Benjamin R Lee

Interests

Research

Robotic surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Surgical Education

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Chapters

• Lee, B. R., & Lai, W. (2016). Complications in Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy. In Robotics in Genitourinary Surgery. Springer.
• Lee, B. R., & Lai, W. (2016). Patient Preparation and Operating Room Set-Up for Laparoscopic Surgery. In Smith's Textbook of Endourology.
• Lee, B. R., & Liu, J. (2016). Nanotechnology in Urology: History of Development and Applications in Urology. In History of Technologic Advancements in Urology.

Journals/Publications

• Asif, W., Paster, I., Pulling, K., Garcia, K., Wightman, P., Cruz, A., Combates, C., Kauffman, E., Gachupin, F., Lee, B., Chipollini, J., & Batai, K. (2024). Differential effects of obesity on perioperative outcomes in renal cell carcinoma patients based on race and ethnicity and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status. Translational Andrology & Urology, 13(4), 548-559. doi:10.21037/tau-23-421
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  Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes for racial and ethnic minority patients with RCC is unclear. This study investigated whether a higher body mass index (BMI) or obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was associated with worse perioperative outcomes and if there were heterogeneous effects based on race, ethnicity, and neighborhood-level socioeconomic factor. Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, medical records of patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations of BMI and perioperative outcomes [ischemia time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and length of hospital stay]. Results: A total of 432 patients, including 49.8% non-Hispanic White (NHW), 35.0% Hispanic, and 6.9% American Indian (AI) patients, were included. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] BMI was 30.2 (26.3–35.2) kg/m2, and Hispanic (31.5) and AI (32.5) patients had higher median BMI than NHW (29.1) patients (P=0.006). Median ischemia time, EBL, and length of hospital stay were 18.5 (IQR, 15.0–22.4) minutes, 150 (IQR, 75.0–300.0) mL, and 3 (IQR, 2–5) days. BMI ≥35 kg/m2 was associated with a longer ischemia time [>18.5 minutes; odds ratio (OR), 5.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81–14.76; P=0.002], and the association was stronger in NHW than Hispanic patients (BMI continuous OR, 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04–1.22; P=0.004 in NHW and OR, 1.07; 95% CI: 0.98–1.17; P=0.12 in Hispanics). Class I and II/III obese patients had over two-fold increased odds of a larger EBL (>150 mL) than patients with normal weight (OR, 2.17; 95% CI: 1.03–4.59; P=0.04 for class I and OR, 2.24; 95% CI: 1.04–4.84; P=0.04 for class II/III obese patients). This association was stronger in patients from neighborhoods with high social deprivation index (SDI) and in NHW patients (BMI ≥30 vs.
• Lee, B. R., Chipollini, J., Fernandez, A., Cordero, M., Avila-Monteverde, E., Cifuentes, E. M., & Pautler, S. E. (2024). Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Identified by Genetic Testing After Histologic Diagnosis of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma. SeriesScience International, 2.
• Marcarian, H. Q., Sivakoses, A., Arias, A. M., Ihedioha, O., Bishop, M. C., Lee, B. R., & Bothwell, A. L. (2024). Renal cancer cells acquire immune surface protein through trogocytosis and horizontal gene transfer. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.
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  Trogocytosis is an underappreciated phenomenon that shapes the immune microenvironment surrounding many types of solid tumors. The consequences of membrane-bound proteins being deposited from a donor immune cell to a recipient cancer cell via trogocytosis are still unclear. Here, we report that human clear cell renal carcinoma tumors stably express the lymphoid markers CD45, CD56, CD14, and CD16. Flow cytometry performed on fresh kidney tumors revealed consistent CD45 expression on tumor cells, as well as varying levels of the other markers mentioned previously. These results were consistent with our immunofluorescent analysis, which also revealed colocalization of lymphoid markers with carbonic anhydrase 9 (CAIX), a standard kidney tumor marker. RNA analysis showed a significant upregulation of genes typically associated with immune cells in tumor cells following trogocytosis. Finally, we show evidence of chromosomal DNA being transferred from immune cells to tumor cells during trogocytosis. This horizontal gene transfer has transcriptional consequences in the recipient tumor cell, resulting in a fusion phenotype that expressed both immune and cancer specific proteins. This work demonstrates a novel mechanism by which tumor cell protein expression is altered through the acquisition of surface membrane fragments and genomic DNA from infiltrating lymphocytes. These results alter the way in which we understand tumor-immune cell interactions and may reveal new insights into the mechanisms by which tumors develop. Additionally, further studies into trogocytosis will help push the field towards the next generation of immunotherapies and biomarkers for treating renal cell carcinoma and other types of cancers.
• Miranti, C., Tahsin, S., Sane, N., Zohar, Y., Jiang, L., Lee, B. R., & Cernyar, B. (2024). AR loss in prostate cancer stroma mediated by NF-κB and p38-MAPK signaling disrupts stromal morphogen production.. Oncogene, 1-15.
• Suppanuntaroek, S., Garcia, K., Combates, C., Deal, C., Paster, I., Morrill, C., Batai, K., & Lee, B. (2024). Best predictive single nephrometry score component to correlate with achievement of trifecta outcome in laparoscopic and robotic surgery. BMC Urol, 24(1), 134. doi:10.1186/s12894-024-01518-4
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  Background: To evaluate the predictive value of individual components of the R.E.N.A.L scoring system for Laparoscopic (LPN) and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy (RPN). Methods: Patients that had undergone a Laparoscopic (LPN) or Robotic Partial Nephrectomy (RPN) between 2018 and 2023 were reviewed. Our data collection included Race, Ethnicity, Age, BMI, R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score, and complications. Cases that achieved trifecta outcomes were designated as “Group A” and cases that did not achieve trifecta were “Group B”. All the data were collected using REDCap database. Results: A total of 111 cases were included, Group A consisted of 82% of all cases, whereas Group B 18%. Radius score demonstrated significant distinction concerning trifecta attainment and was the most predictive component of the 5 scoring metrics of the nephrometry system. In a subgroup analysis, R-score of 3 or a renal mass measuring ≥ 7 cm, was a significant independent negative predictor for trifecta outcomes, as well as tumor size at presentation. Conclusion: Renal nephrometry score is predictive of trifecta outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic partial nephrectomy. Radius of mass was the most effective predictive component of the nephrometry score for trifecta prediction.
• Valencia, C. I., Wightman, P., Morrill, K. E., Hsu, C. H., Arif-Tiwari, H., Kauffman, E., Gachupin, F. C., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., Garcia, D. O., & Batai, K. (2024). Neighborhood social vulnerability and disparities in time to kidney cancer surgical treatment and survival in Arizona. Cancer medicine, 13(3), e7007.
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  Hispanics and American Indians (AI) have high kidney cancer incidence and mortality rates in Arizona. This study assessed: (1) whether racial and ethnic minority patients and patients from neighborhoods with high social vulnerability index (SVI) experience a longer time to surgery after clinical diagnosis, and (2) whether time to surgery, race and ethnicity, and SVI are associated with upstaging to pT3/pT4, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).
• Batai, K., Chen, Y., Rheinheimer, B. A., Arora, A., Pandey, R., Heimark, R. L., Bracamonte, E. R., Ellis, N. A., & Lee, B. R. (2023). Clear cell renal cell carcinoma molecular variations in non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients. Cancer medicine, 12(11), 12792-12801.
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  The United States is becoming increasingly diverse, but few molecular studies have assessed the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in diverse patient populations. This study examined ccRCC molecular variations in non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic patients and their effect on the association of gene expression with high-grade (Grade 3 or 4) ccRCC and overall mortality.
• Jones, T. M., Espitia, C. M., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., Wertheim, J. A., Carew, J. S., & Nawrocki, S. T. (2023). Targeting NEDDylation is a Novel Strategy to Attenuate Cisplatin-induced Nephrotoxicity. Cancer research communications, 3(2), 245-257.
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  Although cisplatin remains a backbone of standard-of-care chemotherapy regimens for a variety of malignancies, its use is often associated with severe dose-limiting toxicities (DLT). Notably, 30%-40% of patients treated with cisplatin-based regimens are forced to discontinue treatment after experiencing nephrotoxicity as a DLT. New approaches that simultaneously prevent renal toxicity while improving therapeutic response have the potential to make a major clinical impact for patients with multiple forms of cancer. Here, we report that pevonedistat (MLN4924), a first-in-class NEDDylation inhibitor, alleviates nephrotoxicity and synergistically enhances the efficacy of cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models. We demonstrate that pevonedistat protects normal kidney cells from injury while enhancing the anticancer activity of cisplatin through a thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)-mediated mechanism. Cotreatment with pevonedistat and cisplatin yielded dramatic HNSCC tumor regression and long-term animal survival in 100% of treated mice. Importantly, the combination decreased nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin monotherapy as evidenced by the blockade of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and TXNIP expression, a reduction in collapsed glomeruli and necrotic cast formation, and inhibition of cisplatin-mediated animal weight loss. Inhibition of NEDDylation represents a novel strategy to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity while simultaneously enhancing its anticancer activity through a redox-mediated mechanism.
• Maar, K. D., Ignatenko, N., Warfel, N. A., Batai, K., Cress, A. E., Pollock, G., Wong, A. C., & Lee, B. R. (2023). Digital Image analysis using Video microscopy of human-derived prostate cancer vs normaprostate organoids to assess migratory behavior on extracellular matrix proteins.. Frontiers in Oncology.
• Zeng, J., Funk, J., Lee, B. R., Hsu, C. H., Messing, E. M., & Chipollini, J. (2023). Gemcitabine as first-line therapy for high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: results from a tertiary center in the contemporary BCG-shortage era. Translational andrology and urology, 12(6), 960-966.
