Clayton S. Lau, M.D.
At City of Hope since 2006, Clayton S. Lau, M.D., specializes in minimally invasive approaches to urologic oncology and reconstructive urology. He has performed over 3,500 robotic and laparoscopic procedures. He has also trained numerous surgeons in robotic surgery throughout the U.S. He is an international expert in robotic surgery and has been invited to lecture and perform robotic surgeries internationally.
Dr. Lau is known for the close, professional relationship he establishes with his patients. He goes the extra mile to make sure they know everything they need to know about their urologic malignancy treatment options – and that includes getting a second opinion.
“Second opinions are very important for any patient who has been diagnosed with cancer,” he says. “I see about 20 to 30 second opinion patients per month.”
Diplomate, American Board of Urology
California Medical License
State of California Fluoroscopy Operator
2000, M.D., Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
1995, B.A., Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA
2005-2006, Urologic Oncology Fellowship, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2001-2005, Tufts University Program in Urology, Urology Residency
2000-2001, Tufts-New England Medical Center, General Surgery Internship
2017-present, Pauline & Martin Collins Family Chair in Urology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2017-present, Chief, Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2015-2017, Interim Chief, Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-present, Director, Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery Fellowship Program, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-present, Surgical Director, Kidney Cancer Program, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-present, Panel Member NCCN Guideline Committee for Kidney Cancer
2006-present, Urologic Oncologist, City of Hope, Duarte, and South Pasadena, CA
2004-2005, Clinical Instructor, Urology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
"America's Top Doctor for Cancer" from Castle Connolly / Newsweek
General Surgery Teaching Award-Tufts University School of Medicine
Society of Urologic Oncology
American Urological Association
Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Los Angeles Urologic Society
Southwest Oncology Group
Information is obtained from Pubmed, a public database; City of Hope is not responsible for its accuracy.
- Motzer RJ, Jonasch E, Boyle S, Carlo MI, Manley B, Agarwal N, Alva A, Beckermann K, Choueiri TK, Costello BA, Derweesh IH, Desai A, George S, Gore JL, Haas N, Hancock SL, Kyriakopoulos C, Lam ET, Lau C, Lewis B, Madoff DC, McCreery B, Michaelson MD, Mortazavi A, Nandagopal L, Pierorazio PM, Plimack ER, Ponsky L, Ramalingam S, Shuch B, Smith ZL, Somer B, Sosman J, Dwyer MA, Motter AD. NCCN Guidelines Insights: Kidney Cancer, Version 1.2021 J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2020 Sep;18(9):1160-1170. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2020.0043.PMID: 32886895
- Banapour P, Yuh B, Chenam A, Shen JK, Ruel N, Han ES, Kim JY, Maghami EG, Pigazzi A, Raz DJ, Singh GP, Wakabayashi M, Woo Y, Fong Y, Lau CS. Readmission and complications after robotic surgery: experience of 10,000 operations at a comprehensive cancer center. J Robot Surg. 2021 Feb;15(1):37-44. doi: 10.1007/s11701-020-01077-4. Epub 2020 Apr 10. PMID: 32277400
- Bradshaw AW, Autorino R, Simone G, Yang B, Uzzo RG, Porpiglia F, Capitanio U, Porter J, Bertolo R, Minervini A, Lau C, Jacobsohn K, Ashrafi A, Eun D, Mottrie A, White WM, Schips L, Challacombe BJ, De Cobelli O, Mir CM, Veccia A, Larcher A, Kutikov A, Aron M, Dasgupta P, Montorsi F, Gill IS, Sundaram CP, Kaouk J, Derweesh IH. Robotic partial nephrectomy vs minimally invasive radical nephrectomy for clinical T2a renal mass: a propensity score-matched comparison from the ROSULA (Robotic Surgery for Large Renal Mass) Collaborative Group. BJU Int. 2020 Jul;126(1):114-123. doi: 10.1111/bju.15064. Epub 2020 Jun 15. PMID: 32232920
