Elizabeth Kessler, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine-Medical Oncology

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Medical School:
  • MD, New York Medical College (2006)
Undergraduate School:
  • BS, University of Colorado - Boulder (CO) (2000)
Residency:
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Internal Medicine (2010)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Hematology and Oncology (2013)
Languages: English
Department: Medicine-Medical Oncology

Professional Titles

  • Associate Professor of Medical Oncology

Recognition & Awards

  • American Cancer Society Clinician Scientist Development Award, ACS (2020)
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award, ASCO (2013)
  • Hartford Scholar, The Hartford Foundation (2013)

Research Interests

My research mainly focuses on - improving the treatment options available to patients with advanced genitourinary cancers - delivering goal-concordant care to all older adults facing advanced cancer. - designing clinical trials and delivering care in a manner that increases the inclusion of older adults

Publications

  • Lum HD, Ressalam J, Kini V, Kessler ER, DeCamp M, Kutner JS, Campbell EG. Use and Influence of Medical Aid in Dying Service on Physician Experiences. J Palliat Med. 2023 Jan;26(1):110-113. PubMed PMID: 36409540
  • Mazhindu T, Ndlovu N, Borok MZ, Meki S, Nyamhunga A, Havranek EP, Kessler ER, Campbell TB, Flaig TW. Metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk for Zimbabwean men with prostate cancer receiving long-term androgen deprivation therapy. Res Sq. 2023 Dec 12. PubMed PMID: 38168443
  • Wiesen B, Atwell M, Leavitt C, Clark N, Kessler E, Lam E, Flaig T, Kukreja J, Kim S, Maroni P, Cost NG. Use of Peripheral Intravenous Access in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023 Dec 21;:OP2300580. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 38127812
  • DeCamp M, Ressalam J, Lum HD, Kessler ER, Bolcic-Jankovic D, Kini V, Campbell EG. Ethics and Medical Aid in Dying: Physicians' Perspectives on Disclosure, Presence, and Eligibility. J Law Med Ethics. 2023;51(3):641-650. PubMed PMID: 38088616
  • Kessler ER, Callihan E, Hu J, Eule C, Srivastava G, Kemme DJ, Iruku P, Rana V, Moore J, Schuster SR, Amirault M, Flaig TW, Lam ET. A Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Pembrolizumab and Cabozantinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Res Commun. 2023 Jun;3(6):1004-1012. PubMed PMID: 37377613
  • Candelario NC, Molina E, Bourlon MT, Kim SP, Kessler ER, Spiess PE, Flaig TW. Racial differences in survival for early stage (T1) penile cancer: Analysis from the SEER database. Urol Oncol. 2023 Aug;41(8):359.e15-359.e23. PubMed PMID: 37344326
  • Kessler ER, Ressalam J, DeCamp M, Lum HD, Kini V, Campbell EG. Specialty Differences in Medical Aid in Dying Experiences: Results of a Survey of Physicians in Colorado. Oncologist. 2023 Jul 5;28(7):e585-e587. PubMed PMID: 37218071
  • Graham LS, Lin JK, Lage DE, Kessler ER, Parikh RB, Morgans AK. Management of Prostate Cancer in Older Adults. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2023 May;43:e390396. PubMed PMID: 37207299
  • Gilbert D, Hu J, Medina T, Kessler ER, Lam ET. Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in subjects with solid tumor cancers receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2023 Dec 31;19(1):2207438. PubMed PMID: 37157982
  • Carr AL, Bilenduke E, Adolf E, Kessler ER, Arch JJ, Ranby KW, Kilbourn K. A pilot randomized study of a telephone-based cognitive-behavioral stress-management intervention to reduce distress in phase 1 oncology trial caregivers. Palliat Support Care. 2023 Oct;21(5):820-828. PubMed PMID: 36994841
  • Lum HD, Ressalam J, Kini V, Kessler ER, DeCamp M, Kutner JS, Campbell EG. Use and Influence of Medical Aid in Dying Service on Physician Experiences. J Palliat Med. 2023 Jan;26(1):110-113. PubMed PMID: 36409540
  • Candelario N, Kafer I, Kim SP, Kessler ER. Combination of an Anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor and Immunotherapy as a Neoadjuvant approach in Renal Cell Carcinoma with associated IVC tumor thrombus (IVC TT): A Single Center Experience and Review of Literature. Journal of Urology Open Plus. 2023 Nov 10;1(11):e00063.