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  To evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine as first-line adjuvant therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in the setting of ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage.
• Cruz, A., Dickerson, F., Pulling, K. R., Garcia, K., Gachupin, F. C., Hsu, C. H., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2022). Impacts of Neighborhood Characteristics and Surgical Treatment Disparities on Overall Mortality in Stage I Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(4).
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  Racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States have high renal cell carcinoma (RCC) mortality rates. This study assessed surgical treatment disparities across racial/ethnic groups and impacts of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics on surgical treatments and overall mortality. Stage I RCC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 from National Cancer Database were included (n = 238,141). We assessed differences in associations between race/ethnicity and treatment patterns using logistic regression and between race/ethnicity and overall mortality using Cox regression with and without neighborhood characteristics in the regression models. When compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), American Indians/Alaska Natives and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) were more likely not to receive surgical care and all racial/ethnic minority groups had significantly increased odds of undergoing radical rather than partial nephrectomy, even after adjusting for neighborhood characteristics. Including surgical treatment and neighborhood factors in the models slightly attenuated the association, but NHBs had a significantly increased risk of overall mortality. NHBs who underwent radical nephrectomy had an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08-1.23), but not for NHBs who underwent partial nephrectomy (HR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1.02). Neighborhood factors were associated with surgical treatment patterns and overall mortality in both NHBs and NHWs. Neighborhood socioeconomic factors may only partly explain RCC disparities.
• Gachupin, F. C., Lee, B. R., Chipollini, J., Pulling, K. R., Cruz, A., Wong, A. C., Valencia, C. I., Hsu, C. H., & Batai, K. (2022). Renal Cell Carcinoma Surgical Treatment Disparities in American Indian/Alaska Natives and Hispanic Americans in Arizona. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3).
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  American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and Hispanic Americans (HA) have higher kidney cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Herein, we describe the disparity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) surgical treatment for AI/AN and HA and the potential association with mortality in Arizona. A total of 5111 stage I RCC cases diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 from the Arizona Cancer Registry were included. Statistical analyses were performed to test the association of race/ethnicity with surgical treatment pattern and overall mortality, adjusting for patients' demographic, healthcare access, and socioeconomic factors. AI/AN were diagnosed 6 years younger than NHW and were more likely to receive radical rather than partial nephrectomy (OR 1.49 95% CI: 1.07-2.07) compared to NHW. Mexican Americans had increased odds of not undergoing surgical treatment (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.08-2.53). Analysis showed that not undergoing surgical treatment and undergoing radical nephrectomy were statistically significantly associated with higher overall mortality (HR 1.82 95% CI: 1.21-2.76 and HR 1.59 95% CI: 1.30-1.95 respectively). Mexican Americans, particularly U.S.-born Mexican Americans, had an increased risk for overall mortality and RCC-specific mortality even after adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic factors and surgical treatment patterns. Although statistically not significant after adjusting for neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors and surgical treatment patterns, AI/AN had an elevated risk of mortality.
• Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2022). Disparities in the Treatment and Survival of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Urology, 165, 96-97.
• Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2022). EDITORIAL COMMENT. Urology, 165, 96-97.
• Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2022). EDITORIAL COMMENT. Urology. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2021.08.073
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  Disparities in cancer treatments and outcomes are evident in many cancer types including renal cell carcinoma (RCC).1,2 Elevated mortality in racial/ethnic minority groups may be attributed to treatment disparities from a variety of factors include potentially socioeconomic inequality. Other related issues include medical mistrust, unconscious bias in healthcare delivery, and lack of high-quality health care and highly qualified healthcare providers in minority serving hospitals. Compounding effects of these factors on cancer care are still unknown.
• Lee, B. R., Chipollini, J., Fernandez, A., Gonzalez, A., Avila-Monteverde, E., & Pautler, S. (2022). A Typical Progression Pattern after Pre-Docetaxel Abiraterone for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Report of Two Cases. Clinical Oncology Journal, 3(1).
• Lee, B. R., Fernandez, A., Gonzalez, A., Avila-Monteverde, E., Chipollini, J., & Pautler, S. (2022). A Typical Progression Pattern after Pre-Docetaxel Abiraterone for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Report of Two Cases. Clinical Oncology Journal, 3(1), 1-5.
• Marr, K. D., Ignatenko, N. A., Warfel, N. A., Batai, K., Cress, A. E., Pollock, G. R., Wong, A. C., & Lee, B. R. (2022). Digital image analysis using video microscopy of human-derived prostate cancer vs normal prostate organoids to assess migratory behavior on extracellular matrix proteins. Frontiers in oncology, 12, 1083150.
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  The advent of perpetuating living organoids derived from patient tissue is a promising avenue for cancer research but is limited by difficulties with precise characterization. In this brief communication, we demonstrate time-lapse imaging distinct phenotypes of prostate organoids derived from patient material- without confirmation of cellular identity. We show that organoids derived from histologically normal tissue more readily spread on a physiologic extracellular matrix (ECM) than on pathologic ECM (p
• Singh, N., Ramnarine, R., Song, J., Pandey, R., Padi, S., Nouri, M., Olive, V., Kobelev, M., Okumura, K., McCarthy, D., Hanna, M., Mukherjee, P., Sun, B., Lee, B., Parker, J., Chakravarti, D., Warfel, N., Zhou, M., Bearss, J., , Gibb, E., et al. (2022). The Long Noncoding RNA H19 Regulates Tumor Plasticity in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer. Nat Commun., 208(3). doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002816
• Chipollini, J., Pollock, G., Hsu, C. H., Batai, K., Recio-Boiles, A., & Lee, B. R. (2021). National trends and survival outcomes of penile squamous cell carcinoma based on human papillomavirus status. Cancer medicine, 10(21), 7466-7474.
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  There are no series evaluating penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) based on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Herein, we present national registry data on clinical and survival outcomes for pSCC based on HPV status.
• Pollock, G., Hsu, C. H., Batai, K., Lee, B. R., & Chipollini, J. (2021). Postoperative and Survival Outcomes After Cytoreductive Surgery in the Treatment of Metastatic Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. Urology.
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  To analyze utilization and outcomes of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) after systemic chemotherapy in select patients with metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).
• Quinonez-Zanabria, E., Valencia, C. I., Asif, W., Zeng, J., Wong, A. C., Cruz, A., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., Gachupin, F. C., Hsu, C. H., & Batai, K. (2021). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preoperative Surgical Wait Time and Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Characteristics. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(9).
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  Racial/ethnic minority groups have a disproportionate burden of kidney cancer. The objective of this study was to assess if race/ethnicity was associated with a longer surgical wait time (SWT) and upstaging in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic time with a special focus on Hispanic Americans (HAs) and American Indian/Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs). Medical records of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients who underwent nephrectomy between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed ( = 489). Patients with a prior cancer diagnosis were excluded. SWT was defined as the date of diagnostic imaging examination to date of nephrectomy. Out of a total of 363 patients included, 34.2% were HAs and 8.3% were AIs/ANs. While 49.2% of HA patients experienced a longer SWT (≥90 days), 36.1% of Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients experienced a longer SWT. Longer SWT had no statistically significant impact on tumor characteristics. Patients with public insurance coverage had increased odds of longer SWT (OR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.53-5.45). Public insurance coverage represented 66.1% HA and 70.0% AIs/ANs compared to 56.7% in NHWs. Compared to NHWs, HAs had higher odds for longer SWT in patients with early-stage RCC (OR, 2.38; 95% CI: 1.25-4.53). HAs (OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.07-4.66) and AIs/ANs (OR 3.79, 95% CI: 1.32-10.88) had greater odds of upstaging compared to NHWs. While a delay in surgical care for early-stage RCC is safe in a general population, it may negatively impact high-risk populations, such as HAs who have a prolonged SWT or choose active surveillance.
• Singh, N., Ramnarine, V. R., Song, J. H., Pandey, R., Padi, S. K., Nouri, M., Olive, V., Kobelev, M., Okumura, K., McCarthy, D., Hanna, M. M., Mukherjee, P., Sun, B., Lee, B. R., Parker, J. B., Chakravarti, D., Warfel, N. A., Zhou, M., Bearss, J. J., , Gibb, E. A., et al. (2021). The long noncoding RNA H19 regulates tumor plasticity in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Nature communications, 12(1), 7349.
