Daniel P. Petrylak

Daniel P. Petrylak is Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Urology at Yale School of Medicine and serves as Chief of Genitourinary Oncology at Yale Cancer Center. He joined the Yale faculty in 2012 after completing his medical training, which included an MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (1985), residency and internship at Bronx Municipal Hospital, and fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Petrylak is a pioneer in developing new drugs and treatments for prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. His research focuses on translating basic science discoveries into clinical applications, with particular interest in immunotherapy advancements for genitourinary cancers. As co-director of the Signal Transduction Research Program at Yale Cancer Center, he works with approximately 40 physicians and scientists to understand how cancer stem cells are regulated and communicate with surrounding tissue.

His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on novel therapeutic approaches for advanced urothelial and prostate cancers, including antibody-drug conjugates (sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin), immunotherapy combinations, and targeted therapies. His work spans clinical trial design, biomarker analysis, and patient-reported outcomes, reflecting a comprehensive approach to improving cancer treatment.

Dr. Petrylak currently serves as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on seven Southwest Oncology Group clinical trials for genitourinary cancers. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on prostate and bladder cancer research, with recent work appearing in high-impact journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Discovery, and JAMA Network Open.

At Smilow Cancer Hospital, Dr. Petrylak leverages his national leadership in clinical trials to provide New England patients with access to the latest investigational drugs while maintaining the highest standards of care. His philosophy emphasizes translating research breakthroughs into tangible patient benefits, as evidenced by his role in moving docetaxel therapy for advanced prostate cancer from phase I to III trials, which supported its regulatory approval.