- Marchioni M, Berardinelli F, Zhang C, Simone G, Uzzo R, Capitanio U, Minervini A MD, Lau C, Kaouk J, Langestroer P, Checcucci E, De Luyk N, Porter JR, Gallucci M, Kutikov A, Larcher A, Mari A, Kilday PS, Rha KH, Quarto G, Perdona S, White W, Eun D, Derweesh IH, Mottrie A, Anele UA, Jacobsohn KM, Porpiglia F, Challacombe B, Sundaram CP, Autorino R, Yang B, Schips L. Effect of obesity and overweight status on complications and survival after minimally invasive kidney surgery in patients with clinical t2 renal masses. J Endourol. 2020 Mar;34(3):289-297. doi: 10.1089/end.2019.0604. PMID: 31950886
- Motzer RJ, Jonasch E, Michaelson MD, Nandagopal L, Gore JL, George S, Alva A, Haas N, Harrison MR, Plimack ER, Sosman J, Agarwal N, Bhayani S, Choueiri TK, Costello BA, Derweesh IH, Gallagher TH, Hancock SL, Kyriakopoulos C, LaGrange C, Lam ET, Lau C, Lewis B, Manley B, McCreery B, McDonald A, Mortazavi A, Pierorazio PM, Ponsky L, Redman BG, Somer B, Wile G, Dwyer MA; CGC, Hammond LJ, Zuccarino-Catania G. NCCN Guidelines Insights: Kidney Cancer, Version 2.2020. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2019 Nov 1;17(11):1278-1285. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0054. PMID: 31693980
- Veccia A, Dell'oglio P, Antonelli A, Minervini A, Simone G, Challacombe B, Perdonà S, Porter J, Zhang C, Capitanio U, Sundaram CP, Cacciamani G, Aron M, Anele U, Hampton LJ, Simeone C, De Naeyer G, Bradshawh A, Mari A, Campi R, Carini M, Fiori C, Gallucci M, Jacobsohn K, Eun D, Lau C, Kaouk J, Derweesh I, Porpiglia F, Mottrie A, Autorino R. Robotic Partial Nephrectomy Versus Radical Nephrectomy in Elderly Patients With Large Renal Masses. Minerva Urol Nefrol 72 (1), 99-108 Feb 2020
- Konstantinidis IT, Raoof M, Zheleva V, Lafaro K, Lau C, Fong Y, Lee B, Multivisceral robotic liver surgery: feasible and safe. J Robot Surg. 2020 Jun;14(3):503-507. doi: 10.1007/s11701-019-01017-x. Epub 2019 Sep 6.PMID: 31489535
- Shen JK, Jamnagerwalla J, Yuh BE, Bassett MR, Chenam A, Warner JN, Zhumkhawala A, Yamzon JL, Whelan C, Ruel NH, Lau CS, Chan KG. Real-time indocyanine green angiography with the SPY fluorescence imaging platform decreases benign ureteroenteric strictures in urinary diversions performed during radical cystectomy. Ther Adv Urol. 2019 Apr 4;11:1756287219839631. doi: 10.1177/1756287219839631. eCollection 2019 Jan-Dec. PMID: 31057669
- Shen JK, Kilday P, Lau CS. Possible drop metastasis after treatment of renal cell carcinoma with percutaneous cryoablation. Urology. 2019 Apr 19. pii: S0090-4295(19)30356-5. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2019.04.010. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 31009743
- Anele UA, Marchioni M, Yang B, Simone G, Uzzo RG, Lau C, Mir MC, Capitanio U, Porter J, Jacobsohn K, de Luyk N, Mari A, Chang K, Fiori C, Sulek J, Mottrie A, White W, Perdona S, Quarto G, Bindayi A, Ashrafi A, Schips L, Berardinelli F, Zhang C, Gallucci M, Ramirez-Backhaus M, Larcher A, Kilday P, Liao M, Langenstroer P, Dasgupta P, Challacombe B, Kutikov A, Minervini A, Rha KH, Sundaram CP, Hampton LJ, Porpiglia F, Aron M, Derweesh I, Autorino R, Robotic versus laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: a large multi-institutional analysis (ROSULA Collaborative Group), World J Urol. 2019 Nov;37(11):2439-2450. doi: 10.1007/s00345-019-02657-2. Epub 2019 Feb 7.PMID: 30734072
- Huynh LM, Skarecky D, Porter J, Wagner C, Witt J, Wilson T, Lau C, Ahlering TE, A Randomized Control Trial Of Anti-Inflammatory Regional Hypothermia On Urinary Continence During RobotAssisted Radical Prostatectomy, Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 5;8(1):16352. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34657-4, PMID: 30397236
- Chenam A, Lau C., Management of Small Renal Masses, Cancer Treat Res. 2018;175:105-126. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-93339-9_5., PMID: 30168119
- . Salgia R, Jolly MK, Dorff T, Lau C, Weninger K, Orban J, Kulkarni P. Prostate-Associated Gene 4 (PAGE4): Leveraging the Conformation Dynamics of a Dancing Protein Cloud as a Therapeutic Target. J Clin Med. 2018 Jun 17:7(6). Pii: E156. Doi: 10.3390/jcm7060156. Review. PMID: 29914187.
- Chenam A, Ruel N, Pal S, Barlog J, Lau C, Wilson T, Yuh B. Biochemical recurrence after robotassisted extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer. Can J Urol. 2018 Jun;25(3):9340- 9348. PMID: 29900823.
