Dr. Alexandra Drakaki

Dr. Alexandra Drakaki, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Hematology/Oncology and Urology at UCLA, serving as Medical Director of the Genitourinary (GU) Medical Oncology Program within the Institute of Urologic Oncology. She earned her medical degree from the University of Crete and completed her internal medicine residency at a Tufts University affiliate, followed by a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. During her fellowship, she also earned a PhD at Dana-Farber Cancer Center. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology since 2013, she practices at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica Medical Centers, treating patients with bladder, prostate, kidney, testicular, and other GU cancers. She offers both in-person and telehealth consultations.

Dr. Drakaki leads a robust translational research program focused on non-coding RNAs—microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs—and their role in GU cancer development and drug toxicity. Within UCLA’s Translational Oncology Research Laboratory, she serves as principal investigator on clinical trials evaluating novel therapies and biomarker-driven strategies. Her research also explores ways to reduce or reverse treatment-related toxicities without compromising effectiveness. She is actively involved in key clinical trials, including studies on pembrolizumab monotherapy for non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma, ALK-targeted therapies in metastatic kidney cancer, and combination regimens such as zanzalintinib with nivolumab in advanced non–clear-cell renal cell carcinoma. Her work spans early-phase drug development through large randomized trials, contributing to the advancement of therapies for rare and complex GU tumors.

In addition to her clinical and research responsibilities, Dr. Drakaki holds several leadership roles at both institutional and national levels. She co-leads genitourinary oncology research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and serves on UCLA’s institutional review board, scientific peer review, and cardio-oncology committees. She is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Panel for testicular cancer and receives NIH funding to support her research. Dr. Drakaki has been recognized with multiple honors, including Top Doctor awards, ASCO merit distinctions, and teaching and mentorship accolades at UCLA. Through her integrated roles in clinical care, research, and academic leadership, she is considered a leading expert in genitourinary oncology.