  • Zhu J and Kessler ER. The Role of Systemic Therapy in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. British Journal of Urology International Knowledge.
  • Campbell EG, Kini V, Ressalam J, Mosley BS, Bolcic-Jankovic D, Lum HD, Kessler ER, DeCamp M. Physicians' Attitudes and Experiences with Medical Aid in Dying in Colorado: a "Hidden Population" Survey. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Jan 11. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35018562
  • Bourlon MT, Verduzco-Aguirre H, Molina E, Meyer E, Kessler E, Kim SP, Spiess PE, Flaig T. Patterns of Treatment and Outcomes in Older Men With Penile Cancer: A SEER Dataset Analysis. Front Oncol. 2022;12:926692. PubMed PMID: 35847850
  • Motzer RJ, Powles T, Burotto M, Escudier B, Bourlon MT, Shah AY, Suárez C, Hamzaj A, Porta C, Hocking CM, Kessler ER, Gurney H, Tomita Y, Bedke J, Zhang J, Simsek B, Scheffold C, Apolo AB, Choueiri TK. Nivolumab plus cabozantinib versus sunitinib in first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (CheckMate 9ER): long-term follow-up results from an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Jul;23(7):888-898. PubMed PMID: 35688173
  • Kini V, Mosley B, Ressalam J, Bolcic-Jankovic D, Lum HD, Kessler ER, DeCamp M, Campbell EG. A novel methodology to identify and survey physicians participating in medical aid-in-dying. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 11;12(1):6056. PubMed PMID: 35410431
  • Langlais CS, Chen YH, Van Blarigan EL, Kenfield SA, Kessler ER, Daniel K, Ramsdill JW, Beer TM, Graff RE, Paich K, Chan JM, Winters-Stone KM. Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Survivors Participating in a Remotely Delivered Web-Based Behavioral Intervention Pilot Randomized Trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2022 Jan-Dec;21:15347354211063500. PubMed PMID: 35389288
  • Jordan SR, Geiger CL, Fischer SM, Kessler ER. Care planning priorities of older patients with advanced bladder cancer. J Geriatr Oncol. 2022 May;13(4):432-439. PubMed PMID: 35123920
  • Campbell EG, Kini V, Ressalam J, Mosley BS, Bolcic-Jankovic D, Lum HD, Kessler ER, DeCamp M. Physicians' Attitudes and Experiences with Medical Aid in Dying in Colorado: a "Hidden Population" Survey. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Oct;37(13):3310-3317. PubMed PMID: 35018562
  • Kessler ER, Schmiege SJ, Eguchi M, Singh S, Fischer SM. "Patterns of treatment in older patients with newly diagnosed advanced bladder cancer: a SEER dataset analysis" Aging and Cancer. 2022
  • Dotan E, Walter LC, Browner IS, Clifton K, Cohen HJ, Extermann M, Gross C, Gupta S, Hollis G, Hubbard J, Jagsi R, Keating NL, Kessler E, Koll T, Korc-Grodzicki B, McKoy JM, Misra S, Moon D, O'Connor T, Owusu C, Rosko A, Russell M, Sedrak M, Siddiqui F, Stella A, Stirewalt DL, Subbiah IM, Tew WP, Williams GR, Hollinger L, George GV, Sundar H. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Older Adult Oncology, Version 1.2021. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021 Sep 20;19(9):1006-1019. PubMed PMID: 34551388
  • Robin TP, Geiger CL, Callihan EB, Kessler ER. Prostate Cancer in Older Adults: Risk of Clinically Meaningful Disease, the Role of Screening and Special Considerations. Curr Oncol Rep. 2021 Aug 27;23(11):130. PubMed PMID: 34453258
  • Rodrigues Pessoa R, Morrison JC, Konety B, Gershman B, Maroni P, Kukreja JB, Cost N, Flaig T, Kessler E, Sharma P, Kim SP. National trends in clinical and pathologic staging for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Implications for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Urol Oncol. 2021 Dec;39(12):832.e9-832.e15. PubMed PMID: 33820697
  • Choueiri TK, Powles T, Burotto M, Escudier B, Bourlon MT, Zurawski B, Oyervides Juárez VM, Hsieh JJ, Basso U, Shah AY, Suárez C, Hamzaj A, Goh JC, Barrios C, Richardet M, Porta C, Kowalyszyn R, Feregrino JP, Zolnierek J, Pook D, Kessler ER, Tomita Y, Mizuno R, Bedke J, Zhang J, Maurer MA, Simsek B, Ejzykowicz F, Schwab GM, Apolo AB, Motzer RJ. Nivolumab plus Cabozantinib versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 4;384(9):829-841. PubMed PMID: 33657295
