H. Van Poppel MD, PhD

Implications of EU Council Recommendations on Prostate Cancer Screening

SUMMARY

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant health challenge for men globally and is the number two cancer-related killer of men in Northern and Western Europe. Over the years, researchers have conducted several randomised trials in order to assess the impact of screening for PCa on disease-specific mortality. Historical screening trials mainly relied on relatively simple protocols that used fixed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) thresholds and/or digital rectal examination for the indication to perform a biopsy. Current PCa screening practices across European Union (EU) member states vary in approaches and implementations. However, opportunistic PCa screening, which is associated with no significant decrease in mortality but a risk of overdiagnosis, is still prevalent. In 2022, the EU Council published updated recommendations, which incorporated PCa screening and encouraged evidence-based and person-centred cancer screening programmes. In alignment with these guidelines, the PRAISE-U project is committed to rationalising PCa screening in Europe.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2024;18(3):82–8)

EMUC23: Expert multidisciplinary discussions in GU cancer diagnosis and treatment

SUMMARY

The 15^th European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC23) took place in Marseille, France, from 2 to 5 November 2023, bringing together various medical specialists dedicated to the care of genitourinary (GU) cancer patients. Expert medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists, urologists and radiologists participated in the multidisciplinary panel discussions. This article aims to provide an overview of the GU cancer diagnosis, treatment updates, and case discussions deliberated during the congress.

(Belg J Med Oncol 2024;18(2):65–7)

A collective report of EMUC21 and ESUI21: Critical updates, highlights and hot topics

SUMMARY

The 13^th European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC21) and the 9th Meeting of the EAU Section of Urological Imaging (ESUI21), two events where interdisciplinary expertise and innovation culminated, took place in Athens, Greece from 25 to 28 November 2021. This article provides a collective report of the events’ vital updates and hot topics covered.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2022;16(6):307–9)

Oncology highlights of the EAU20 Virtual Congress and EAU20 Theme Week

In light of the emergence and impact of COVID-19, the European Association of Urology (EAU) redesigned its 35th Annual EAU Congress (EAU20) into two online events, EAU20 Virtual Congress and EAU20 Theme Week, which took place from 17 to 19 July 2020 and from 20 to 26 July 2020, respectively. This article is an abridged version of the events’ oncology updates featured in the peer-reviewed conference report of the Medicom Medical Publishers.

BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(7):364-7)

Early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer in well informed men: the way forward for Europe

SUMMARY

As 107,000 men died of prostate cancer in Europe in 2018, this is not an indolent disease. It is responsible for >10% of all male cancer deaths. Most men are not aware that it is possible to have asymptomatic prostate cancer and are uninformed about the existence and value of the PSA blood test. Early detection of prostate cancer reduces the mortality rate and can be easily cured without unbearable side effects and at a rather low price. Advanced cancer is less amenable for cure, with substantial side effects and a significant reduction in quality of life, and has a high chance of becoming metastatic and castrate-resistant. Treatment of this late stage disease is costly and prolongs life with on average only two years. Most importantly, the quality of life of these men is poor. The arguments against PSA testing are focused on issues related to over-diagnosis and overtreatment. These arguments have led in some countries to a decrease in testing, which in turn has led to an increase in too late diagnosis. In this paper, we present the results of clinical trials on early detection, the risks and benefits of early detection using PSA testing, and a way forward for the EU Cancer Plan using the current EAU scientific guidance on early detection as a basis. We conclude that PSA can now be used in a more clever fashion to ensure that men are diagnosed early enough to be able to prevent meaningful clinical disease, increase quality of life, and reduce costs for healthcare systems.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(7):321-6)

Update in prostate cancer 2019

SUMMARY

The prostate cancer (PCa) landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. New paradigm-shifting data are published nearly every month. This review aims to give a brief overview of the most important publications of 2018–2019. From the ever-lasting discussion about PSA screening, with the recent publication of the CAP trial, over diagnostics where multi-parametric MRI has caused a true revolution, to hypofractionation in radiotherapy and the dramatic treatment shifts in metastatic hormone sensitive and non-metastatic castrate resistant PCa. All exciting data that will change clinical practice.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2020;14(1):13–21)

EAU19: New developments in PCa imaging and trials

SUMMARY

The European Association of Urology (EAU) held its 34th Annual Congress in Barcelona from the 15–19th of March, a recurring highlight for the Association and for urology in general. While the presenting of the latest EAU Guidelines, holding meetings for its Board and Sections and setting agendas for the coming year are essential to the running of the Association, it is the latest scientific developments in urology that took centre stage in Barcelona.

Scientific Congress Office Chairman Prof Arnulf Stenzl (DE) presided over the scientific programme one last time, stepping down to join the EAU Executive as Adjunct Secretary General (Science). He was congratulated on his track record and particularly the comprehensive and diverse five-day programme that greeted the nearly 12,000 participants from 127 countries in Barcelona.

This article provides some uro-oncological highlights from the 263 different scientific sessions at EAU19. For the most complete coverage, see the on-site news reports on www.eau19.org/news.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(7):314–6)