Moffitt Fellow Receives Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Award

Joshua Linscott, MD, PhD, is a member of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship Program at Moffitt Cancer Center. He was initially studying epigenetics and the role of enzymes called lysine methyltransferases in cancer before his career path suddenly changed.

“My father was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and required a liver transplant in 2012,” Linscott said. “I had the opportunity to be his liver donor, and after a successful transplant I woke up in a hospital bed intent on entering the field of medicine.”

The change of plans paid off. Today, Linscott is a recipient of the Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Award.

“Receiving the award is a privilege and I was humbled to be selected,” Linscott said.

Joshua Linscott, MD, PhD

Bladder cancer encompasses a wide spectrum of disease. There is an ongoing need for tests that improve diagnosis, ease the burden of surveillance, detect early recurrence and predict treatment response. A significant challenge in this space has been the vast genomic heterogeneity observed in urothelial carcinoma, cancer that begins in the cells that line the bladder, kidneys and other part of the urinary system. It has multiple subtypes and molecular signatures for both non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancers (MIBC).

Linscott’s mentor is Roger Li, MD, a genitourinary oncologist at Moffitt. Working with Li to employ a liquid biopsy with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood samples and urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) in urine samples for diagnosis, staging and genetic profiling of urothelial cancers was the perfect way for Linscott to combine his past research experience with his current interests.

“Dr. Li has emerged as an expert in this field, and his mentorship has guided my current research projects toward their aims,” Linscott said. “Receiving the Research Scholar Award is also a recognition of the high caliber of research from Moffitt Cancer Center as an institution and Dr. Li as a principal investigator and mentor, and I am grateful to be a part of these efforts.”

Linscott was part of a research group that recently commented on the progress urinary biomarkers have made in recent decades. The group proposed several ways utDNA could further improve upon current shortcomings.

During #AUA24, Joshua Linscott, MD, PhD, (@jlinscott_uro) discusses detecting residual tumors with cell-free urinary tumor DNA in high-risk non-muscle invasive #bladdercancer patients. #CancerResearch@AmerUrological pic.twitter.com/1m01Z4Vbwv

— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) May 5, 2024

The researchers look at a cohort of 30 patients with upper tract urothelial cancer, demonstrating those without detectable levels of ctDNA pre-operatively had reduced rates of disease progression and better cancer-specific survival following extirpative surgery.

These results have fueled ongoing studies, which will be further supported by the UCF Research Scholar Award.

“Research often advances incrementally, with slow steps along a winding path, rather than by leaps and bounds,” Linscott said. “To reach the end goal requires support, patience and determination. In my career, I aspire to contribute to research that improves the care of bladder cancer patients. This award is an important step at the beginning of the path, and one that I am thrilled to have received.”