Dr. James A. Eastham

Every treatment path at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center begins with careful coordination, a process guided by Dr. James A. Eastham, Peter T. Scardino Chair in Oncology and Chief of the Urology Service. A multidisciplinary conference convenes urologic surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, nurse navigators, and social-work specialists to examine prostate-specific-membrane-antigen PET scans, multiphase CT imaging, germline and somatic sequencing results, renal-function assessments, and each individual’s stated priorities. During that same planning session, schedules for robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, salvage prostatectomy if needed, radioligand-therapy simulations, perioperative consultations, and financial-advocacy appointments are finalized to reduce administrative delays. When Dr. Eastham meets patients face to face, he translates complex findings into clear explanations and provides a printed roadmap that outlines every step from diagnosis through follow-up. That plan is uploaded to the patient portal so that each clinician sees identical guidance. Follow-up telemedicine check-ins aligned with laboratory or imaging milestones keep those living far from New York engaged without repeated travel. This integrated pathway shortens time to therapy, prevents duplicated tests, and delivers the confidence of a unified team committed to both cancer control and quality of life.

 

Guided by scientific inquiry, Dr. Eastham’s bench-to-bedside agenda focuses on the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer while preserving function. His research program interrogates androgen-receptor signaling, patterns of biochemical recurrence, and mechanisms that drive resistance to both hormonal agents and radiolabeled therapies. Early translational work established protocols for nerve-sparing prostatectomy that mitigate erectile dysfunction, and current studies correlate circulating-tumor-cell kinetics with early imaging responses to PSMA-targeted radioimmunotherapy. Biospecimens collected at each clinic visit feed a living biobank that links genomic alterations—such as AR-V7 splice variants—to postoperative outcomes, allowing risks to be anticipated and strategies to be tailored. Collaboration with interventional radiology teams integrates fusion-guided biopsy data into ongoing trial design, accelerating the cycle between hypothesis and validated practice. By aligning experimental insight with surgical technique and postoperative surveillance, he equips patients with treatment regimens that reflect the precise biology of their disease while minimizing side effects.

 

Outside of the clinic and laboratory, Dr. Eastham devotes considerable energy to education and community outreach. As a Professor of Surgery, he mentors urology fellows through weekly case-based seminars that emphasize both statistical rigor and compassionate communication. Contributions to national guidelines on prostate-cancer screening, active surveillance protocols, and perioperative management have shaped best practices beyond his home institution. Public webinars and narrated video tutorials explain topics such as MRI-targeted focal therapy, robotic surgery precision, and the management of urinary incontinence after prostatectomy. Captioned recordings translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic reside in open-access archives, allowing families worldwide to revisit guidance on their own schedule. A teleconsultation network he helped establish allows oncologists in regional centers to upload imaging and pathology slides for same-day expert input, reducing travel burdens for older adults or those in rural areas. By turning specialist knowledge into accessible tools, he empowers patients and caregivers to participate confidently in decisions that shape their journey.