Alejandro Sanchez,
MD
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Clinical Information
Dr. Alejandro Sanchez is a native of Cali, Colombia. He is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator. Dr. Sanchez specializes in the surgical care of patients with urologic cancers using open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic techniques. His practice at the Huntsman Cancer Institute primarily focuses on the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, adrenal, urethral and penile cancers.
Academic Information
Dr. Sanchez received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biochemistry. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his urologic surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Sanchez then completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he received a Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Urologic Oncology to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the association of sarcopenia (low skeletal muscle mass) and poor oncologic outcomes in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. During his fellowship, Dr. Sanchez also received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Basic Science.
As an Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Dr. Sanchez’s research efforts are primarily focused on clinical trial development and translational research.
Clinical Locations
Clinic 2B, GU
801-587-4381
Fax: (801) 585-0155
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Urology |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.8/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.8/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.8/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.3/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.8/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
October 10, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I was disappointed that the Dr could not provide needed information regarding radiation treatment questions
UofU Patient
October 10, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good care and knowledge.
UofU Patient
October 07, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Showed concern for my sitation
UofU Patient
September 30, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr was impressive! A rock star!
UofU Patient
September 17, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
September 09, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Everything was very good.
UofU Patient
September 02, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I was very pleased with Dr Sanchez.
UofU Patient
August 16, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I trust and respect Dr.Sanchez
UofU Patient
August 15, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Very good
UofU Patient
August 10, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Extremely helpful meeting with Dr. Sanchez. Resolved decisions I needed.
UofU Patient
August 07, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
So far so good.
UofU Patient
August 01, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is awesome. He responded to my inquiry promptly and immediately accommodate my appointment despite short notice. It really gives a service a great name. Not all physicians are willing to do that and this should be recognized. He is very pleasant, professional and very competent. I high recommend him as a physician.
UofU Patient
July 27, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Sanchez is good at answering our questions but I think the study that I am on constrains his preferred direction for me. Considering getting off the study as constraints seem to run my treatment vs what is best for me.
UofU Patient
July 21, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very good!!
UofU Patient
July 20, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Explain everything
UofU Patient
June 22, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Shannon was very polite and professional
UofU Patient
June 03, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
10+ out of 10
UofU Patient
June 01, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
DR Sanchez and his PAs are remarkable in today's healthcare. The openness, understanding, and care shown by them is far more than I have experienced. By the way I have worked in healthcare for 35 yrs. I feel I am in very good hands with this practice.
UofU Patient
May 31, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
We really appreciated the time and patience the PA and the Dr took with our visit. They took as much time needed to listen to our concerns, and they answered all our questions. And must important, they put us at ease. After the visit, we knew we came to the right Doctor
UofU Patient
May 28, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I've already recommended Huntsman and particularly Dr. Sanchez to other friends and relatives. He is an exceptional physician in my opinion, and I really appreciate everything he and his staff has done for me.
UofU Patient
May 27, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Excellent. Very professional. Other than the long wait. A very good team of people who care and know their stuff
UofU Patient
May 13, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Sanchez is very good to work with. Support staff would benefit from additional training.
UofU Patient
May 09, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I was very impressed. Much better than another facility in Utah County.
UofU Patient
April 29, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I was very well taken care of by Dr. Sanchez and his assistance
UofU Patient
April 15, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is great!
UofU Patient
April 10, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
I have already recommended Dr. Sanchez and your facility to others.
UofU Patient
April 09, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Doctor's, physicians assistant, nurse practitioner are very professional and helpful, very honest, always communicating about my wellbeing and understanding the situation I am in.
UofU Patient
March 18, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Have and will recommend this team to others.
UofU Patient
March 12, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is a fine physician. I am very pleasd he has taken over my care. Much appreciated.
UofU Patient
February 27, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr Sanchez helped ease many of my concerns by taking time to explain things to me and doing some follow up tests. He never acted like he was in a hurry and it made me feel like my concerns were important.
UofU Patient
February 04, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Very good experience
UofU Patient
February 04, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez listened to my concerns and took them into the highest consideration when discussing and recommending treatment options.
UofU Patient
January 29, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Would like to have more time to discuss condition. All doctors seem in too big of a hurry to get out of the room. Doctor needs to ask more questions and wait for answers. Would like Dr Sanchez to explain more about what is going on in the bladder when he looks inside. He knows what he is looking at I do not know what he sees.
UofU Patient
January 15, 2022
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Ok
UofU Patient
January 14, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very Good!
UofU Patient
December 29, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
The entire team that we visited with were very patient and concerned regarding my health and recovery. They each provided excellent information, were highly professional, and skilled in relation to making a positive connection with my wife and me. We felt valued by and very confident in the team.