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  Neuroendocrine (NE) prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subtype of castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) arising either de novo or from transdifferentiated prostate adenocarcinoma following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Extensive computational analysis has identified a high degree of association between the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 and NEPC, with the longest isoform highly expressed in NEPC. H19 regulates PCa lineage plasticity by driving a bidirectional cell identity of NE phenotype (H19 overexpression) or luminal phenotype (H19 knockdown). It contributes to treatment resistance, with the knockdown of H19 re-sensitizing PCa to ADT. It is also essential for the proliferation and invasion of NEPC. H19 levels are negatively regulated by androgen signaling via androgen receptor (AR). When androgen is absent SOX2 levels increase, driving H19 transcription and facilitating transdifferentiation. H19 facilitates the PRC2 complex in regulating methylation changes at H3K27me3/H3K4me3 histone sites of AR-driven and NEPC-related genes. Additionally, this lncRNA induces alterations in genome-wide DNA methylation on CpG sites, further regulating genes associated with the NEPC phenotype. Our clinical data identify H19 as a candidate diagnostic marker and predictive marker of NEPC with elevated H19 levels associated with an increased probability of biochemical recurrence and metastatic disease in patients receiving ADT. Here we report H19 as an early upstream regulator of cell fate, plasticity, and treatment resistance in NEPC that can reverse/transform cells to a treatable form of PCa once therapeutically deactivated.
• Valencia, C. I., Asmar, S., Hsu, C. H., Gachupin, F. C., Wong, A. C., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2021). Renal Cell Carcinoma Health Disparities in Stage and Mortality among American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanic Americans: Comparison of National Cancer Database and Arizona Cancer Registry Data. Cancers, 13(5).
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  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the top 10 cancers in the United States. This study assessed RCC health disparities in American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) and Hispanic Americans (HAs) focusing on advanced-stage and mortality. RCC patients' data were obtained from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and Arizona Cancer Registry (ACR). Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to ascertain the effect of race/ethnicity on stage and mortality, adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic factors, rural/urban residence pattern, and other factors. In both data sets, AIs/ANs had significantly increased odds of advanced-stage RCC in the unadjusted model, but not in adjusted models. Mexican Americans had higher odds of advanced-stage compared to non-Hispanic Whites in NCDB (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.35) and ACR (OR 2.02, 95% CI: 1.58-2.58), even after adjusting for neighborhood characteristics. AIs/ANs did not show increased mortality risk in NCDB after adjusting for neighborhood characteristics, while the association remained significant in ACR (HR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.72). The great risk of all-cause and RCC-specific mortality was observed in U.S.-born Mexican Americans in Arizona (HR 3.21, 95% CI: 2.61-3.98 and sub-distribution HR 2.79, 95% CI: 2.05-3.81). RCC disparities in AIs/ANs is partially explained by neighborhood factors, but not in HAs.
• Zeng, J., Batai, K., & Lee, B. R. (2021). Nephrectomy Delay of More than 10 Weeks from Diagnosis Is Associated with Decreased Overall Survival in pT3 RCC. Journal of kidney cancer and VHL, 8(2), 27-33.
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  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of surgical wait time (SWT) on outcomes of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and to investigate risk factors associated with prolonged SWT. Using the National Cancer Database, we retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pT3 RCC treated with radical or partial nephrectomy between 2004 and 2014. The cohort was divided based on SWT. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors associated with delayed surgery. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to assess relations between SWT and 5-year OS after adjusting for confounding factors. A total of 22,653 patients were included in the analysis. Patients with SWT > 10 weeks had higher occurrence of upstaging. Using logistic regression, we found that female patients, African-American or Spanish origin patients, treatment in academic or integrated network cancer center, lack of insurance, median household income of 10 weeks was associated with decreased 5-year OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.33). This risk was not markedly attenuated after adjusting for confounding variables, including age, gender, race, insurance status, Charlson-Deyo score, tumor size, and surgical margin status (adjusted HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.24). In conclusion, the vast majority of patients underwent surgery within 10 weeks. There is a statistically significant trend of increasing SWT over the study period. SWT > 10 weeks is associated with decreased 5-year OS.
• Bukavina, L., Mishra, K., Mahran, A., Fernstrum, A., Ray, A., Markt, S., Schumacher, F., Conroy, B., Abouassaly, R., MacLennan, G., Smith, G., Ferry, E., Wong, D., Lotan, Y., Chaparala, H., Sharp, D., Alazem, K., Moinzadeh, A., Adamic, B., , Zagaja, G., et al. (2020). "Robotic fatigue?" - The impact of case order on positive surgical margins in robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Urologic oncology.
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  Multiple robotic-assisted surgeries are often performed within a single operating day; however, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes has not been examined. We aim to determine whether outcomes for robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) differed when performed sequentially.
• Chipollini, J., Wright, J. R., Nwanosike, H., Kepler, C. Y., Batai, K., Lee, B. R., Spiess, P. E., Stewart, D. B., & Lamendella, R. (2020). Characterization of urinary microbiome in patients with bladder cancer: Results from a single-institution, feasibility study. Urologic oncology, 38(7), 615-621.
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  The human microbiome has been linked to the development of several malignancies, but there is scarcity of data on the microbiome of bladder cancer patients. In this study, we analyzed microbial composition and diversity among patients with and without bladder cancer.
• Harb-De la Rosa, A., Garcia-Castaneda, J., Hsu, C. H., Zeng, J., Batai, K., Lee, B. R., & Chipollini, J. (2020). Perioperative outcomes of open vs. robotic radical cystectomy: a nationwide comparative analysis (2008-2014). Central European journal of urology, 73(4), 427-431.
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  Radical cystectomy (RC) is a complex procedure with high perioperative morbidity. In an effort to reduce complications, robotic-assisted RC (RARC) has been adopted as a minimally invasive alternative to the open approach (ORC). Herein, we examine post-operative outcomes of the two surgical approaches in the United States (US) using a large all-payer database.
• Loloi, J., Shingleton, W. B., Nakada, S. Y., Zagoria, R. J., Landman, J., Lee, B. R., Matin, S. F., Ahrar, K., Leveillee, R. J., Cadeddu, J. A., & Raman, J. D. (2020). Management of Residual or Recurrent Disease Following Thermal Ablation of Renal Cortical Tumors. Journal of kidney cancer and VHL, 7(2), 1-5.
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  Management of residual or recurrent disease following thermal ablation of renal cortical tumors includes surveillance, repeat ablation, or surgical extirpation. We present a multicenter experience with regard to the management of this clinical scenario. Prospectively maintained databases were reviewed to identify 1265 patients who underwent cryoablation (CA) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for enhancing renal masses. Disease persistence or recurrence was classified into one of the three categories: (i) residual disease in ablation zone; (ii) recurrence in the ipsilateral renal unit; and (iii) metastatic/extra-renal disease. Seventy seven patients (6.1%) had radiographic evidence of disease persistence or recurrence at a median interval of 13.7 months (range, 1-65 months) post-ablation. Distribution of disease included 47 patients with residual disease in ablation zone, 29 with ipsilateral renal unit recurrences (all in ablation zone), and one with metastatic disease. Fourteen patients (18%) elected for surveillance, and the remaining underwent salvage ablation (n = 50), partial nephrectomy (n = 5), or radical nephrectomy (n = 8). Salvage ablation was successful in 38/50 (76%) patients, with 12 failures managed by observation (3), tertiary ablation (6), and radical nephrectomy (3). At a median follow-up of 28 months, the actuarial cancer-specific survival and overall survival in this select cohort of patients was 94.8 and 89.6%, respectively.
• Phung, M. C., Rouse, A. R., Pangilinan, J., Bell, R. C., Bracamonte, E. R., Mashi, S., Gmitro, A. F., & Lee, B. R. (2020). Investigation of confocal microscopy for differentiation of renal cell carcinoma versus benign tissue. Can an optical biopsy be performed?. Asian journal of urology, 7(4), 363-368.
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  Novel optical imaging modalities are under development with the goal of obtaining an "optical biopsy" to efficiently provide pathologic details. One such modality is confocal microscopy which allows visualization of cells within a layer of tissue and imaging of cellular-level structures. The goal of this study is to validate the ability of confocal microscopy to quickly and accurately differentiate between normal renal tissue and cancer.
• Zeng, J., & Lee, B. R. (2020). Editorial comment on END-2020-0043-TEC.R1. Journal of endourology.
• Batai, K., Harb-De la Rosa, A., Lwin, A., Chaus, F., Gachupin, F. C., Price, E., & Lee, B. R. (2019). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Analysis of Clinical Characteristics. Clinical genitourinary cancer, 17(1), e195-e202.
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  Racial/ethnic minority groups, including Hispanic Americans (HAs) and Native Americans (NAs), have a heavier burden of kidney cancer than European Americans (EAs). We investigated variations in clinical characteristics of HA and NA patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who were previously underrepresented.
• Batai, K., Harb-De la Rosa, A., Zeng, J., Chipollini, J. J., Gachupin, F. C., & Lee, B. R. (2019). Racial/ethnic disparities in renal cell carcinoma: Increased risk of early-onset and variation in histologic subtypes. Cancer medicine, 8(15), 6780-6788.
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  Racial/ethnic minority groups have a higher burden of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but RCC among Hispanic Americans (HAs) and American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) are clinically not well characterized. We explored variations in age at diagnosis and frequencies of RCC histologic subtypes across racial/ethnic groups and Hispanic subgroups using National Cancer Database (NCDB) and Arizona Cancer Registry Data.
• Chaus, F. M., Craig, M., Bracamonte, E., Sundararajan, S., & Lee, B. R. (2019). Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Bladder Treated by Robotic Partial Cystectomy and Immunotherapy. Journal of endourology case reports, 5(4), 151-153.
