Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Ranked the Best Cancer Center in the Northeast and First in the Nation for Urology Care by U.S. News & World Report

Newswise — NEW YORK, August 1, 2023 — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has been recognized as the best cancer center in the northeast, the number two hospital for cancer care in the nation, and the number one hospital nationally for urology care by U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Hospitals listing. MSK has consistently ranked among the top two cancer hospitals in the U.S. and the top-ranked cancer center in the northeast since these rankings were established more than 30 years ago.

“Thirty-four years of recognition as a top two cancer center in the nation is a testament to the dedication of every member of the MSK community who works to advance our mission of ending cancer for life,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, President and CEO of MSK. “I am proud of our extraordinary staff who provide exceptional patient care, lead breakthrough research discoveries, and educate the next generation of cancer scientists worldwide.”

This year’s acknowledgement by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s premier hospitals for cancer treatment, research, and education comes as experts from across MSK have been recognized for making groundbreaking contributions to their areas of focus. Some of these notable achievements include pioneering the use of mRNA vaccines as a pancreatic cancer treatment, contributing to research for a promising treatment for advanced prostate cancer that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), proving the efficacy of radiation-free treatment for some people with rectal cancer, helping design a first-of-its-kind drug that slows the growth of a deadly type of brain tumor, making cancer care at MSK more accessible, and expediting the process for diagnosis and treatment through MSK’s Rapid Diagnosis program.  

“The people of MSK bring passion, expertise, and empathy to every facet of patient care and are deserving of this recognition by U.S. News & World Report,” said Lisa DeAngelis, MD, MSK’s Chief Physician Executive and Scott M. and Lisa G. Stuart Chair. “It is our honor and privilege to care for cancer patients and their families and to share our knowledge and excellence when they need us most.”

MSK disease subspecialties including urology (ranked #1); ear, nose, and throat (ranked #6); and gastroenterology & GI surgery(ranked #16) were included on the publication’s top 50 list. MSK was also identified as “high performing” in six additional subspecialty categories: colon cancer surgery, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, ovarian cancer surgery, prostate cancer surgery, and uterine cancer surgery.

MSK Ranked First in the Nation for Urology Care

This year, MSK was ranked the number one hospital for urology care in the nation. This recognition of excellence reflects the depth and breadth of expertise that MSK brings to treatment for people with urologic diseases and genitourinary cancers; which include prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and testicular cancer, including pioneering treatment advances that have become the current standards of care.

MSK’s Urology Service is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of physicians and scientists who are among the most experienced and world-renowned leaders in the field. What sets MSK’s Urology Service apart is their dual focus on developing cutting-edge cancer therapies while also preserving patients’ quality of life.

“Leading the way toward current standards of care and future advances, members of the MSK Urology Service are pioneering breakthroughs in surgery, medicine, and radiation oncology; utilizing a collaborative approach to patient care; and directing innovative research and clinical trials,” said James Eastham, MD, FACS, Chief of the Urology Service, Peter T. Scardino Chair in Oncology, and Urologic Surgeon. “The passion our team brings to their work — from research to the clinic — has allowed us to greatly improve treatment options and the lives of countless patients with genitourinary cancers and diseases. We are grateful for this recognition of our work from U.S. News & World Report.”

Surgical Excellence

MSK’s surgeons are among the nation’s most experienced in performing complex genitourinary cancer surgeries. The Urology Service in the Department of Surgery performed more than 5,000 surgeries in 2022 and is widely recognized as a worldwide leader in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, salvage radical prostatectomy, focal therapy, partial and radical nephrectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, transurethral resection of a bladder tumor, radical and partial cystectomy, and neobladder surgery. With an emphasis on caring for the whole patient, close collaborations with experts in functional and reconstructive urology and sexual and reproductive medicine ensure a multidisciplinary and compassionate approach to patient care.

Genitourinary surgeons at MSK’s Josie Robertson Surgery Center, a first-of-its-kind freestanding outpatient cancer surgery facility, have transformed clinical practice by leading the charge in minimally invasive operative techniques and enhanced recovery after surgery to make it possible to perform increasingly complex procedures in the ambulatory setting. Our patients benefit from recovery at home after a single overnight stay.

Collaborative Care Model 

Experts in the Urology Service, including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and specialized nurses, take a multidisciplinary approach to care and work collaboratively to advance and revolutionize the detection, treatment, and management of related diseases. Translational physician-scientists blend clinical care and laboratory research to bring medical and surgical advances to patients faster, which leads to better outcomes and higher quality of life.

Innovative Research and Clinical Trials

Through cutting-edge laboratory research and clinical trials, MSK genitourinary experts are recognized worldwide for developing innovative treatments that are more effective than standard therapies. Researchers are discovering the next generation of drugs, exploring combination therapies and theranostics, and investigating how these therapies behave depending on a person’s genetic profile. MSK is a global authority on precision oncology, identifying the best treatment options for individual patients. Several novel therapeutics for early- and late-stage genitourinary cancers have been investigated and developed at MSK. Notably, MSK developed the FDA-approved drug apalutamide used for the treatment of nonmetastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to other medical or surgical treatments.

MSK genitourinary physicians lead a wide variety of clinical trials investigating innovative approaches toward improving patient care. Participating in a clinical trial may give individuals access to treatments that are not widely available elsewhere. Current clinical trials at MSK are testing new drug therapies for genitourinary cancers, safer and more-effective approaches for genitourinary radiation therapy, and better imaging of cancer.

Emphasis on Quality of Life 

Treatment for genitourinary cancers can have life-altering implications for patients, impacting their self-confidence, relationships, lifestyle, and sexual function. MSK genitourinary experts are researching and developing groundbreaking minimally invasive surgical approaches, minimizing treatment-related side effects, utilizing active surveillance, and addressing challenges with sexual health and fertility.

MSK genitourinary experts are leaders in developing less-invasive surgery techniques such as focal therapy for prostate cancer, neobladder and urinary diversion for bladder cancer, and nephron-sparing surgery for kidney cancer. Surgeries of this kind can get patients out of the hospital and back to normal life faster.

For decades, MSK experts have been at the forefront of caring for people with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer through active surveillance, an approach in which care teams monitor the disease but do not treat it unless the cancer grows. MSK currently cares for more patients with active surveillance than any other institution in the world.

 MSK’s Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program helps people who are dealing with cancer-related sexual health challenges, which can affect physical and emotional health. Genitourinary surgeons are studying nerve-saving procedures that can protect fertility and sexual function following surgery.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are determined using a broad set of factors. These include the hospital’s reputation among board-certified physician specialists around the nation, patient survival and safety data, and adequacy of nurse staffing levels, among other criteria. For a complete list and methodology of rankings, please visit U.S. News & World Report.