  • Boxley PJ, Smith DE, Gao D, Kessler ER, Echalier B, Bernard B, Ormond DR, Lam ET, Kavanagh BD, Flaig TW. Prostate Cancer Central Nervous System Metastasis in a Contemporary Cohort. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2021 Jun;19(3):217-222.e1. PubMed PMID: 33069585
  • Margulis V, Puligandla M, Trabulsi EJ, Plimack ER, Kessler ER, Matin SF, Godoy G, Alva A, Hahn NM, Carducci MA, Hoffman-Censits J. Reply by Authors. J Urol. 2020 Jan 22;:101097JU000000000000064402. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31967495
  • Chan JM, Van Blarigan EL, Langlais CS, Zhao S, Ramsdill JW, Daniel K, Macaire G, Wang E, Paich K, Kessler ER, Beer TM, Lyons KS, Broering JM, Carroll PR, Kenfield SA, Winters-Stone KM. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Remotely Delivered, Web-Based Behavioral Intervention for Men With Prostate Cancer: Four-Arm Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Dec 31;22(12):e19238. PubMed PMID: 33382378
  • Wang EY, Graff RE, Chan JM, Langlais CS, Broering JM, Ramsdill JW, Kessler ER, Winters-Stone KM, Van Blarigan EL, Kenfield SA. Web-Based Lifestyle Interventions for Prostate Cancer Survivors: Qualitative Study. JMIR Cancer. 2020 Nov 10;6(2):e19362. PubMed PMID: 33170126
  • Boxley PJ, Smith DE, Gao D, Kessler ER, Echalier B, Bernard B, Ormond DR, Lam ET, Kavanagh BD, Flaig TW. Prostate Cancer Central Nervous System Metastasis in a Contemporary Cohort. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2020 Aug 22. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33069585
  • Kessler ER, Kukreja JB, Geiger CL, Fischer SM. Treating Elderly Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2020 Jun;18(6):783-790. PubMed PMID: 32502977
  • Hsu T, Kessler ER, Parker IR, Dale W, Gajra A, Holmes HM, Maggiore RJ, Magnuson A, McKoy JM, Hurria A. Identifying Geriatric Oncology Competencies for Medical Oncology Trainees: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study. Oncologist. 2020 Jul;25(7):591-597. PubMed PMID: 32237179
  • Margulis V, Puligandla M, Trabulsi EJ, Plimack ER, Kessler ER, Matin SF, Godoy G, Alva A, Hahn NM, Carducci MA, Hoffman-Censits J. Reply by Authors. J Urol. 2020 Apr;203(4):697-698. PubMed PMID: 31967495
  • Margulis V, Puligandla M, Trabulsi EJ, Plimack ER, Kessler ER, Matin SF, Godoy G, Alva A, Hahn NM, Carducci MA, Hoffman-Censits J. Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Systemic Chemotherapy Followed by Extirpative Surgery in Patients with High Grade Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. J Urol. 2020 Apr;203(4):690-698. PubMed PMID: 31702432
  • Margulis V, Puligandla M, Trabulsi EJ, Plimack ER, Kessler ER, Matin SF, Godoy G, Alva A, Hahn NM, Carducci MA, Hoffman-Censits J. Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Systemic Chemotherapy Followed by Extirpative Surgery in Patients with High Grade Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. J Urol. 2019 Nov 8;:101097JU0000000000000644. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31702432
  • Hahn AW, Stenehjem DD, Alex AB, Gill DM, Cheng HH, Kessler ER, Chittoria N, Twardowski P, Vaishampayan U, Agarwal N. Time from definitive therapy to onset of metastatic disease predicts outcomes in men with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer. Urol Oncol. 2019 Jun;37(6):352.e19-352.e24. PubMed PMID: 30770300
  • Duarte C, Jimeno A, Kessler ER. Abiraterone acetate to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in combination with prednisone. Drugs Today (Barc). 2019 Jan;55(1):5-15. PubMed PMID: 30740608
  • Walker JP, Saltzman AF, Kessler ER, Cost NG. Adult Wilms Tumor During Pregnancy: Case Report and Literature Review. Urology. 2019 Jul;129:200-205. PubMed PMID: 30597169
  • Kessler ER, Gao D, Flaig TW, Breaker K, Wold M, Wacker M, Lam ET. Phase II study of cabazitaxel with or without abiraterone acetate and prednisone in patients with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer after prior docetaxel and abiraterone acetate. Ann Oncol. 2017 Feb 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28203770