- Chenam A, Parihar JS, Ruel N, Pal S, Avila Y, Yamzon J, Lau C, Yuh B. Lymph node-positive prostate cancer after robotic prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy. J Robot Surg. 2017 Sep 13. doi: 10.1007/s11701-017-0751-8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28905289
- Chenam A, Yuh B, Zhumkhawala A, Ruel N, Chu W, Lau C, Chan K, Wilson T, Yamzon J. Prospective randomized non-inferiority trial of pelvic drain placement vs no pelvic drain placement after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2018 Mar;121(3):357-364. doi: 10.1111/bju.14010. Epub 2017 sep22. PMID: 28872774 (JIF: 4.439)
- Konstantinidis IT, Chu W, Tozzi F, Lau C, Wakabayashi M, Chan K, Lee B. Robotic Total Pelvic Exenteration: Video-Illustrated Technique. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Oct;24(11):3422-3423. doi: 10.1245/s10434-017-6036-7. Epub 2017 Aug 14. PMID: 28808931 (JIF: 4.392)
- Motzer RJ, Jonasch E, Agarwal N, Bhayani S, Bro WP, Chang SS, Choueiri TK, Costello BA, Derweesh IH, Fishman M, Gallagher TH, Gore JL, Hancock SL, Harrison MR, Kim W, Kyriakopoulos C, LaGrange C, Lam ET, Lau C, Michaelson MD, Olencki T, Pierorazio PM, Plimack ER, Redman BG, Shuch B, Somer B, Sonpavde G, Sosman J, Dwyer M, Kumar R. Kidney Cancer, Version 2.2017, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2017 Jun;15(6):804-834. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2017.0100. PMID: 28596261
- Chu W, Chennamsetty A, Toroussian R, Lau C. Anaphylactic Shock After Intravenous Administration of Indocyanine Green During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy. Urol Case Rep. 2017 Mar 10;12:37-38. doi: 10.1016/j.eucr.2017.02.006. eCollection 2017 Mar 10. PMID: 28316935
- Gin GE, Ruel NH, Parihar JS, Warner JN, Yuh BE, Yamzon J, Wilson TG, Lau CS, Chan KG. Ureteroenteric anastomotic revision as initial management of stricture after urinary diversion. Int J Urol. 2017 May;24(5):390-395. doi: 10.1111/iju.13323. Epub 2017 Marc12. PMID: 28295645 (JIF: 1.878)
- Gin GE, Ruel NH, Kardos SV, Sfakianos JP, Uchio E, Lau CS, Yuh BE. Utilization of perioperative systemic chemotherapy in upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Urol Oncol. 2017 May;35(5):192-200. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2016.11.017. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28041996 (JIF: 0.818)
- Chennamsetty A, Zhumkhawala A, Tobis SB, Ruel N, Lau CS, Yamzon J, Wilson TG, Yuh BE. Lymph Node Fluorescence During Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy with Indocyanine Green: Prospective Dosing Analysis. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2017 Aug;15(4): e529-e534. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2016.10.014. Epub 2016 Nov 16. PMID:27939590 (JIF: 2.599)
- Gin G, Parihar G, Yuh B, Yamzon J, Lau C, Chan KG. PD-12-03 Primary Ureteroenteric Anastomotic Revision after urinary Diversion. J. Urol April 2016; 195(4): e293-e294. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.898.
- Steven V. Kardos, Kevin G. Chan, Bertram Yuh, Jonathan Yamzon, Nora H. Ruel, Finly Zachariah, Clayton S. Lau, Laura Crocitto. PD02-02 Enhanced recovery after surgery and care coordination pathway at city of hope: Decreased length of stay, readmissions, and complications. J. Urol April 2016; 195(4s): e51. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.2076.
- Steven V. Kardos, Kevin G. Chan, Bertram Yuh, Jonathan Yamzon, Nora H. Ruel, Finly Zachariah, Clayton S. Lau, Laura Crocitto. PD02-02 Enhanced recovery after surgery and care coordination pathway at city of hope: Decreased length of stay, readmissions, and complications. J. Urol April 2016; 195(4s): e51. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.2076.
- Warner JN, Tracey JM, Zhumkhawala AA, Chan KG, Lau CS. Penile inversion through a penoscrotal incision for the treatment of penile urethral strictures. Investig Clin Urol. 2016 Mar;57(2):135-40. doi: 10.4111/icu.2016.57.2.135. Epub 2016 Feb 29. PMID: 26981596
- Yuh B, Yu X, Raytis J, Lew M, Fong Y, Lau C. Use of a mobile tower-based robot--The initial Xi robot experience in surgical oncology. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Jan;113(1):5-7. doi: 10.1002/jso.24094. Epub 2015 Nov 25. PMID: 26603965
- Raytis J, Yuh B, Lau C, Fong Y, Lew M. Anesthetic Implications of Robotically Assisted Surgery with the Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot. Open Journal of Anesthesiology 06(08):115-118 · January 2016
- Pal SK, Vuong W, Zhang W, Deng J, Liu X, Carmichael C, Ruel N, Pinnamaneni M, Twardowski P, Lau C, Yu H, Figlin RA, Agarwal N, Jones JO. Clinical and Translational Assessment of VEGFR1 as a Mediator of the Premetastatic Niche in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2015 Dec;14(12):2896-900. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-15-0367. Epub 2015 Oct 8. PMID: 26450920
- Wittig K, Ruel N, Barlog J, Crocitto L, Chan K, Lau C, Wilson T, Yuh B. Critical Analysis of Hospital Readmission and Cost Burden After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy. J Endourol. 2016 Jan;30(1):83-91. doi: 10.1089/end.2015.0438. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26405852
- Wittig K, Ruel N, Barlog J, Crocitto L, Chan K, Lau C, Wilson T, Yuh B. Critical Analysis of Hospital Readmission and Cost Burden After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy. J Endourol. 2016 Jan;30(1):83-91. doi: 10.1089/end.2015.0438. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26405852
- Li Y, Wu X, Gao H, Jin JM, Li AX, Kim YS, Pal SK, Nelson RA, Lau C, Guo C, Mu B, Wang J, Wang F, Wang J, Zhao Y, Chen W, Rossi JJ, Weiss LM, Wu H. PIWI-interacting RNAs are dysregulated in renal cell carcinoma and associated with tumor metastasis and cancer specific survival. Mol Med. 2015 May 13. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2014.00203. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25998508
- Zhumkhawala A., Kozinn S., Chan KG., Lau C., Ruel N., Yamzon J., Yuh B., Kawachi M., Wilson T. MP67-18 A Decade of Robotic Cystectomy: surgical characteristics and oncologic outcomes. J. Urol April 2015; 193(4): e856-e857. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.2501.
- Bourque J., Chan K., Wilson T., Lau C., Yuh B., Yamzon J., Zachariah F., Crocitto L. MP64-08 Establishing a care coordination pathway for bladder cancer Cystectomy patients. The Journal of Urology.04/2015; 193(4): e800-e801. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.2319. *4.47 Impact Factor
- Yuh B, Chan K, Lau C, Wilson T. Variable Recurrence Patterns After Cystectomy in Bladder Cancer: Can the Robot Be Blamed? Eur Urol. 2015 Apr 18. pii: S0302-2838(15)00311-5. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2015.04.009. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 25900783
- Motzer RJ, Jonasch E, Agarwal N, Beard C, Bhayani S, Bolger GB, Chang SS, Choueiri TK, Costello BA, Derweesh IH, Gupta S, Hancock SL, Kim JJ, Kuzel TM, Lam ET, Lau C, Levine EG, Lin DW, Michaelson MD, Olencki T, Pili R, Plimack ER, Rampersaud EN, Redman BG, Ryan CJ, Sheinfeld J, Shuch B, Sircar K, Somer B, Wilder RB, Dwyer M, Kumar R. Kidney Cancer, version 3.2015. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2015 Feb;13(2):151-9. PMID: 25691606
- Pal SK, He M, Wilson T, Liu X, Zhang K, Carmichael C, Torres A, Hernandez S, Lau C, Agarwal N, Kawachi M, Yen Y, Jones JO. Detection and phenotyping of circulating tumor cells in high-risk localized prostate cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2015 Apr;13(2):130-6. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2014.08.014. Epub 2014 Sep 22. PMID: 25450039
- Lau CS, Blackwell RH, Quek ML. Radical cystectomy: open vs robotic approach. J Urol. 2015 Feb;193(2):400-2. PMID:25447101
- Pal SK, Hossain DM, Zhang Q, Frankel PH, Jones JO, Carmichael C, Ruel C, Lau C, Kortylewski M. Pazopanib as third line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: clinical efficacy and temporal analysis of cytokine profile.J Urol. 2015 Apr; 193(4):1114-21. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.09.110. Epub 2014 Oct 5. PMID:25286010
- Pal SK, He M, Tong T, Wu H, Liu X, Lau C, Wang JH, Warden C, Wu X, Signoretti S, Choueiri TK, Karam JA, Jones. RNA-seq reveals aurora kinase-driven mTOR pathway activation in patients with sarcomatoid metastatic renal cell carcinoma. JO. Mol Cancer Res. 2015 Jan; 13(1):130-7. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-14-0352. Epub 2014 Sep 2. PMID:25183163