UofU Patient
December 20, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Was 30 mins late
UofU Patient
December 06, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
The PA & DR are very nice and understanding and instill confidence.They are just over an hour late every time.We travel 4 hours from NV for the appt and it's annoying.
UofU Patient
December 03, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is an outstanding doctor. His expertise, demeanor, and courtesy are appreciated.
UofU Patient
November 28, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr was great at explaining and very caring.
UofU Patient
November 26, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Excellent
UofU Patient
November 16, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Again, the communication skills of the team are excellent: highly professional with a natural ability to make you feel very important and in safe hands.
UofU Patient
November 16, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
The team is extremely caring and considerate. My wife and I constantly share with others how amazing the team is and how appreciative we have been in regard to the care provided.
UofU Patient
November 05, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Expeditious
UofU Patient
October 05, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is very personable and answered and addressed every question and concern I had with complete thoroughness and care.
UofU Patient
October 05, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I wish we could clone your center and the staff and plop it in the middle of Las Vegas. We need a center like yours in town to show everyone here how it's done.
UofU Patient
September 11, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
I was very impressed with the PA and the Doctor.
UofU Patient
September 07, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez and I are new to each other and we are still getting acquainted but my visit this day was excellent, helpful, course of care carefully discussed. I have a lot of confidence in him and he certainly did a sterling job on my biopsy not long ago. He Is clearly an outstanding physician.
UofU Patient
September 05, 2021
SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Sanchez is excellent in every way! I look forward to meeting with him!
UofU Patient
July 25, 2021
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Great experience.
Clinical Information
Dr. Alejandro Sanchez is a native of Cali, Colombia. He is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator. Dr. Sanchez specializes in the surgical care of patients with urologic cancers using open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic techniques. His practice at the Huntsman Cancer Institute primarily focuses on the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, adrenal, urethral and penile cancers.
Academic Information
Dr. Sanchez received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biochemistry. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his urologic surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Sanchez then completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he received a Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Urologic Oncology to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the association of sarcopenia (low skeletal muscle mass) and poor oncologic outcomes in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. During his fellowship, Dr. Sanchez also received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Basic Science.
As an Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Dr. Sanchez’s research efforts are primarily focused on clinical trial development and translational research.
Academic Locations
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Urology |
Education History
| Fellowship | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Urologic Oncology Fellow, 2019 |
| Certification | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Clinical Research Methodology Certificate, 2018 |
| Postdoctoral Training | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Epidemiology Visiting Scientist, 2017 |
| Residency | Massachusetts General Hospital Urologic Surgery Resident, 2016 |
| Internship | Massachusetts General Hospital General Surgery Intern, 2012 |
| Professional Medical | Harvard Medical School Medicine M.D., 2011 |
| Undergraduate | University of Florida Biochemistry and Microbiology B.S., 2006 |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Graff RE, Wilson KM, Sanchez A, Chang SL, McDermott DF, Choueiri TK, Cho E, Signoretti S, Giovannucci EL, Preston MA (2022). Obesity in Relation to Renal Cell Carcinoma Incidence and Survival in Three Prospective Studies. Eur Urol.
- Hutten R, Khouri A, Parsons M, Tward A, Wilson T, Peterson J, Morrell G, Dechet C, ONeil B, Schmidt B, Kokeny K, Lloyd S, Cannon D, Tward J, Sanchez A, Johnson S (2022). The Clinical Significance of Maximum Tumor Diameter on MRI in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy or Definitive Radiotherapy for Locoregional Prostate Cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer.
- Kaufman CS, Sanchez A, Ayyagari R (2021). Image-Guided Targeted Prostate Biopsies. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol, 24(4), 100777.
- Mano R, Duzgol C, Ganat M, Goldman DA, Blum KA, Silagy AW, Walasek A, Sanchez A, DiNatale RG, Marcon J, Kashan M, Becerra MF, Benfante NE, Coleman JA, Kattan MW, Russo P, Akin O, Ostrovnaya I, Hakimi AA (2021). Somatic mutations as preoperative predictors of metastases in patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma - An exploratory analysis. Urol Oncol, 39, 791.e17-791.e24.
- Hutten RJ, Parsons MW, Weil CR, Tward JD, Lloyd S, Sanchez A, Lester-Coll N, Johnson SB (2021). Temporal Trends and Predictors in Diagnosing Pathologic Node-Positive Prostate Cancer in Clinically Node-Negative Patients. Clin Genitourin Cancer, 19(6), e360-e366.
- Sanchez A, Agarwal N (2021). Quantifying the Costs of Care Among Patients With High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treated in the Veterans Health Administration. JAMA Netw Open, 4(3), e213816.
- Sanchez A, Furberg H (2020). Understanding the obesity paradox in cancer: looking to body composition and tumor-specific biology to understand this complex association. Am J Clin Nutr.