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  Primary malignant melanoma (PMM) of the urinary tract is a rare entity, with only 28 cases reported in the literature. We present an interesting case of a 27-year-old Caucasian woman, with family history of melanoma, who initially presented with gross hematuria, and was subsequently found to have PMM of the bladder. Initially diagnosis was made through transurethral resection of the bladder tumor with clinical suspicion of residual disease in the patient. Subsequently, she underwent robotic partial cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection followed by 1 year of pembrolizumab, a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. Subsequent imaging demonstrated no evidence of metastatic disease or local recurrence. This case report presents a unique management of a rare pathological diagnosis with the use of robotic partial cystectomy, and a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy that ultimately has led to a 2-year recurrence-free survival period for this young patient.
• Batai, K., Bergersen, A., Price, E., Hynes, K., Ellis, N., & Lee, B. R. (2018). Clinical and Molecular Characteristics and Burden of Kidney Cancer Among Hispanics and Native Americans: Steps Toward Precision Medicine. Clinical Genitourin Cancer, 16((3)), e535-541. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2018.01.006
• Batai, K., Imler, E., Pangilinan, J., Bell, R., Lwin, A., Price, E., Milinic, T., Arora, A., Ellis, N. A., Bracamonte, E., Seligmann, B., & Lee, B. R. (2018). Whole-transcriptome sequencing identified gene expression signatures associated with aggressive clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Genes & cancer, 9(5-6), 247-256.
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  Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent subtype of kidney cancer, yet molecular biomarkers have not been used for the prognosis of ccRCC to aide clinical decision making. This study aimed to identify genes associated with ccRCC aggressiveness and overall survival (OS). Samples of ccRCC tumor tissue were obtained from 33 patients who underwent nephrectomy. Gene expression was determined using whole-transcriptome sequencing. The Cancer Genome Atlas Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-KIRC) RNA-seq data was used to test association with OS. 290 genes were differentially expressed between tumors with high and low stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score (≥7 . ≤3) with
• Bergersen, A., & Lee, B. R. (2017). Step-by-step technical considerations for laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy. British Journal of Urology.
• Bergersen, A., & Lee, B. R. (2018). Robotic Pyeloplasty Step by Step Guitde. Journal of Endourology, 32(S1), S68-S72. doi:doi: 10.1089/end.2017.0726
• Bergersen, A., R, T., & Lee, B. R. (2017). Robotic Pyeloplasty. British Journal of Urology.
• Bergersen, A., Thomas, R., & Lee, B. R. (2018). Robotic Pyeloplasty. Journal of endourology, 32(S1), S68-S72.
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  Historically, the gold standard for management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has been open pyeloplasty. However, continued technological and surgical advances have ultimately led to the robotic approach. Continued advances in minimally invasive surgery have led to shorter hospital stays and hastened recovery. Here we present our step by step guide and video to robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
• Lee, B. R., Batai, K., Bergersen, A., Ellis, N., Price, E., Hynes, K., Hynes, K., Price, E., Bergersen, A., Ellis, N., Batai, K., & Lee, B. R. (2017). The Clinical and Molecular Characteristics and Burden of Kidney Cancer among Hispanics and Native Americans: Steps toward Precision Medicine. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer.
• Phung, M. C., & Lee, B. R. (2018). Recent advancements of robotic surgery for kidney cancer. Asian journal of endoscopic surgery, 11(4), 300-307.
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  Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma has undergone a transformation in recent decades, especially with the dissemination of the robotic platform. Increasingly, larger and more complex renal lesions are now being treated in a minimally invasive fashion. The purpose of this article is to review advances in the use of the robotic approach for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, including nephron-sparing surgery, radical nephrectomy, and cytoreductive nephrectomy.
• Wang, M., Tulman, D. B., Scholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., Maddox, M. M., Lee, B. R., & Brown, Q. J. (2018). Partial Nephrectomy margin imaging using structured illumination microscopy. Journal of Biophotonics.
• Wang, M., Tulman, D. B., Sholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., Maddox, M. M., Lee, B. R., & Brown, J. Q. (2018). Partial nephrectomy margin imaging using structured illumination microscopy. Journal of Biophontonics, 11((3)). doi:10.1002/jbio.201600328
• Golan, S., Johnson, S. C., Maurice, M. J., Kaouk, J. H., Lai, W. R., Lee, B. R., Kheyfets, S. V., Sundaram, C. P., Cahn, D. B., Uzzo, R. G., & Shalhav, A. L. (2017). Safety and early effectiveness of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for large angiomyolipomas. BJU International.
• Phung, M. C., Lee, B. R., & Funk, J. T. (2017). Percutaneous Management of Pyocystic Fistulizing Continent Urinary Diversion. Journal Endorurology Case Report, 162-164.
• Phung, M. C., Lee, B. R., & Funk, J. T. (2017). Percutaneous Management of a Pyocystic Fistulizing Continent Urinary Diversion. Journal of endourology case reports, 3(1), 162-164.
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  Continent diversions have since been performed with increasing frequency since the 1950s, with some providers espousing the use of orthotopic diversions as being the new gold standard. However, patients must be counseled to take great care in the maintenance of their diversions because of complications such as metabolic abnormalities, pouch stones, and mucus retention. A 21-year-old male with a history of posterior urethral valves underwent a continent catheterizable diversion as a child. He is undocumented and without health insurance and as a result unable to follow-up with an urologist for >10 years. He subsequently develops pyocystis with cutaneous fistulization and pouch stones necessitating percutaneous management. Patients may benefit greatly from a continent urinary diversion, however, selection must include patients who are able to maintain their pouch and follow-up with their providers to avoid major complications that may occur up to years following the procedure.
• Quincy Brown, J., Lee, B. R., Wang, M., Tulman, D. B., Sholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., & Maddox, M. M. (2017). Partial nephrectomy margin imaging using structured illumination microscopy. Journal of Biophotonics, 11(3), e201600328. doi:10.1002/jbio.201600328
• Callaghan, C., Peralta, D., Liu, J., Mandava, S. H., Maddox, M., Dash, S., Tarr, M. A., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Combined Treatment of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Labeled Gold Nanorod Encapsulated Albumin With Laser Thermal Ablation in a Renal Cell Carcinoma Model. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 105(1), 284-92.
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  To characterize and evaluate human serum albumin-encapsulated nanoparticles for drug delivery of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor combined with induction of photothermal ablation combination therapy of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), nanoparticles of varying preparations and concentrations were characterized via zeta potential, drug loading, and release profile. Cytotoxicity and uptake trials were also studied using clear cell RCC cell line RCC 786-0, a human metastatic carcinoma. Target temperatures of >50°C were consistently attained by 0.1 and 0.05 μM concentrations of irradiated human serum albumin nanoparticle-gold nanorods (HSAP-AuNRs). Irradiated trials of HSAP-AuNRs demonstrated significantly decreased cell viabilities compared with nonirradiated "dark" controls (p < 0.01). Increasing loaded masses of sorafenib (SRF) also significantly decreased relative cell viability of RCC (p < 0.05). Photothermal ablation using HSAP-AuNRs is capable of inducing significant hyperthermia while the loading of SRF further enhances cytotoxicity relative to treatment with HSAP-AuNRs alone. HSAP-AuNR-SRFs have the potential to be an effective, novel combination treatment for advanced RCC.
• Colli, J. L., Dorsey, P., Grossman, L., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Retrograde renal cooling to minimize ischemia. International braz j urol : official journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology, 39(1), 37-45.
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  During partial nephrectomy, renal hypothermia has been shown to decrease ischemia induced renal damage which occurs from renal hilar clamping. In this study we investigate the infusion rate required to safely cool the entire renal unit in a porcine model using retrograde irrigation of iced saline via dual-lumen ureteral catheter.
• Ellimoottil, C., Skolarus, T., Gettman, M., Boxer, R., Kutikov, A., Lee, B. R., Shelton, J., & Morgan, T. (2016). Telemedicine in Urology: State of the Art. Urology, 94, 10-6.
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  Whereas telemedicine is recognized as one of the fastest-growing components of the healthcare system, the status of telemedicine use in urology is largely unknown. In this narrative review, we detail studies that investigate the use of televisits and teleconsultations for urologic conditions. Moreover, we discuss current regulatory and reimbursement policies. Finally, we discuss the significant barriers to widespread dissemination and implementation of telemedicine and reasons why the field of urology may be positioned to become a leader in the provision of telemedicine services.
• Lee, B. R., & Lai, W. R. (2016). Techniques to Resect the Distal Ureter in Robotic/Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy. Asian Journal of Urology. doi:10.1016/j.ajur.2016.04.001
• Lee, B. R., Castle, E. P., Powers, M. K., Boonjindasup, A., Pinsky, M., Dorsey, P., Maddox, M., Su, L., Gettman, M., Sundaram, C. P., & Lee, J. Y. (2016). Crowdsourcing Assessment of Surgeon Dissection of Renal Artery and Vein During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: A Novel Approach for Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Performance. Journal of Endourology, 30(4), 447-452. doi:10.1089/end.2015.0665
• Lee, B. R., Feibus, A. H., Sartor, O., Moparty, K., Chagin, K., Kattan, M. W., Ledet, E., Levy, J., Thomas, R., & Silberstein, J. L. (2016). Clinical Utility of PCA3 and TMPRSS2:ERG Urinary Biomarkers in African American Men Undergoing Prostate Biopsy. Urology.
• Lee, B. R., Kowalewski, T. M., Comstock, B., Sweet, R., Schaffhausen, C., Menhadji, A., Averch, T., Box, G., Brand, T., Ferrandino, M., Kaouk, J., Knudsen, B., Landman, J., Schwartz, B. F., McDougall, E., & Lendvay, T. S. (2016). Crowd Sourced Assessment of Technical Skills for Validation of Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Skills (BLUS) Tasks. Urology, 6(195), 1859-65.
• Lee, B. R., Kowalewski, T., Sweet, R., Lendvay, T. S., Menhadji, A., Averch, T., Box, G., Brand, T., Ferrandino, M., Kaouk, J., Knudsen, B., Landman, J., Schwartz, B., & McDougall, E. (2016). Validation of the AUA Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery Skills (BLUS) Tasks. Urology, 195, 998-1005.
• Lee, B. R., Liu, J., Abshire, C., Carry, C., Sholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., Datta, A., Ranjan, M., Callaghan, C., Peralta, D. V., Williams, K. S., Lai, W. R., Abdel-Mageed, A. B., & Tarr, M. (2016). Nanotechnology combined therapy: tyrosine kinase-bound gold nanorod and laser thermal ablation produce a synergistic higher treatment response of renal cell carcinoma in a murine model. BJU International, 119(2), 342-348. doi:10.1111/bju.13590
• Lee, B. R., Liu, X., Ledet, E., Li, D., Dotiwala, A., Steinberger, A., Feibus, A., Li, J., Qi, Y., Silberstein, J., Dong, Y., Sartor, O., & Zhang, H. (2016). A Whole Blood-Based Detection Assay for Androgen Receptor Splice Variants in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer. Urology.
• Lee, B. R., Powers, M. K., & Silberstein, J. (2016). 3-Dimensional Printing of Surgical Anatomy. Current Opinion in Urology, 3(26), 283-8.
• Liu, J., Abshire, C., Carry, C., Sholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., Datta, A., Ranjan, M., Callaghan, C., Peralta, D. V., Williams, K. S., Lai, W. R., Abdel-Mageed, A. B., Tarr, M., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Nanotechnology combined therapy: tyrosine kinase-bound gold nanorod and laser thermal ablation produce a synergistic higher treatment response of renal cell carcinoma in a murine model. BJU international.
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  To investigate tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) paired with photothermal ablation in a human metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) mouse model. Nanoparticles have been successful as a platform for targeted drug delivery in the treatment of urological cancers. Likewise, the use of nanoparticles in photothermal tumour ablation, although early in its development, has provided promising results. Our previous in vitro studies of nanoparticles loaded with both TKI and AuNRs and activated with photothermal ablation have shown significant synergistic cell kill greater than each individual arm alone. This study is a translation of our initial findings to an in vivo model.
• Liu, J., Wang, M., Tulman, D., Mandava, S. H., Elfer, K. N., Gabrielson, A., Lai, W., Abshire, C., Sholl, A. B., Brown, J. Q., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Non-Destructive Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer on 18- Gauge Core Needle Renal Biopsy Using Dual-Color Fluorescence Structured Illumination Microscopy. Urology.
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  To present a novel imaging technique used for rapid, non-destructive histological assessment of renal neoplasias using a dual-component fluorescence stain and structured illumination microscopy (SIM).
• Mandava, S. H., Liu, J., Maddox, M. M., Woodson, B., Thomas, R., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Stratification of Expert vs Novice Laparoscopists Using the Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery (BLUS) Curriculum at a Single Institution. Journal of surgical education, 72(5), 964-8.
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  To assess determinants of performance applying the tasks of the Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery (BLUS) skills curriculum administered at a single institution.
• Powers, M. K., Boonjindasup, A., Pinsky, M., Dorsey, P., Maddox, M., Su, L., Gettman, M., Sundaram, C. P., Castle, E. P., Lee, J. Y., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Crowdsourcing Assessment of Surgeon Dissection of Renal Artery and Vein During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: A Novel Approach for Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Performance. Journal of endourology / Endourological Society, 30(4), 447-52.
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  We sought to describe a methodology of crowdsourcing for obtaining quantitative performance ratings of surgeons performing renal artery and vein dissection of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN). We sought to compare assessment of technical performance obtained from the crowdsourcers with that of surgical content experts (CE). Our hypothesis is that the crowd can score performances of renal hilar dissection comparably to surgical CE using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS).
• Powers, M. K., Lee, B. R., & Silberstein, J. (2016). Three-dimensional printing of surgical anatomy. Current opinion in urology, 26(3), 283-8.
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  Over the past decade, three-dimensional printing for the medical field has been expanding rapidly throughout all of medicine. This manuscript reviews the current and potential applications for three-dimensional printing, including education, presurgical planning, surgical simulation, bioprinting, and printed surgical equipment.
• Viriyasiripong, S., Lopez, A., Mandava, S. H., Lai, W. R., Mitchell, G. C., Boonjindasup, A., Powers, M. K., Silberstein, J. L., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Accelerometer Measurement of Head Movement During Laparoscopic Surgery as a Tool to Evaluate Skill Development of Surgeons. Journal of surgical education, 73(4), 589-94.
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  To detect and measure surgeons' head movement during laparoscopic simulator performance to determine whether expert surgeons have economy of motion in their head movement, including change of direction, compared with intermediate and novice surgeons. We investigated head movement as an objective tool for assessment of laparoscopic surgical skill and its potential use for assessing novice surgeons' progress on the learning curve.
• Wang, J. C., Lai, W. R., Traore, E. J., Liu, J., Sholl, A. B., Mandava, S. H., Maddox, M. M., Mitchell, G. C., Viriyasiripong, S., Silberstein, J. L., Kittles, R., & Lee, B. R. (2016). Racial Disparities in Histology and Short-Term Renal Functional Outcomes Following Robotic Nephron-Sparing Surgery. Clinical genitourinary cancer.
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  To identify variations in renal function and histology between Caucasian Americans (CA) and African Americans (AA) undergoing robotic nephron-sparing surgery (NSS).
• Wang, M., Tulman, D. B., Sholl, A. B., Kimbrell, H. Z., Mandava, S. H., Elfer, K. N., Luethy, S., Maddox, M. M., Lai, W., Lee, B. R., & Brown, J. Q. (2016). Gigapixel surface imaging of radical prostatectomy specimens for comprehensive detection of cancer-positive surgical margins using structured illumination microscopy. Scientific reports, 6, 27419.
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  Achieving cancer-free surgical margins in oncologic surgery is critical to reduce the need for additional adjuvant treatments and minimize tumor recurrence; however, there is a delicate balance between completeness of tumor removal and preservation of adjacent tissues critical for normal post-operative function. We sought to establish the feasibility of video-rate structured illumination microscopy (VR-SIM) of the intact removed tumor surface as a practical and non-destructive alternative to intra-operative frozen section pathology, using prostate cancer as an initial target. We present the first images of the intact human prostate surface obtained with pathologically-relevant contrast and subcellular detail, obtained in 24 radical prostatectomy specimens immediately after excision. We demonstrate that it is feasible to routinely image the full prostate circumference, generating gigapixel panorama images of the surface that are readily interpreted by pathologists. VR-SIM confirmed detection of positive surgical margins in 3 out of 4 prostates with pathology-confirmed adenocarcinoma at the circumferential surgical margin, and furthermore detected extensive residual cancer at the circumferential margin in a case post-operatively classified by histopathology as having negative surgical margins. Our results suggest that the increased surface coverage of VR-SIM could also provide added value for detection and characterization of positive surgical margins over traditional histopathology.
• Liu, J., Boonkaew, B., Arora, J., Mandava, S. H., Maddox, M. M., Chava, S., Callaghan, C., He, J., Dash, S., John, V. T., & Lee, B. R. (2015). Comparison of sorafenib-loaded poly (lactic/glycolic) acid and DPPC liposome nanoparticles in the in vitro treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 104(3), 1187-96.
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  The objective of this study is to develop and compare several Sorafenib-loaded biocompatible nanoparticle models in order to optimize drug delivery and tumor cellular kill thereby improving the quality of Sorafenib-regimented chemotherapy. Sorafenib-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes, and hydrophobically modified chitosan (HMC)-coated DPPC liposomes were evaluated for several characteristics including zeta potential, drug loading, and release profile. Cytotoxicity and uptake trials were also studied using cell line RCC 786-0, a human metastatic clear cell histology renal cell carcinoma cell line. Sorafenib-loaded PLGA particles and HMC-coated DPPC liposomes exhibited significantly improved cell kill compared to Sorafenib alone at lower concentrations, namely 10-15 and 5-15 μM from 24 to 96 h, respectively. At maximum dosage and time (15 μM and 96 h), Sorafenib-loaded PLGA and HMC-coated liposomes killed 88.3 ± 1.8% and 98 ± 1.1% of all tumor cells, significant values compared with Sorafenib 81.8 ± 1.7% (p < 0.01). Likewise, HMC coating substantially improved cell kill for liposome model for all concentrations (5-15 μM) and at time points (24-96 h) (p < 0.01). PLGA and HMC-coated liposomes are promising platforms for drug delivery of Sorafenib. Because of different particle characteristics of PLGA and liposomes, each model can be further developed for unique clinical modalities.
• Maddox, M. M., Lopez, A., Mandava, S. H., Boonjindasup, A., Viriyasiripong, S., Silberstein, J. L., & Lee, B. R. (2015). Electroencephalographic Monitoring of Brain Wave Activity During Laparoscopic Surgical Simulation to Measure Surgeon Concentration and Stress: Can the Student Become the Master?. Journal of endourology / Endourological Society, 29(12), 1329-33.
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  To measure gamma and alpha brain wave activity as a measurement of concentration and stress levels during surgical simulator performance of laparoscopic tasks to determine if expert surgeons have different brain activity patterns compared with intermediate and novice surgeons.
• Maddox, M., Mandava, S., Liu, J., Boonjindasup, A., & Lee, B. R. (2015). Robotic partial nephrectomy for clinical stage T1b tumors: intermediate oncologic and functional outcomes. Clinical genitourinary cancer, 13(1), 94-9.
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  The objective of this study was to examine our intermediate oncologic and functional outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy for clinical T1b tumors. Partial nephrectomy has become the gold standard of treatment for small renal masses. Recently, indications for minimally invasive partial nephrectomy have extended to larger and more complicated renal masses in some centers.
• Patil, U. S., Adireddy, S., Jaiswal, A., Mandava, S., Lee, B. R., & Chrisey, D. B. (2015). In Vitro/In Vivo Toxicity Evaluation and Quantification of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. International journal of molecular sciences, 16(10), 24417-50.
