JE, Alam SM, Chu CE, Jesus Escano M, Bochner E, Katims A, Reisz PA, Truong H, Clinton TN, Telis L, Dason S, McPherson V, Teo MY, Funt S, Aggen D, Goh AC, Donahue TF, Cha EK, Donat SM, Herr HW, Dalbagni G, Schultz N, Berger MF, Bajorin DF, Rosenberg JE, Bochner BH, Ostrovnaya I, Al-Ahmadie H, Solit DB, Iyer G, Pietzak EJ. Natural History and Genomic Landscape of Chemotherapy-Resistant Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. JCO Precis Oncol. 2024 Apr; 8:e2300274.  View on PubMed
  4. Aggen DH, Chu CE, Rosenberg JE. Scratching the Surface: NECTIN-4 as a Surrogate for Enfortumab Vedotin Resistance. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 04 14; 29(8):1377-1380.  View on PubMed
  5. Chu CE, Leapman MS, Zhao S, Cowan JE, Washington SL, Cooperberg MR. Prostate cancer disparities among American Indians and Alaskan Natives in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 04 11; 115(4):413-420.  View on PubMed
  6. Li KD, Chu CE, Patel M, Meng MV, Morgan TM, Porten SP. Cxbladder Monitor testing to reduce cystoscopy frequency in patients with bladder cancer. Urol Oncol. 2023 07; 41(7):326.e1-326.e8.  View on PubMed
  7. Clinton TN, Chen Z, Wise H, Lenis AT, Chavan S, Donoghue MTA, Almassi N, Chu CE, Dason S, Rao P, Rodrigues JA, Vasani NB, Ridouani F, Rosenberg JE, Bajorin DF, Teo MY, Bochner BH, Berger MF, Ostrovnaya I, Pietzak EJ, Iyer G, Gao SP, Hu W, Al-Ahmadie HA, Solit DB. Genomic heterogeneity as a barrier to precision oncology in urothelial cancer. Cell Rep. 2022 12 20; 41(12):111859.  View on PubMed
  8. Chou J, Trepka K, Sjöström M, Egusa EA, Chu CE, Zhu J, Chan E, Gibb EA, Badura ML, Contreras-Sanz A, Stohr BA, Meng MV, Pruthi RS, Lotan Y, Black PC, Porten SP, Koshkin VS, Friedlander TW, Feng FY. TROP2 Expression Across Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma and Enfortumab Vedotin-resistant Cells. Eur Urol Oncol. 2022 12; 5(6):714-718.  View on PubMed
  9. Bell A, Lonergan PE, Escobar D, Fakunle M, Chu CE, Berdy S, Palmer NR, Breyer BN, Washington SL. A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Barriers Associated With Non-Attendance at a Urology Telehealth Clinic in a Safety-Net Hospital. Urology. 2022 04; 162:57-62.  View on PubMed
  10. de la Calle CM, Shee K, Chu CE, Cowan JE, Nguyen HG, Carroll PR. Association of Age With Risk of Adverse Pathological Findings in Men Undergoing Delayed Radical Prostatectomy Following Active Surveillance. Urology. 2021 09; 155:91-95.  View on PubMed
  11. Chu CE, Sjöström M, Egusa EA, Gibb EA, Badura ML, Zhu J, Koshkin VS, Stohr BA, Meng MV, Pruthi RS, Friedlander TW, Lotan Y, Black PC, Porten SP, Feng FY, Chou J. Heterogeneity in NECTIN4 Expression Across Molecular Subtypes of Urothelial Cancer Mediates Sensitivity to Enfortumab Vedotin. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 09 15; 27(18):5123-5130.  View on PubMed
  12. Chu CE, Alshalalfa M, Sjöström M, Zhao SG, Liu Y, Chou J, Herlemann A, Mahal B, Kishan AU, Spratt DE, Cooperberg M, Small E, Wong A, Porten S, Hope TA, Ross AE, Davicioni E, Nguyen P, Karnes RJ, Carroll PR, Schaeffer E, Feng FY. Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen and Fluciclovine Transporter Genes are Associated with Variable Clinical Features and Molecular Subtypes of Primary Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol. 2021 06; 79(6):717-721.  View on PubMed
  13. Chu CE, Cowan JE, Lonergan PE, Washington SL, Fasulo V, de la Calle CM, Shinohara K, Westphalen AC, Carroll PR. Diagnostic Accuracy and Prognostic Value of Serial Prostate Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol Oncol. 2022 10; 5(5):537-543.  View on PubMed
  14. Chu CE, Law L, Zuniga K, Lin TK, Tsourounis C, Rodriguez-Monguio R, Lazar A, Washington SL, Cooperberg MR, Greene KL, Carroll PR, Pruthi RS, Meng MV, Chen LL, Porten SP. Liposomal Bupivacaine Decreases Postoperative Length of Stay and Opioid Use in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy. Urology. 2021 Mar; 149:168-173.  View on PubMed
  15. Chu CE, Cowan JE, Fasulo V, Washington SL, de la Calle C, Shoemaker J, Carroll PR. The Clinical Significance of Multiple Negative Surveillance Prostate Biopsies for Men on Active Surveillance-Does Cancer Vanish or Simply Hide? J Urol. 2021 Jan; 205(1):109-114.  View on PubMed
  16. Chu CE, Lonergan PE, Washington SL, Cowan JE, Shinohara K, Westphalen AC, Carroll PR, Cooperberg MR. Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alone is Insufficient to Detect Grade Reclassification in Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol. 2020 10; 78(4):515-517.  View on PubMed
  17. Chu CE, Lonergan PE, Carroll PR. Re: Vasilis Stavrinides, Francesco Giganti, Bruce Trock, et al. Five-year Outcomes of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: A Large Cohort Study. Eur Urol 2020;78:443-51. Eur Urol. 2020 09; 78(3):e110-e111.  View on PubMed
  18. Chu CE, Porten SP, Grossfeld GD, Meng MV. Role of Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase Inhibitors in Salvage Therapy for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. Urol Clin North Am. 2020 Feb; 47(1):111-118.  View on PubMed
  19. Chu CE, Wu F, He X, Zhou K, Cheng Y, Cai W, Geng E, Volberding P, Tucker JD. Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Access Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Coinfected People Who Inject Drugs in Guangzhou, China: Implications for HCV Treatment Expansion. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2016 Apr; 3(2):ofw065.  View on PubMed
  20. Leapman MS, Ameli N, Cooperberg MR, Chu C, Hussein A, Shinohara K, Carroll PR. Quantified Clinical Risk Change as an End Point During Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance. Eur Urol. 2017 09; 72(3):329-332.  View on PubMed

Go to UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI