John A. Petros, MD

Research Program

Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics
Phone Number

404-778-4898

Biography

John A. Petros, MD, is a professor and the associate chair of research in the Department of Urology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Petros holds secondary academic appointments as a professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Emory.

In 1993, Dr. Petros joined Emory 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 in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his urology residency training at Washington University, Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Titles & 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

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.

View Current Clinical Trials


Phase N/A Location Winship Cancer Institute

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
A 5'-(R)-CH₃-substituted 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate reduces off-target toxicities while maintaining efficacy in a colorectal cancer model. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics	CM Monaco, N Pribut, CC Musonda, CQ Sun, JA Petros, KH Liu, EJ Miller, DC Liotta	01/01/2026
Next-Generation Lipid Prodrugs Orally Deliver Tenofovir via Enhanced Chylomicron Incorporation. ACS pharmacology & translational science	HB Gold, N Pribut, EL Outtrim, P Davidson, CM Monaco, A Myers, CQ Sun, GP Coskun, A Mancia, Y Yang, S Burton, A Aftab, CA Derdeyn, RS Arnold, JA Petros, K Liu, EJ Miller, DC Liotta	09/12/2025
A Spatial Metabolomics Annotation Workflow Leveraging Cyclic Ion Mobility and Machine Learning-Predicted Collision Cross Sections. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry	D Leontyev, EC Gier, VA Master, RS Arnold, JA Petros, FM Fernández	06/04/2025
A Novel Liver Cancer-Selective Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Is Effective against Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Induces Durable Responses with Immunotherapy. ACS pharmacology & translational science	B Wu, S Tapadar, Z Ruan, CQ Sun, RS Arnold, A Johnston, JO Olugbami, U Arunsi, DA Gaul, JA Petros, T Kobayashi, DG Duda, AK Oyelere	10/11/2024
A Novel Liver Cancer-Selective Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Is Effective Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Induces Durable Responses with Immunotherapy. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology	B Wu, S Tapadar, Z Ruan, C Sun, R Arnold, A Johnston, J Olugbami, U Arunsi, D Gaul, J Petros, T Kobayashi, DG Duda, AK Oyelere	06/01/2024
A missense SNP in the tumor suppressor SETD2 reduces H3K36me3 and mitotic spindle integrity in Drosophila. Genetics	JS Brockett, T Manalo, H Zein-Sabatto, J Lee, J Fang, P Chu, H Feng, D Patil, P Davidson, K Ogan, VA Master, JG Pattaras, DL Roberts, SH Bergquist, MA Reyna, JA Petros, DA Lerit, RS Arnold	04/03/2024
Discovery of 5'-Substituted 5-Fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine Monophosphate Analogs: A Novel Class of Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitors. ACS pharmacology & translational science	M Dasari, SC Pelly, J Geng, HB Gold, N Pribut, SK Sharma, MP D'Erasmo, PW Bartsch, C Sun, K Toti, RS Arnold, JA Petros, L Xu, Y Jiang, EJ Miller, DC Liotta	05/12/2023
Urine-Based Metabolomics and Machine Learning Reveals Metabolites Associated with Renal Cell Carcinoma Stage. Cancers	OO Bifarin, DA Gaul, S Sah, RS Arnold, K Ogan, VA Master, DL Roberts, SH Bergquist, JA Petros, AS Edison, FM Fernández	12/13/2021
Machine Learning-Enabled Renal Cell Carcinoma Status Prediction Using Multiplatform Urine-Based Metabolomics. Journal of proteome research	OO Bifarin, DA Gaul, S Sah, RS Arnold, K Ogan, VA Master, DL Roberts, SH Bergquist, JA Petros, FM Fernández, AS Edison	07/02/2021
Liver-Targeting Class I Selective Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Potently Suppress Hepatocellular Tumor Growth as Standalone Agents. Cancers	S Tapadar, S Fathi, B Wu, CQ Sun, I Raji, SG Moore, RS Arnold, DA Gaul, JA Petros, AK Oyelere	10/23/2020
Molecular characteristics and markers of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Pitfalls due to intratumoral heterogeneity and identification of genetic alterations associated with metastasis. International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association	RC Obeng, RS Arnold, K Ogan, VA Master, JG Pattaras, JA Petros, AO Osunkoya	09/01/2020
The JNK inhibitor AS602801 Synergizes with Enzalutamide to Kill Prostate Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo and Inhibit Androgen Receptor Expression. Translational oncology	Z Li, C Sun, S Tao, AO Osunkoya, RS Arnold, JA Petros, X Zu, CS Moreno	04/01/2020
Preoperative Metabolic Signatures of Prostate Cancer Recurrence Following Radical Prostatectomy. Journal of proteome research	CS Clendinen, DA Gaul, ME Monge, RS Arnold, AS Edison, JA Petros, FM Fernández	03/01/2019
Discovery and mechanisms of host defense to oncogenesis: targeting the β-defensin-1 peptide as a natural tumor inhibitor. Cancer biology & therapy	CQ Sun, RS Arnold, CL Hsieh, JR Dorin, F Lian, Z Li, JA Petros	01/01/2019
Identification of the Transcription Factor Relationships Associated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy Response and Metastatic Progression in Prostate Cancer. Cancers	NV Sharma, KL Pellegrini, V Ouellet, FO Giuste, S Ramalingam, K Watanabe, E Adam-Granger, L Fossouo, S You, MR Freeman, P Vertino, K Conneely, AO Osunkoya, D Trudel, AM Mes-Masson, JA Petros, F Saad, CS Moreno	10/11/2018
Comparative Cost Analysis: Teleurology vs Conventional Face-to-Face Clinics. Urology	V Zholudev, IJ Safir, MN Painter, JA Petros, CP Filson, MM Issa	03/01/2018
Discovery of a Fluorinated Enigmol Analog with Enhanced in Vivo Pharmacokinetic and Anti-Tumor Properties. ACS medicinal chemistry letters	EJ Miller, SG Mays, MT Baillie, RB Howard, DG Culver, M Saindane, ST Pruett, JJ Holt, DS Menaldino, TJ Evers, GP Reddy, RF Arrendale, MG Natchus, JA Petros, DC Liotta	05/12/2016
Perlecan/HSPG2 and matrilysin/MMP-7 as indices of tissue invasion: tissue localization and circulating perlecan fragments in a cohort of 288 radical prostatectomy patients. Oncotarget	B Grindel, Q Li, R Arnold, J Petros, M Zayzafoon, M Muldoon, J Stave, LW Chung, MC Farach-Carson	03/01/2016
A mitochondrial DNA mutation influences the apoptotic effect of statins on prostate cancer. The Prostate	Q Sun, RS Arnold, CQ Sun, JA Petros	12/01/2015
Bone metastasis in prostate cancer: Recurring mitochondrial DNA mutation reveals selective pressure exerted by the bone microenvironment. Bone	RS Arnold, SA Fedewa, M Goodman, AO Osunkoya, HT Kissick, C Morrissey, LD True, JA Petros	09/01/2015
Mitochondrial DNA mutations in prostate cancer bone metastases. Journal of nature and science	CG Keith, RS Arnold, JA Petros	08/01/2015
von Hippel-Lindau exonic methylation analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The Journal of urology	F Lian, S Sreedharan, RS Arnold, VA Master, K Ogan, JG Pattaras, DL Roberts, JA Petros	11/01/2014
