Uro-oncology management issues, debates top ESOU agenda in London

Thu, 20 Jan 2011

The 8th EAU Section of Oncological Urology (ESOU) meeting to be held in London next week from January 21 to 23 will feature a diverse programme that includes head-to-head debates, state-of-the-art lectures, panel discussions and demonstrations of surgical techniques to be presented by opinion leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.

"This meeting promises to be a very exciting and stimulating congress. The opening address will be given by Prof. Sir Mike Richards, the UK Department of Health`s National Cancer director. An international faculty of 53 specialists will be presenting and debating topical issues in the diagnosis and management of cancers of the kidney, bladder, prostate gland, testis and penis," said Mr. Simon Brewster, who chairs this year`s ESOU meeting.

Brewster added that aside from the cutting-edge scientific sessions that will cover issues in prostate, bladder, renal, penile and testicular cancers, the three-day meeting will feature for the first time a by-invitation only event called the "STEPS Meet-the-Expert Session." The two-hour session, scheduled on Saturday noon, 22 January, will gather a selected panel of young urologists and an eminent group of senior urologists to discuss management topics in onco-urology.

According to the ESOU, the new session will offer an innovative educational opportunity for the participants to discuss `hot topics` in the management of patients with established leaders in the field.

The 15 selected participants will be divided into three groups to discuss bladder, prostate and renal cancer issues, with each discussion group chaired by Professors Richard Hautman, Laurent Boccon-Gibod and Michael Marberger, respectively. The participants will also have the chance to meet some members of the ESOU Board.

Outside the scientific programme, the ESOU will recognise and grant prizes to the best European uro-oncological papers published in 2010. At the close of the meeting Lifetime Achievement awards will be bestowed upon two senior uro-oncologists for their significant contribution to European urology.

More than 700 participants are expected to attend the ESOU meeting which annually attracts an increasing number of registrations amongst urologists and oncology professionals in and outside Europe. At least 550 participants attended ESOU`s 2010 meeting in Vienna where Professors Fritz Schröder and Hautmann were honoured with lifetime achievement awards.