John A. Petros
MD
A urologist, Dr. Petros is a specialist in the treatment of prostate cancer and kidney cancer at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.
Specialty
Since 1993, Dr. Petros has been both a practicing urological oncologist and the principal investigator of a basic science laboratory.
Titles and Roles
- Professor and Associate Chair of Research, Department of Urology
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Urologist
- Kidney Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Research Program
- Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics
Biography
John A. Petros, MD, is a Professor of Urology and the Associate Chair of Research at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Petros holds secondary academic appointments as Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Emory.
In 1993, Dr. Petros joined the Department of Urology at Emory University as an academic faculty urologist and scientist. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology. Since 1993, Dr. Petros has been both a practicing urologist and the principal investigator of a basic science laboratory for the entire time he has been at Emory. While taking care of patients every week he has maintained continuous extramural funding for his laboratory for over 20 years.
Education
Dr. Petros received an Artium Baccalaureatus (AB) Degree from Washington University in St. Louis Missouri majoring in Chemistry and Biology. He attended medical school at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago Illinois. He completed his urology residency training at Washington University, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Missouri.
Research
Dr. Petros is most well known for pioneering the field of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in prostate cancer having been the first to show that inherited mutations of this genome result in increased likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Major contributions to this field have included showing that mtDNA mutations exert their cancer promoting influence by altering the production of cellular reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, which in turn activate a cascade of tumor-promoting molecular events. The ultimate clinical translation of these findings may be the development of novel therapies targeting these molecules. This research also holds the promise of patient-individualized (personalized) medicine in that individuals could be identified that have inherited these gene mutations and selected for more intensive screening and early treatment. Dr. Petros found that mutations in the mtDNA are much more common in African Americans with prostate cancer than Caucasian Americans with prostate cancer. This may be responsible for some of the health disparities in this disease where African American men are at higher risk for developing and/or dying of prostate cancer. In addition, Dr. Petros is conducting research designed to develop a new diagnostic blood or urine test for kidney cancer.
Below is a listing of current federal grants for the above principal investigator.
GrantNumber Title
Publications
Publications Publication Date
Awards
Dr. Petros has received the following awards:
- 2011 Alumnus of the Year, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
- Best Scientific Research Poster, American Urological Association, 2010
- Emory University Millipub Club, 2010
- Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Clinical Service, "Excellent Customer Service", 2006
- Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Clinical Service, "Improved Wait Times at the Atlanta VA Medical Center", 2002
- Clinical Research Center Award, Emory University Hospital, 1994
- Clinical Oncology Career Development Award, American Cancer Society, 1994