3rd ESU Masterclass Presents Insightful Updates On Urological Oncology

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Insightful updates on onco-urological issues were the focus of the 3rd ESU masterclass, which started in Barcelona on Friday 27 June. There were 150 participants who listened to a faculty of 12 internationally renowned experts in urological cancers.

The European Board of Urology (EBU) organised a written examination following the masterclass which is accredited within the EU-ACME programme. "Urology is shifting to a field where you cover everything by using non-surgical means such as brachytherapy, HIFU and laser treatment," Prof. Hein Van Poppel, one of the course directors, pointed out at the beginning of the course. The second course director was Prof. Ziya Kirkali from Turkey.

The first module focused on hormonal and intravesical treatment and chemoprevention. Prof Bertrand Tombal from Brussels started his lecture on chemoprevention. Whether lifestyle and food supplements actually impact the risk of developing prostate cancer, is under discussion. "Finasteride," Tombal underlined, "is the only preventive agent supported by EBM level 1 evidence."

Prof. Gunnar Aus from Sweden scrutinized hormonal therapy. GnRH-antagonists show faster suppression than after GnRH-agonists treatment. GnRH agonists failed to achieve castration levels of testosterone.

Immunotherapy and vaccines were the topics of Prof Peter Mulder´s lecture, which opened the second module presenting immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Indications, results and toxicity of novel target therapy were on Prof J. Bellmunt´s mind who gave the second lecture of this module.

How novel target therapies work was demonstrated by Prof Antonio Alcaraz on Saturday 28 June. He presented the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a molecular target in the treatment of renal cell cancer.

Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy and palliation is the topic of the third masterclass module. Prof. Kurt Miller from Berlin introduced cytotoxic chemotherapy, supportive care and palliative treatment to the urologists. Chemotherapy and surgery of testis cancer is Prof. Peter Alber´s topic this morning. PEB, which is the combination of Cisplatin, Etoposid and Bleomycin, belongs to the most important conventional regimens for primary chemotherapy in testis cancer. FDG-PET is standard to exclude vital tumour after chemotherapy in advanced seminoma. In the case of any visible residual mass and marker nomalization, surgical resection is indicated.

Whether chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy are possibilities to treat bladder cancer was Noel Clark´s topic at the end of the third module. With respect to locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer, Clark underlined that palliative chemotherapy is urgently recommend. However better agents are required for better treatment. He examined the benefit of adjuvant and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. He gave an overview of standard chemotherapy agents such as M-VAC, Cisplatin, Gemcitabine and the taxanes. Finally he took a closer look at elderly and poor risk patients and demanded therapeutic solutions for these patient groups.

European Association of Urology

The European Association of Urology comprises various constituent bodies, including the Executive Committee, Board and Offices. The administration of the EAU is conducted by an Executive Committee composed of active members who are elected by the General Assembly. Its decisions are carried out by the different Offices. The Executive Committee and Offices are assisted by the EAU Central Office which is run by the Executive Management.

EAU Membership is open to all professionals active in the field of urology including urological nurses. The EAU liaises closely with pan-European national urological organisations in order to optimise services to its members. Moreover, as part of its commitment to excellence in urological care, the EAU encourages urological research through its Foundation for Urological Research.

European Association of Urology