  • Stokes W, Amini A, Maroni PD, Kessler ER, Stokes C, Cost CR, Greffe BS, Garrington TP, Liu AK, Cost NG. Patterns of care and survival outcomes for adolescent and young adult patients with testicular seminoma in the United States: A National Cancer Database analysis. J Pediatr Urol. 2017 Jan 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28153774
  • Neuwelt AJ, Mathur S, Johnson AT, Kessler ER, Bowles DW. Cabozantinib use in renal cell carcinoma. Drugs Today (Barc). 2017 May;53(5):299-307. PubMed PMID: 28650002
  • Kessler ER, Gao D, Flaig TW, Breaker K, Wold M, Wacker M, Lam ET. Phase II study of cabazitaxel with or without abiraterone acetate and prednisone in patients with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer after prior docetaxel and abiraterone acetate. Ann Oncol. 2017 Mar 1;28(3):668. PubMed PMID: 28426121
  • Amini A, Raben D, Crawford ED, Flaig TW, Kessler ER, Lam ET, Maroni P, Pugh TJ. Patient characterization and usage trends of proton beam therapy for localized prostate cancer in the United States: A study of the National Cancer Database. Urol Oncol. 2017 Jun;35(6):438-446. PubMed PMID: 28214281
  • Stokes W, Amini A, Maroni PD, Kessler ER, Stokes C, Cost CR, Greffe BS, Garrington TP, Liu AK, Cost NG. Patterns of care and survival outcomes for adolescent and young adult patients with testicular seminoma in the United States: A National Cancer Database analysis. J Pediatr Urol. 2017 Aug;13(4):386.e1-386.e7. PubMed PMID: 28153774
  • Kessler ER. What is behind the flare phenomenon?. BJU Int. 2016 Dec;118(6):845-846. PubMed PMID: 27870361
  • Loh KP, Mohile SG, Kessler E, Fung C. Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Older Adults. Curr Oncol Rep. 2016 Oct;18(10):63. PubMed PMID: 27586377
  • Amini A, Waxweiler TV, Maroni PD, Kessler ER, Cost CR, Greffe BS, Garrington TP, Liu AK, Cost NG. Survival outcomes of adolescent and adult patients with non-seminomatous testicular germ-cell tumors: A population-based study. J Pediatr Urol. 2016 Dec;12(6):405.e1-405.e9. PubMed PMID: 27544905
  • Kessler ER, Eckhardt SG, Pitts TM, Bradshaw-Pierce EL, O'byrant CL, Messersmith WA, Nallapreddy S, Weekes C, Spratlin J, Lieu CH, Kane MA, Eppers S, Freas E, Leong S. Phase I trial of vandetanib in combination with gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors with an expanded cohort in pancreatic and biliary cancers. Invest New Drugs. 2016 Apr;34(2):176-83. PubMed PMID: 26715573
  • Kessler E. Capsule commentary on tomko et Al., a comparison of web- versus print-based decision AIDS for prostate cancer screening: participants' evaluation and utilization. J Gen Intern Med. 2015 Jan;30(1):94. PubMed PMID: 25266409
  • Kessler ER, Eckhardt SG, Pitts TM, Bradshaw-Pierce EL, O'byrant CL, Messersmith WA, Nallapreddy S, Weekes C, Spratlin J, Lieu CH, Kane MA, Eppers S, Freas E, Leong S. Phase I trial of vandetanib in combination with gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors with an expanded cohort in pancreatic and biliary cancers. Invest New Drugs. 2015 Dec 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26715573
  • Altoos B, Amini A, Yacoub M, Bourlon MT, Kessler EE, Flaig TW, Fisher CM, Kavanagh BD, Lam ET, Karam SD. Local Control Rates of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) to Thoracic, Abdominal, and Soft Tissue Lesions Using Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). Radiat Oncol. 2015 Oct 28;10:218. PubMed PMID: 26510665
  • Amini A, Altoos B, Bourlon MT, Bedrick E, Bhatia S, Kessler ER, Flaig TW, Fisher CM, Kavanagh BD, Lam ET, Karam SD. Local control rates of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the bone using stereotactic body radiation therapy: Is RCC truly radioresistant?. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2015 Nov-Dec;5(6):e589-96. PubMed PMID: 26142027
  • Kessler ER, Amini A, Wilson SS, Anp-C KB, Raben D, La Rosa FG, Crawford ED. Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder. Oncology (Williston Park). 2015 Jun;29(6):462, C3. PubMed PMID: 26089221