Targeting L1 cell adhesion molecule expression using liposome-encapsulated siRNA suppresses prostate cancer bone metastasis and growth. Oncotarget	SY Sung, IH Wu, PH Chuang, JA Petros, HC Wu, HJ Zeng, WC Huang, LW Chung, CL Hsieh	10/30/2014
Global transcriptome analysis of formalin-fixed prostate cancer specimens identifies biomarkers of disease recurrence. Cancer research	Q Long, J Xu, AO Osunkoya, S Sannigrahi, BA Johnson, W Zhou, T Gillespie, JY Park, RK Nam, L Sugar, A Stanimirovic, AK Seth, JA Petros, CS Moreno	06/15/2014
Immunohistochemical demonstration of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation in a small subset of prostatic carcinomas. Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM	SH Mauzo, M Lee, J Petros, S Hunter, CM Chang, HK Shu, AC Bellail, C Hao, C Cohen	04/01/2014
Aquaporin-1 protein levels elevated in fresh urine of renal cell carcinoma patients: potential use for screening and classification of incidental renal lesions. Disease markers	S Sreedharan, JA Petros, VA Master, K Ogan, JG Pattaras, DL Roberts, F Lian, RS Arnold	01/01/2014
Incidence and clinical characteristics of lower urinary tract symptoms as a presenting symptom for patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer. International braz j urol : official journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology	RW Dobbs, LA Hugar, LM Revenig, S Al-Qassab, JA Petros, CW Ritenour, MM Issa, DJ Canter	01/01/2014
Formalin disinfection of biopsy needle minimizes the risk of sepsis following prostate biopsy. The Journal of urology	MM Issa, UA Al-Qassab, J Hall, CW Ritenour, JA Petros, JW Sullivan	11/01/2013
A +20% adjustment in the computed tomography measured ureteral length is an accurate predictor of true ureteral length before ureteral stent placement. Journal of endourology	AB Shrewsberry, U Al-Qassab, M Goodman, JA Petros, JW Sullivan, CW Ritenour, MM Issa	08/01/2013
An inherited heteroplasmic mutation in mitochondrial gene COI in a patient with prostate cancer alters reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen and proliferation. BioMed research international	RS Arnold, Q Sun, CQ Sun, JC Richards, S O'Hearn, AO Osunkoya, DC Wallace, JA Petros	01/01/2013
Pelvic nephroureterectomy for renal cell carcinoma in an ectopic kidney. Case reports in oncological medicine	KG Baldie, UA Al-Qassab, CW Ritenour, MM Issa, AO Osunkoya, JA Petros	01/01/2012
Mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit 1 Sequence Variation in Prostate Cancer. Scientifica	TA Scott, R Arnold, JA Petros	01/01/2012
Protein-coding and microRNA biomarkers of recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy. The American journal of pathology	Q Long, BA Johnson, AO Osunkoya, YH Lai, W Zhou, M Abramovitz, M Xia, MB Bouzyk, RK Nam, L Sugar, A Stanimirovic, DJ Williams, BR Leyland-Jones, AK Seth, JA Petros, CS Moreno	07/01/2011
Novel synthesis and biological evaluation of enigmols as therapeutic agents for treating prostate cancer. ACS medicinal chemistry letters	EC Garnier-Amblard, SG Mays, RF Arrendale, MT Baillie, AS Bushnev, DG Culver, TJ Evers, JJ Holt, RB Howard, LS Liebeskind, DS Menaldino, MG Natchus, JA Petros, H Ramaraju, GP Reddy, DC Liotta	06/09/2011
Antibody responses against xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus envelope in a murine model. PloS one	N Makarova, C Zhao, Y Zhang, S Bhosle, S Suppiah, JM Rhea, N Kozyr, RS Arnold, H Ly, RJ Molinaro, TG Parslow, E Hunter, D Liotta, J Petros, JL Blackwell	04/06/2011
Comparison of 12-core versus 8-core prostate biopsy: multivariate analysis of large series of US veterans. Urology	TT Abd, M Goodman, J Hall, CW Ritenour, JA Petros, FF Marshall, MM Issa	03/01/2011
