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Mark Gertner, Ph.D.

Scientist

H.B.Sc. (1986), M.Sc. (1990), Ph.D. (1997) York Univeristy

Research Interest(s)

I participate in the scientific and technical development, and direct in the operating room, two experimental treatments for prostate cancer; microwave thermal therapy and photodynamic therapy. My primary interest is to adapt contrast enhanced ultrasound techniques to assess treatment completeness, by correlating the degree of vascular thrombosis in the prostate caused by these therapies with treatment effectiveness. Areas of incomplete vascular thrombosis are suggestive of under-dosed regions that could potentially result in progression of the cancer. A final goal is the use of contrast ultrasound as a tool for real-time treatment monitoring and control. Additional interests are the implementation of thermal dose and thermal damage calculations derived from local prostate temperatures measured during microwave thermal therapy, to achieve more extensive heating of the gland while sparing critical peri-prostate structures, technical issues aimed at improving the way these treatments are delivered in the surgical setting, and assessing the feasibility of radiofrequency-based thermal therapy of the prostate for patients who have recurrent localized cancer following failed bracytherapy seed implant.

Publications

Journal Papers

M.R. Gertner, A.E. Worthington, B.C. Wilson, M.D. Sherar, Ultrasound Imaging of Thermal Therapy in In Vitro Liver, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 24:1023-1032, 1998.

M.D. Sherar, A.S. Gladman, S.R.H. Davidson, J. Trachtenberg, M.R. Gertner, Helical Antenna Arrays for Interstitial Microwave Thermal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Tissue Phantom Testing and Simulations for Treatment, Physics in Medicine and Biology 46:1905-1918, 2001.

R.A. Rendon, M.R. Gertner, M.D. Sherar, M.R. Asch, J.R. Kachura, J Sweet, M.A.S. Jewett, Development of a Radiofrequency Based Thermal Therapy Technique in an In Vivo Porciine Model for the Treatment of Small Renal Masses, Journal of Urology 166:292-298, 2001.

M.D. Sherar, M.R. Gertner, C.K.K. Yue, M.E. O'Malley, A. Toi, A.S. Gladman, S.R.H. Davidson, J. Trachtenberg, Interstitial Microwave Thermal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Method of Treatment and Results of a Phase I/II Trial, Journal of Urology 166:1707-1714, 2001.

R.A. Rendon, J.R. Kachura, J.R. Sweet, M.R. Gertner, M.D. Sherar, M. Robinette, J. Tsihilas, J. Trachetenberg, H. Sampson, M.A.S. Jewett, The Uncertainty of Radio Frequency Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Findings at Immediate and Delayed Nephrectomy, Journal of Urology 167:1587-1592, 2002.

C. McCann, J.C. Kumaradas, M.R. Gertner, S.R.H. Davidson, A.M. Dolan, M.D. Sherar, Feasibility of Salvage Interstitial Microwave Thermal Therapy for Prostate Carcinoma following Failed Brachytherapy: Studies in a Tissue Equivalent Phantom, Physics in Medicine and Biology 48:1041-1052, 2003.

M.D. Sherar, J. Trachtenberg, S.R.H. Davidson, C. McCann, C.K.K. Yue, M.R. Gertner, Interstitial Microwave Thermal Therapy for Prostate Cancer, Journal of Endourology, 17(8): 617-625, 2003.

M.D. Sherar, J. Trachtenberg, S.R.H. Davidson, M.R. Gertner, Interstitial Microwave Thermal Therapy and Its Application to the Treatment of Recurrent Prostate Cancer, International Journal of Hyperthermia, 20 (7): 757-768, 2004.

R.A. Weersink, A. Bogaards, M. Gertner, S.R.H. Davidson, K. Zhang, G. Netchev, J. Trachtenberg, B.C. Wilson, Techniques for Delivery and Monitoring of TOOKAD (WST09)-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy of the Prostate: Clinical Experience and Practicalities, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 79 (3): 211-222, 2005.

Contact

Princess Margaret Hospital, Room 8-307

610 University Avenue

Toronto, Ontario

CANADA M5G 2M9

Phone: (416) 946-4501 x4352

Fax: (416) 946-2086

e-mail: mgertner@uhnres.utoronto.ca

Last updated: Apr. 19, 2005