- Mano R, Duzgol C, Ganat M, Goldman DA, Blum KA, Silagy AW, Walasek A, Sanchez A, DiNatale RG, Marcon J, Kashan M, Becerra MF, Benfante N, Coleman JA, Kattan MW, Russo P, Akin O, Ostrovnaya I, Hakimi AA (2020). Preoperative nomogram predicting 12-year probability of metastatic renal cancer - evaluation in a contemporary cohort. Urol Oncol, 38(11), 853.e1-853.e7.
- Sanchez A, Kissel S, Coletta A, Scott J, Furberg H (2020). Impact of body size and body composition on bladder cancer outcomes: Risk stratification and opportunity for novel interventions. Urol Oncol, 38(9), 713-718.
- Kissel S, Sanchez A (2020). Editorial Comment. J Urol, 204(3), 569.
- Sanchez A, Furberg H, Kuo F, Vuong L, Ged Y, Patil S, Ostrovnaya I, Petruzella S, Reising A, Patel P, Mano R, Coleman J, Russo P, Liu CH, Dannenberg AJ, Chan TA, Motzer R, Voss MH, Hakimi AA (2019). Transcriptomic signatures related to the obesity paradox in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a cohort study. Lancet Oncol, 21(2), 283-293.
- Mano R, Flynn J, Blum KA, Silagy AW, DiNatale RG, Marcon J, Wang A, Sanchez A, Coleman JA, Russo P, Ostrovnaya I, Hakimi AA (2019). The predictive role of preoperative and postoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma. Urol Oncol, 37(12), 916-923.
- DiNatale RG, Xie W, Becerra MF, Silagy AW, Attalla K, Sanchez A, Mano R, Marcon J, Blum KA, Benfante NE, Voss MH, Motzer RJ, Coleman J, Choueiri TK, Reznik E, Russo P, Heng DYC, Hakimi AA (2019). The Association Between Small Primary Tumor Size and Prognosis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Insights from Two Independent Cohorts of Patients Who Underwent Cytoreductive Nephrectomy. Eur Urol Oncol.
- Silagy AW, Sanchez A, Manley BJ, Bensalah K, Bex A, Karam JA, Ljungberg B, Shuch B, Hakimi AA (2019). Harnessing the Genomic Landscape of the Small Renal Mass to Guide Clinical Management. Eur Urol Focus, 5(6), 949-957.
- Silagy AW, Flynn J, Mano R, Blum KA, Marcon J, DiNatale RG, Sanchez A, Carlo MI, Motzer RJ, Coleman JA, Russo P, Ostrovnaya I, Chen YB, Hakimi AA (2019). Clinicopathologic features associated with survival after cytoreductive nephrectomy for nonclear cell renal cell carcinoma. Urol Oncol, 37(11), 811.e9-811.e16.
- Gupta S, Argani P, Jungbluth AA, Chen YB, Tickoo SK, Fine SW, Gopalan A, Al-Ahmadie HA, Sirintrapun SJ, Sanchez A, Hakimi AA, Mcfarlane T, Salazar PA, Williamson SR, Skala SL, Mehra R, Hes O, Antonescu CR, Ladanyi M, Arcila ME, Reuter VE (2020). TFEB Expression Profiling in Renal Cell Carcinomas: Clinicopathologic Correlations. Am J Surg Pathol, 43(11), 1445-1461.
- DiNatale RG, Sanchez A, Hakimi AA, Reznik E (2019). Metabolomics informs common patterns of molecular dysfunction across histologies of renal cell carcinoma. Urol Oncol.
- Hakimi AA, Voss MH, Kuo F, Sanchez A, Liu M, Nixon B, Vuong L, Ostrovnaya I, Chen YB, Reuter VE, Riaz N, Cheng Y, Patel P, Marker M, Reising A, Li M, Chan TA, Motzer RJ (2019). Genomic and transcriptomic predictors of tyrosine kinase inhibitor response in the COMPARZ phase III trial. Cancer Discov, 9(4), 510-25.
- Hakimi AA, Voss MH, Kuo F, Sanchez A, Liu M, Nixon BG, Vuong L, Ostrovnaya I, Chen YB, Reuter V, Riaz N, Cheng Y, Patel P, Marker M, Reising A, Li MO, Chan TA, Motzer RJ (2019). Transcriptomic Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment Reveals Distinct Subgroups of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer: Data from a Randomized Phase III Trial. Cancer Discov, 9(4), 510-525.
- Sanchez A, Feldman AS, Hakimi AA (2018). Current Management of Small Renal Masses, Including Patient Selection, Renal Tumor Biopsy, Active Surveillance, and Thermal Ablation. J Clin Oncol, 36(36), 3591-3600.