Mitochondrial genotype and breast cancer predisposition. Oncology reports	AM Czarnecka, T Krawczyk, K Plak, A Klemba, M Zdrozny, RS Arnold, B Kofler, P Golik, A Szybinska, J Lubinski, M Mossakowska, E Bartnik, JA Petros	12/01/2010
Evaluation of cellular determinants required for in vitro xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus entry into human prostate cancer and noncancerous cells. Journal of virology	S Bhosle, S Suppiah, R Molinaro, Y Liang, R Arnold, W Diehl, N Makarova, J Blackwell, J Petros, D Liotta, E Hunter, H Ly	07/01/2010
Mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 3 (ND3) polymorphism (A10398G) and sporadic breast cancer in Poland. Breast cancer research and treatment	AM Czarnecka, T Krawczyk, M Zdrozny, J Lubiński, RS Arnold, W Kukwa, A Scińska, P Golik, E Bartnik, JA Petros	06/01/2010
Molecular mapping of tumor heterogeneity on clinical tissue specimens with multiplexed quantum dots. ACS nano	J Liu, SK Lau, VA Varma, RA Moffitt, M Caldwell, T Liu, AN Young, JA Petros, AO Osunkoya, T Krogstad, B Leyland-Jones, MD Wang, S Nie	05/25/2010
XMRV infection in patients with prostate cancer: novel serologic assay and correlation with PCR and FISH. Urology	RS Arnold, NV Makarova, AO Osunkoya, S Suppiah, TA Scott, NA Johnson, SM Bhosle, D Liotta, E Hunter, FF Marshall, H Ly, RJ Molinaro, JL Blackwell, JA Petros	04/01/2010
Mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase polymorphisms as sporadic breast cancer risk factor. Oncology reports	AM Czarnecka, A Klemba, T Krawczyk, M Zdrozny, RS Arnold, E Bartnik, JA Petros	02/01/2010
Increased low density lipoprotein and increased likelihood of positive prostate biopsy in black americans. The Journal of urology	KA Moses, TT Abd, M Goodman, W Hsiao, JA Hall, FF Marshall, JA Petros, MM Issa	11/01/2009
Sequence variation in the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and prostate cancer in African American men. The Prostate	AM Ray, KA Zuhlke, AM Levin, JA Douglas, KA Cooney, JA Petros	06/15/2009
Mitochondrial DNA mutation stimulates prostate cancer growth in bone stromal environment. The Prostate	RS Arnold, CQ Sun, JC Richards, G Grigoriev, IM Coleman, PS Nelson, CL Hsieh, JK Lee, Z Xu, A Rogatko, AO Osunkoya, M Zayzafoon, L Chung, JA Petros	01/01/2009
SnoRNA U50 is a candidate tumor-suppressor gene at 6q14.3 with a mutation associated with clinically significant prostate cancer. Human molecular genetics	XY Dong, C Rodriguez, P Guo, X Sun, JT Talbot, W Zhou, J Petros, Q Li, RL Vessella, AS Kibel, VL Stevens, EE Calle, JT Dong	04/01/2008
Nox1 expression determines cellular reactive oxygen and modulates c-fos-induced growth factor, interleukin-8, and Cav-1. The American journal of pathology	RS Arnold, J He, A Remo, D Ritsick, Q Yin-Goen, JD Lambeth, MW Datta, AN Young, JA Petros	12/01/2007
Bioconjugated quantum dots for multiplexed and quantitative immunohistochemistry. Nature protocols	Y Xing, Q Chaudry, C Shen, KY Kong, HE Zhau, LW Chung, JA Petros, RM O'Regan, MV Yezhelyev, JW Simons, MD Wang, S Nie	01/01/2007
In vivo molecular and cellular imaging with quantum dots. Current opinion in biotechnology	X Gao, L Yang, JA Petros, FF Marshall, JW Simons, S Nie	02/01/2005
Nanomolecular histopathology for renal tumor classification. Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference	A Young, M Amin, J Petros, M Natan, S Nie, M Wang	01/01/2005

Awards

Dr. Petros has received the following awards:

Alumnus of the Year, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2011
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