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  Increasing biomedical applications of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in academic and commercial settings have alarmed the scientific community about the safety and assessment of toxicity profiles of IONPs. The great amount of diversity found in the cytotoxic measurements of IONPs points toward the necessity of careful characterization and quantification of IONPs. The present document discusses the major developments related to in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment of IONPs and its relationship with the physicochemical parameters of IONPs. Major discussion is included on the current spectrophotometric and imaging based techniques used for quantifying, and studying the clearance and biodistribution of IONPs. Several invasive and non-invasive quantification techniques along with the pitfalls are discussed in detail. Finally, critical guidelines are provided to optimize the design of IONPs to minimize the toxicity.
• Powers, M. K., Sartor, O., & Lee, B. R. (2015). Neoadjuvant Tyrosine Kinase Downstaging of T2 Renal Cell Carcinoma in Solitary Kidney Before Robotic Partial Nephrectomy. Journal of endourology case reports, 1(1), 47-9.
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  We highlight the use of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pazopanib, for neoadjuvant downstaging a 7.4 cm right biopsy-proven clear cell renal-cell carcinoma in a solitary kidney before surgical intervention of robotic partial nephrectomy with retrograde cooling to induce cold ischemia in a 79-year-old male.
• Wang, M., Kimbrell, H. Z., Sholl, A. B., Tulman, D. B., Elfer, K. N., Schlichenmeyer, T. C., Lee, B. R., Lacey, M., & Brown, J. Q. (2015). High-Resolution Rapid Diagnostic Imaging of Whole Prostate Biopsies Using Video-Rate Fluorescence Structured Illumination Microscopy. Cancer research, 75(19), 4032-41.
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  Rapid assessment of prostate core biopsy pathology at the point-of-procedure could provide benefit in a variety of clinical situations. Even with advanced transrectal ultrasound guidance and saturation biopsy protocols, prostate cancer can be missed in up to half of all initial biopsy procedures. In addition, collection of tumor specimens for downstream histologic, molecular, and genetic analysis is hindered by low tumor yield due to inability to identify prostate cancer grossly. However, current point-of-procedure pathology protocols, such as frozen section analysis (FSA), are destructive and too time- and labor-intensive to be practical or economical. Ex vivo microscopy of the excised specimens, stained with fast-acting fluorescent histology dyes, could be an attractive nondestructive alternative to FSA. In this work, we report the first demonstration of video-rate structured illumination microscopy (VR-SIM) for rapid high-resolution diagnostic imaging of prostate biopsies in realistic point-of-procedure timeframes. Large mosaic images of prostate biopsies stained with acridine orange are rendered in seconds and contain excellent contrast and detail, exhibiting close correlation with corresponding hematoxylin and eosin histology. A clinically relevant review of VR-SIM images of 34 unfixed and uncut prostate core biopsies by two independent pathologists resulted in an area under the receiver operative curve (AUC) of 0.82-0.88, with a sensitivity ranging from 63% to 88% and a specificity ranging from 78% to 89%. When biopsies contained more than 5% tumor content, the sensitivity improved to 75% to 92%. The image quality, speed, minimal complexity, and ease of use of VR-SIM could prove to be features in favor of adoption as an alternative to destructive pathology at the point-of-procedure.
• Goel, U. O., Maddox, M. M., Elfer, K. N., Dorsey, P. J., Wang, M., McCaslin, I. R., Brown, J. Q., & Lee, B. R. (2014). Feasibility of quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for targeted measurement of renal ischemia during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Journal of biomedical optics, 19(10), 107001.
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  Reduction of warm ischemia time during partial nephrectomy (PN) is critical to minimizing ischemic damage and improving postoperative kidney function, while maintaining tumor resection efficacy. Recently, methods for localizing the effects of warm ischemia to the region of the tumor via selective clamping of higher-order segmental artery branches have been shown to have superior outcomes compared with clamping the main renal artery. However, artery identification can prolong operative time and increase the blood loss and reduce the positive effects of selective ischemia. Quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) can provide a convenient, real-time means to aid in artery identification during laparoscopic PN. The feasibility of quantitative DRS for real-time longitudinal measurement of tissue perfusion and vascular oxygenation in laparoscopic nephrectomy was investigated in vivo in six Yorkshire swine kidneys (n=three animals ). DRS allowed for rapid identification of ischemic areas after selective vessel occlusion. In addition, the rates of ischemia induction and recovery were compared for main renal artery versus tertiary segmental artery occlusion, and it was found that the tertiary segmental artery occlusion trends toward faster recovery after ischemia, which suggests a potential benefit of selective ischemia. Quantitative DRS could provide a convenient and fast tool for artery identification and evaluation of the depth, spatial extent, and duration of selective tissue ischemia in laparoscopic PN.
• Maddox, M., Liu, J., Mandava, S. H., Callaghan, C., John, V., & Lee, B. R. (2014). Nanotechnology applications in urology: a review. BJU international, 114(5), 653-60.
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  The objectives of this review are to discuss the current literature and summarise some of the promising areas with which nanotechnology may improve urological care. A Medline literature search was performed to elucidate all relevant studies of nanotechnology with specific attention to its application in urology. Urological applications of nanotechnology include its use in medical imaging, gene therapy, drug delivery, and photothermal ablation of tumours. In vitro and animal studies have shown initial encouraging results. Further study of nanotechnology for urological applications is warranted to bridge the gap between preclinical studies and translation into clinical practice, but nanomedicine has shown significant potential to improve urological patient care.
• Silberstein, J. L., Maddox, M. M., Dorsey, P., Feibus, A., Thomas, R., & Lee, B. R. (2014). Physical models of renal malignancies using standard cross-sectional imaging and 3-dimensional printers: a pilot study. Urology, 84(2), 268-72.
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  To construct high-fidelity, patient customized, physical, 3-dimensional (3D) models of renal units with enhancing renal lesions identified on cross-sectional imaging, which may aid patients, trainees, and clinicians in their comprehension, characterization, localization, and extirpation of suspicious renal masses.
• Keel, C. E., Wang, Z., Colli, J., Grossman, L., Majid, D., & Lee, B. R. (2013). Protective effects of reducing renal ischemia-reperfusion injury during renal hilar clamping: use of allopurinol as a nephroprotective agent. Urology, 81(1), 210.e5-10.
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  To investigate the relationship between renal ischemia injury and concentrations of 8-isoprostane in a rat kidney model during renal hilar clamping and their correlation with the administration of allopurinol before clamping.
• Saitz, T. R., Dorsey, P. J., Colli, J., & Lee, B. R. (2013). Induction of cold ischemia in patients with solitary kidney using retrograde intrarenal cooling: 2-year functional outcomes. International urology and nephrology, 45(2), 313-20.
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  Renal hypothermia is commonly utilized during nephron sparing surgery to minimize ischemic tissue damage. We propose a method to induce renal hypothermia using continuous retrograde irrigation of iced saline via dual-lumen ureteral catheter. We will report results in an ex vivo porcine model followed by clinical outcomes in a series of patients with solitary kidney undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN).
• Wang, L., & Lee, B. R. (2013). Robotic partial nephrectomy: current technique and outcomes. International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association, 20(9), 848-59.
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  Over the past decade, management of the T1 renal mass has focused on nephron-sparing surgery. Robotic partial nephrectomy has played an increasing role in the technique of preserving renal function by decreasing warm ischemia time, as well as optimizing outcomes of hemorrhage and fistula. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy is designed to provide a minimally-invasive nephron-sparing surgical option utilizing reconstructive capability, decreasing intracorporeal suturing time, technical feasibility and safety. Ultimately, its benefits are resulting in its dissemination across institutions. Articulated instrumentation and three-dimensional vision facilitate resection, collecting system reconstruction and renorrhaphy, leading to decreased warm ischemia time while preserving oncological outcomes. The aim of the present review was to present our surgical sequence and technique, as well as review the current status of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.
• Woodson, B. W., Wang, L., Mandava, S., & Lee, B. R. (2013). Urinary cystatin C and NGAL as early biomarkers for assessment of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury: a serum marker to replace creatinine?. Journal of endourology / Endourological Society, 27(12), 1510-5.
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  To assess application of cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as biomarkers for renal ischemic injury. We also evaluated the use of allopurinol as a renoprotective agent. A second goal was to assess cystatin C as a biomarker in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy.
• Woodson, B., Fernandez, R., Stewart, C., Mandava, S., Wang, L., & Lee, B. R. (2013). Bilateral synchronous sporadic renal masses: intermediate functional and oncological outcomes at a single institution. International urology and nephrology, 45(3), 619-25.
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  To review the intermediate term oncologic and functional outcomes after the surgical management of bilateral renal masses (BRM).
• Castle, E. P., Lee, B. R., Lucas, S. M., Sundaram, C. P., Wolf, J. S., Leveillee, R. J., Bird, V. G., Aziz, M., Pautler, S. E., Luke, P., Erdeljan, P., Baldwin, D. D., Ebrahimi, K., Nadler, R. B., Rebuck, D., Thomas, R., Boylu, U., Figenshau, R. S., Munver, R., , Averch, T. D., et al. (2012). Factors That Impact the Outcome of Minimally Invasive Pyeloplasty: Results of the Multi-Institutional Laparoscopic and Robotic Pyeloplasty Collaborative Group. Journal of Urology, 187(2), 522-527. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2011.09.158

