Genitourinary (GU) cancers develop when a malignant (cancerous) tumor forms from the cells in an area of the genitourinary system, which includes the urinary tract and male genital tract. Treatment and outcomes are dependent on a variety of factors, including the type of GU cancer and stage at diagnosis. Treatment options can include local and/or systemic therapies. Local therapy refers to treatment, such as surgery and radiation therapy, that targets the specific tumor site without affecting the rest of the body. Systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy, intends to treat cancer cells throughout the entire body.
In women, cancers that develop in the ovaries, the uterus, the cervix, or the vagina are in a separate category of cancers called gynecologic cancers.
Learn more about the major types of genitourinary cancers:
MedStar Health is committed to clinical research as the essential tool to further cancer care. GU cancer clinical trials intend to treat both early, before and/or after surgery, and advanced disease if the tumor has recurred or spread. Research trials may use, and sometimes combine, different treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, biotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.
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