Experts agree that the urological cancer patient will benefit greatly if the delivered treatment is the result of a combined effort. Collaboration of experts from various fields is, therefore, necessary to take cancer-related research and medical practice to the next level. The 2nd European Multidisciplinary Meeting on Urological Cancers (EMUC) - Embracing Excellence in Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancer - which is to take place on 27-29 November 2009 in Barcelona (ES), brings together urologists, radiologists and medical oncologists by enabling them to share their knowledge and experience. The meeting is organised by the European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) and was first held two years ago.
With the objective to facilitate multidisciplinary approaches that aim to optimise diagnostic, therapeutic and preventional interventions directed towards malignant disorders in the urogenital tract, the 2nd EMUC Meeting will feature presentations on the latest research from selected, translational and clinical abstracts, as well as related scientific and educational sessions.
"Meetings such as these are of great significance in promoting further scientific collaboration, not just on an international level, but even more so between the various experts working in the challenging and fast evolving fields of prostate, bladder and renal cell cancer", says Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson from Malm- (SE), member of the EMUC Organising Steering Committee on behalf of the EAU.
Screening for prostate cancer, a much debated subject with far-reaching consequences, is one of the interesting issues on the meeting's agenda. According to Prof. Jos- Baselga, Barcelona (ES), member of the EMUC Organising Steering Committee on behalf of the ESMO: "New compounds for the treatments of castrate-resistant prostate cancer and advanced renal cell carcinoma will be discussed. Furthermore, subjects such as urine markers in the screening of bladder cancer and new systemic treatment modalities in advanced bladder cancer are highlighted in State-of-the-art lectures and debates during the meeting".
The meeting enables experts to present the most recent advances in prostate, bladder and renal cell cancer and spans the entire field; from bench research to clinical applications which should be of interest to both clinicians and basic scientists. The future of European (and worldwide) urological cancer research will largely depend on advances in these fields.
"The involvement of world experts in their fields, the broad spectrum of topics discussed - including biology, prevention, diagnosis, therapy and quality of life issues - should guarantee comprehensive coverage", says Prof. Michael Baumann, Dresden (DE), member of the EMUC Organising Steering Committee on behalf of the ESTRO.
A multidisciplinary approach in urooncological patient care will eventually become an essential part of routine health care. For that reason, collaboration between academia, health care providers in general, but especially among urologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists will be the future.
Barcelona - with its many cultural and culinary wonders - will be an entertaining and interesting backdrop for this meeting.
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