  • Kessler E. Capsule commentary on Tomko et al., A comparison of web- versus print-based decision AIDS for prostate cancer screening: participants' evaluation and utilization. J Gen Intern Med. 2015 Jan;30(1):94. PubMed PMID: 25266409
  • Bourlon MT, Kessler ER. What next? Choosing second-line therapy in progressive renal cell carcinoma. Oncology (Williston Park). 2014 Sep;28(9). PubMed PMID: 25225803
  • Kessler ER, Moss A, Eckhardt SG, Laudenslager ML, Kilbourn K, Mauss IB, Bowles DW, Hecker S, Fairclough DL, Kutner JS. Distress among caregivers of phase I trial participants: a cross-sectional study. Support Care Cancer. 2014 Dec;22(12):3331-40. PubMed PMID: 25120010
  • Kessler ER, Flaig TW. Geriatric considerations in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. F1000Prime Rep. 2014;6:33. PubMed PMID: 24860655
  • Bourlon MT, Kessler ER. What next? Choosing second-line therapy in progressive renal cell carcinoma. Oncology (Williston Park). 2014 Sep;28(9):794-6. PubMed PMID: 25225803
  • Kessler ER, Moss A, Eckhardt SG, Laudenslager ML, Kilbourn K, Mauss IB, Bowles DW, Hecker S, Fairclough DL, Kutner JS. Distress among caregivers of phase I trial participants: a cross-sectional study. Support Care Cancer. 2014 Dec;22(12):3331-40. PubMed PMID: 25120010
  • Lam ET, Kessler ER, Flaig TW, La Rosa FG. Collision renal cell papillary and medullary carcinoma in a 66-year-old man. Oncology (Williston Park). 2013 Sep;27(9):893, 896, 898. PubMed PMID: 24282987
  • Verdoorn BP, Kessler ER, Flaig TW. Targeted therapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma. Oncology (Williston Park). 2013 Mar;27(3):219-26. PubMed PMID: 23687793
  • Yang X, La Rosa FG, Genova EE, Huber K, Schaack J, Degregori J, Serkova NJ, Li Y, Su LJ, Kessler E, Flaig TW. Simultaneous activation of Kras and inactivation of p53 induces soft tissue sarcoma and bladder urothelial hyperplasia. PLoS One. 2013;8(9):e74809. PubMed PMID: 24058630
  • Yang X, Kessler E, Su LJ, Thorburn A, Frankel AE, Li Y, La Rosa FG, Shen J, Li CY, Varella-Garcia M, Glodé LM, Flaig TW. Diphtheria toxin-epidermal growth factor fusion protein DAB389EGF for the treatment of bladder cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Jan 1;19(1):148-57. PubMed PMID: 23172881
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Practice Locations

University of Colorado Cancer Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1665 Aurora Ct
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0300

UCHealth Tony Grampsas Urologic Cancer Care Clinic - Anschutz Medical Campus
1665 Aurora Ct
1st Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0170

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Internal Medicine, Board Certification (2009)
  • Medical Oncology, Board Certification (2013)
  • Hematology and Oncology
Conditions & Treatments
  • Cancers - Bladder Cancer
  • Cancers - Prostate Cancer
  • Cancers - Kidney Cancer
  • Cancers - Testicular Cancer
  • Cancers - Urologic Cancer
  • Cancers
Care Philosophy
I am interested in Genitourinary Cancers (Prostate, Bladder, Testicular and Kidney Cancers). We strive to provide patient-focused, personalized, multi-disciplinary care for genitourinary (GU) cancers. Our specialized providers in Medical Oncology (chemotherapy and targeted therapies), Urologic Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Nutrition, and Integrative Medicine work together to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. We have weekly GU cancer tumor boards, where our specialists come together to discuss patients and patient care.

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, New York Medical College (2006)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • BS, University of Colorado - Boulder (CO) (2000)
Residency Programs:
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Internal Medicine (2010)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Hematology and Oncology (2013)
Languages: English
Department: Medicine-Medical Oncology
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

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