Presentations

• Lee, B. R. (2024, April). Moderator, Data Blitz
  

  Steffan Nawrocki, PhD
  Kyle Garcia, MD
  Anirban Kundu, PhD

  . University of Arizona College of Medicine Research Day. University of Arizona.
• Lee, B. R. (2024, August). Moderator: Nightmares in Lap/Robotic Surgery: Upper Tract
  Recurrence Following Primary Treatment of Localized RCC: Management and Outcomes
  Panel: Laparoscopic Renal Denervation for Refractory Hypertension: First in-human trial. World Congress of Endourology. Seoul, South Korea: World Congress of Endourology.
• Lee, B. R. (2024, May). Avoiding and Managing Complications during Robotic Partial Nephrectomy. AUA. San Antonio, TX: AUA.
• Lee, B. R. (2024, May). Moderator: Kidney Cancer: Localized Surgical Therapy. AUA. San Antonio, TX: AUA.
• Lee, B. R. (2024, October). Co-Director
  Moderator, Urologic Oncology
  Management of High Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma. Perspectives in Urology: Point-Counterpoint. Scottsdale, AZ.
• Lee, B. R. (2023, August).

  Robotic Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for pT3 Renal Cell Carcinoma: Oncologic and Functional outcomes. Kyle Garcia MD, Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Christopher Combates, Irasema C Paster and Benjamin Lee MD

  Decrease in Length of Stay Does Not increase Readmissions within 30 days or Emergency Room visits. Kyle Garcia MD, Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Christopher Combates BS,
  Carly Deal MS, Irasema Concepción Paster BS and Benjamin Lee MD

  . Arizona Urological Society Meeting. Tucson, AZ: Arizona Urological Society.
• Lee, B. R. (2023, June).

  Course Director: Instructional Course – Renal Cell Carcinoma: Surgical & Medical Management of High Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma: New Paradigms for Treatment
  Moderator: Podium, Kidney Cancer: Basic Research & Pathophysiology II

  . AUA. Chicago, IL: AUA.
• Lee, B. R. (2023, June).

  Laparoscopic Nephrectomy: Evolution of the Technique, transperitoneal approach

  Laparoscopic Complications: Diagnosis and Management

  Kidney Stones

  . World Medical Mission. Tenwek Hospital, Kapsowar Hospital, Kenya, Africa: World Medical Mission.
• Lee, B. R. (2023, March).

  Moderator, Data Blitz

  ·      Robotic Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for pT3 Renal Cell Carcinoma: Oncologic and Functional outcomes. Kyle Garcia MD, Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Christopher Combates, Irasema C Paster and Benjamin Lee MD

  ·        Effect of Length of stay with Post-operative Robotic Partial Nephrectomy care.  Kyle Garcia MD, Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Christopher Combates, , Irasema C Paster and Benjamin Lee MD.

  ·        Predictive Single Nephrometry Score component as a Predictor of Trifecta Outcome in Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery : A Retrospective Analysis. Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Christopher Combates, Kyle Garcia MD, Irasema C Paster and Benjamin Lee MD.

  ·        Nephrometry Score as a Predictor of Increased Ischemia Time during Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for treatment of patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma.  Christopher Combates, Sappaya Suppanuntaroek MD, Kyle Garcia MD, Irasema C Paster and Benjamin Lee MD

  . University of Arizona College of Medicine Research Day. University of Arizona.
• Lee, B. R. (2023, October).

  Renal Cell Carcinoma: Health Disparities and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

  . University of Arizona Kidney Symposium, Department of Physiology. University of Arizona: Department of Physiology.
• Batai, K., Asif, W., Wightman, P., Cruz, A., Valencia, C. I., Gachupin, F. C., Hsu, P., Chipollini, J., & Lee, B. R. (2022, September). Intersectionality of neighborhood social deprivation, race/ethnicity, and obesity in renal cell carcinoma disparities. . American Association for Cancer Research Conference. Philadelphia, PA: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Batai, K., Chen, Y., Rheinheimer, B., Heimark, R. L., Ellis, N., & Lee, B. R. (2022, April). Clear cell renal cell carcinoma molecular characteristics in Hispanic Americans compared to European Americans. . American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. New Orleans LA: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Zeng, J., Funk, J., Lee, B. R., Hsu, C., Messing, E., & Chipollini, J. (2022, Fall). Gemcitabine as first-line therapy for high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: Results from a tertiary center in the contemporary BCG-shortage era .. Western Section American Urological Association.
• Batai, K., Cruz, A., Pulling, K. R., Hsu, C. H., Gachupin, F. C., Chipollini, J., & Lee, B. R. (2022, Spring).

  Renal Cell Carcinoma Surgical Treatment Disparities in Hispanic Americans.