- Kashan M, Ghanaat M, Htker AM, Duzgol C, Sanchez A, DiNatale RG, Blum KA, Becerra MF, Manley BJ, Casuscelli J, Chiok M, Coleman JA, Russo P, Tickoo SK, Akin O, Hakimi AA (2018). Cystic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Report on Outcomes of Surgery and Active Surveillance in Patients Retrospectively Identified on Pretreatment Imaging. J Urol, 200(2), 275-282.
- Graff RE, Cho E, Preston MA, Sanchez A, Mucci LA, Wilson KM (2018). Dietary Acrylamide Intake and Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Two Large Prospective Cohorts. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 27(8), 979-982.
- Graff RE, Sanchez A, Tobias DK, Rodrguez D, Barrisford GW, Blute ML, Li Y, Sun Q, Preston MA, Wilson KM, Cho E (2018). Type 2 Diabetes in Relation to the Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma Among Men and Women in Two Large Prospective Cohort Studies. Diabetes Care, 41(7), 1432-1437.
- Mendonca SJ, Sanchez A, Blum KA, Ghanaat M, Kashan MY, Benfante N, Russo P, Coleman JA, Crago AM, Hakimi AA (2018). The association of renal cell carcinoma with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. J Surg Oncol, 117(8), 1716-1720.
- Sanchez A, Wszolek MF, Niemierko A, Clayman RH, Drumm M, Rodrguez D, Feldman AS, Dahl DM, Heney NM, Shipley WU, Zietman AL, Efstathiou JA (2018). Incidence, Clinicopathological Risk Factors, Management and Outcomes of Nonmuscle Invasive Recurrence after Complete Response to Trimodality Therapy for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. J Urol, 199(2), 407-415.
- Graff RE, Sanchez A, Tobias DK, Rodrguez D, Barrisford GW, Blute ML, Li Y, Sun Q, Preston MA, Wilson KM, Cho E (2018). The association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and fatal RCC in two prospective cohorts. Diabetes Care.
- Feldman AS, Meyer CP, Sanchez A, Krasnova A, Reznor G, Menon M, Kibel AS, Choueiri TK, Lipsitz SR, Sun M, Trinh QD (2017). Morbidity and Mortality of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Population Based Analysis Comparing Radical Prostatectomy versus External Beam Radiation. J Urol, 198(5), 1061-1068.
- Sanchez A, Schoenfeld JD, Nguyen PL, Fiorentino M, Chowdhury D, Stampfer MJ, Sesso HD, Giovannucci E, Mucci LA, Shui IM (2016). Common variation in BRCA1 may have a role in progression to lethal prostate cancer after radiation treatment. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis, 19(2), 197-201.
- Sanchez A, Rodriguez D, Allard CB, Bechis SK, Sullivan RJ, Boeke CE, Kuppermann D, Cheng JS, Barrisford GW, Preston MA, Feldman AS (2016). Primary genitourinary melanoma: Epidemiology and disease-specific survival in a large population-based cohort. Urol Oncol, 34(4), 166.e7-14.
- Hanske J, Sanchez A, Schmid M, Meyer CP, Abdollah F, Roghmann F, Feldman AS, Kibel AS, Sammon JD, Noldus J, Trinh QD, Eswara JR (2015). Comparison of 30-day perioperative outcomes in adults undergoing open versus minimally invasive pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction: analysis of 593 patients in a prospective national database. World J Urol, 33(12), 2107-13.
- Kreydin EI, Kim MM, Barrisford GW, Rodriguez D, Sanchez A, Santiago-Lastra Y, Ko DS (2015). Urinary Lignans Are Associated With Decreased Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women. Urology, 86(4), 716-20.
- Hanske J, Sanchez A, Schmid M, Meyer CP, Abdollah F, Feldman AS, Kibel AS, Sammon JD, Menon M, Eswara JR, Noldus J, Trinh QD (2015). A Comparison of 30-Day Perioperative Outcomes in Open Versus Minimally Invasive Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Analysis of 896 Patients from the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. J Endourol, 29(9), 1052-8.
- Sanchez A, Wszolek MF (2015). Bladder cancer: Quality of life in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Nat Rev Urol, 12(4), 186-8.
- Rodrguez D, Barrisford GW, Sanchez A, Preston MA, Kreydin EI, Olumi AF (2014). Primary spermatic cord tumors: disease characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes. Urol Oncol, 32(1), 52.e19-25.
- Sanchez A, Eisner BH (2013). Editorial comment. Urology, 82(6), 1318.
- Sanchez A, Eisner BH (2013). Re: Visceral fat is correlated with prolonged operative time in laparoscopic single-site adrenalectomy and laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Urology, 82(6), 1318.