  . American Society of Preventive Oncology.
• Chen, Y., Meiklejohn, K. M., Ellis, N., Bracamonte, E. R., Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2021, April). Clear cell renal cell carcinoma molecular differences between Hispanic Americans and European Americans. . American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Virtual Conference.
• Cruz, A., Dickerman, F., Pulling, K. R., Garcia, K., Gachupin, F. C., Hsu, C. H., Chipollini, J., Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2021, October). Impacts of neighborhood characteristics and surgical treatment disparities on overall mortality in Stage I renal cell carcinoma patients. . The 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.. Virtual Conference: American Association of Cancer Research.
• Ghishan, F. K., Harris, D. T., Lee, B. R., Chaus, F., Jernigan, B., Badowski, M., & Tzou, D. (2019, Nov./Fall). Feasibility of Detecting Both Superficial and Intra-renal Stone Endotoxin Concentrations.. 95th Annual Western Section American Urological Association Annual Conference. Monterey, CA: Western Section American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R., Zeng, J., & Batai, K. (2019, November). Renal cell carcinoma surgical disparities in Arizona. Western Section American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Monterey, CA: Western Section American Urological Association.
• Tzou, D. T., Hamilton, A. J., Lee, B. R., Biffar, D. E., Phung, M., & Lovett, M. (2019, Nov./Fall). Development of a Low-Cost, High-Fidelity Simulator for Ultrasound- Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) Training.. 95th Annual Western Section American Urological Association Annual Conference. Monterey, CA: Western Section American Urological Association.
• Batai, K., Imler, E., Phung, M., Bell, R., Lwin, A., Price, E., Milinic, T., Bracamonte, E. R., Seligmann, B., & Lee, B. R. (2018, May). Whole-transcriptome sequencing identified gene expression signatures associated with aggressive clear cell renal cell carcinoma. American Urological Association Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA: American Urological Association.
• Phung, M., Lee, B. R., Gmitro, A. F., Rouse, A. R., Bell, R., Price, E., Bracamonte, E. R., Bracamonte, E. R., Price, E., Bell, R., Rouse, A. R., Gmitro, A. F., Phung, M., & Lee, B. R. (2018, May). Optical Biopsy using Confocal Microscopy for Differentiation of Renal Cell Carcinoma versus Benign Tissue. American Urological Association National Meeting. San Francisco: American Urological Association.
• Phung, M., Rouse, A. R., Bell, R., Bracamonte, E. R., Price, E., Gmitro, A. F., & Lee, B. R. (2018, September). Optical Biopsy using Confocal Microscopy for Differentiation of Renal Cell Carcinoma versus Benign Tissue. American Urological Association National Meeting. Paris, France: World Congress of Endourology.

Poster Presentations

• Pulling, K. R., Batai, K., Wong, A. C., Cruz, A., Gachupin, F. C., & Lee, B. R. (2022, April). Racial/ethnic disparities in renal cell carcinoma using the AZ cancer registry. . MEZCOPH Public Health Poster Forum.
• Batai, K., Quinonez-Zanabira, E., Asif, W., Wong, A. C., Cruz, A., Gachupin, F. C., Hsu, C., Chipollini, J., & Lee, B. R. (2021, Fall). Impact of Preoperative Wait time on Tumor Characteristics and Racial and Ethnic Disparities. American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R. (2021, November). Racial and ethnic disparities in renal cell carcinoma using the Arizona Cancer Registry.. American College of Physicians Arizona Poster Competition.
• Batai, K., Asmar, S., Gachupin, F. C., Chipollini, J., & Lee, B. R. (2020, April). Renal cell carcinoma health disparities in American Indians Alaska Natives and Hispanic Americans: Comparison of National Cancer Database and Arizona Cancer Registry data. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Virtual: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Lee, B. R. (2020, Fall). Intra-renal pathology of non-neoplastic kidney is associated with long term renal deterioration after partial and radical nephrectomy: A single institution experience.. Western Section American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R., Chipollini, J., Gachupin, F. C., Pollock, G., & Batai, K. (2020, May). Assessment of Renal Cell Carcinoma Surgical Disparities in American Indians and Hispanic Americans. American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Washington, DC: American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R., Batai, K., & Zeng, J. (2019, May). Nephrectomy Delay More Than Ten Weeks from Diagnosis Is Associated with Decreased Overall Survival in pT3 RCC. American Urological Association Annual Meeting.
• Lee, B. R., Gachupin, F. C., Harb de la Rosa, A., & Batai, K. (2019, May). Renal cell carcinoma disparities: Younger age at diagnosis and increased clear cell renal cell carcinoma incidence in American Indians and Hispanics. American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL: American Urological Association.
• Batai, K., Lee, B. R., Pangilinan, J., Bracamonte, E., Phung, M., Bell, R., Bell, R., Phung, M., Bracamonte, E., Pangilinan, J., Lee, B. R., & Batai, K. (2018, September). Gene overexpression in aggressive clear cell renal cell carcinoma identified with whole-transcriptome sequencing and validated against The Cancer Genome Atlas. World Congress of Endourology Conference.
• Kim, S., Hinkel, C., Coffey, D., Zohar, Y., Lee, B. R., & Gretzer, M. (2018, May). Fluid Dynamics and Morphology in the Obstructed Urethra. American Urological Association Conference. San Francisco: American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R., Seligmann, B., Bracamonte, E. R., Imler, E., Gachupin, F. C., Harb de la Rosa, A., & Batai, K. (2018, November). Clinical and molecular profile of renal cell carcinoma in Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans. The 11th American Association of Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. New Orleans, LA: American Association of Cancer Research.
• Lovett, M., Lee, S., Katz, K., Batai, K., Biffar, D., Phung, M., Pangilinan, J., Lee, B. R., Nguyen, M., Hamilton, A., & Hua, H. (2018, Fall). Autotracking Surgeon's Instrument Movement with Motorized Multiresolution Foveated Laparoscope Camera. World Congress of Endourology. Paris, France.
• Pangilinan, J., Batai, K., Imler, E., Phung, M., Bell, R., Lwin, A., Price, E., Milinic, T., Bracamonte, E., Seligmann, B., & Lee, B. R. (2018, October). Gene Expression Associated with Overall Survival in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. World Congress of Endourology Conference. Maui, HI.
• Shi, X., Batai, K., Wang, X., Bergersen, A., Gu, K., & Lee, B. R. (2018, September). Renal Cell Carcinoma Detection Using Targeted Metabolic Profiling. World Congress of Endourology Conference.
• Batai, K., Michalak, J., Craig, M., Bergersen, A., Price, E., & Lee, B. R. (2017, August). Urologic Cancer Disparities among Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in Four U.S.-Mexico Border States. Western Section American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Vancouver, BC: Western Section American Urological Association.
• Lee, B. R. (2016, October). Crowdsourcing Assessment of Surgeon Dissection of Renal Artery and Vein during Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: A Novel Approach for Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Performance. AUA - Western Section. Kaua'I, Hawaii: AUA.

Case Studies

• Lee, B. R. (2024. Primary Renal B-Cell Lymphoma Presenting as a Wunderlich Syndrome(p. 3).

Others

• Lee, B. R., Allison, H. H., Feibus, A., Sartor, O., Moparty, K., Kattan, M. W., Chagin, K. M., Ledet, E. M., Levy, J., Thomas, R., & Silberstein, J. L. (2016, April). Utility of PCA3 and TMPRSS2:ERG Urinary Biomarkers in African American Men Undergoing Prostate Biopsy. ASCO.
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  ABSTRACT
• Lee, B. R., Lai, W., & Mitchell, G. (2016, May). Robotic Resection of Locally Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinoma. AUA National Meeting.
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  Video presentation
• Lee, B. R., Lai, W., Abshire, C., Mandava, S. H., Carry, C., Liu, J., Gabrielson, A., & Tarr, M. (2016, May). Nanotechnology Combination Therapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Goild Nanorods Bound with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Procuces Synergistic Treatment Response when Combined with Laser Thermal Ablation in an Animal Model. AUA National Meeting.
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  ABSTRACT
• Lee, B. R., Lai, W., Wang, M., Tulman, D., Mandava, S. H., Liu, J., & Brown, J. (2016, May). Video Rate-Structured Illumination Microscopy to Diagnose Presence of Kidney Cancer on 18-gauge Core Needle Renal Biopsy. AUA National Meeting.
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  ABSTRACT
• Lee, B. R., Power, M., Lendvay, T., Boonjindasup, A., Pinsky, M., Dorsey, P., Maddox, M., Comstock, B., Su, L., Gettman, M., Sundaram, C., Castle, E., & Lee, J. (2016, May). Crowdsourcing Assessment of Surgeon Dissection of Renal Artery and Vein During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: A Novel Approach for Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Performance. AUA National Meeting.
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  ABSTRACT
• Lee, B. R., Viriyasiripong, S., Lopez, A., Lai, W., Mitchell, G., Mandava, S. H., Boonjindasup, A., Powers, M., & Silberstein, J. (2016, May). Accelerometer Measurement of Head Movement During Laparoscopic Surgery: Will it Help Optimize Ergonomics of Surgery?. AUA National Meeting.
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