EAU, ESMO and ESTRO to organise 2nd EMUC meeting in Barcelona in November

Barcelona is getting ready for the 2nd European Multidisciplinary Meeting on
Urological Cancers (EMUC), which will be held from 26 to 29 November 2009.
As in 2007, 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).

Again we will be witnessing a landmark gathering of cancer specialists from various disciplines. With the participation of affiliated medical professionals, practitioners and representatives from the industry, the 1st EMUC provided proof that we can benefit from closer cooperation between these organisations in order to facilitate new research and improve the treatment of urological malignant disorders. Professor Manfred Wirth (Dresden, Germany), EAU representative, and Professor Joaquim Bellmunt (Barcelona, Spain) of the ESMO talk about the background of the upcoming meeting and their hopes and expectations.

Q: What medical specialty areas overlap most between urologists, medical
oncologists and radiotherapists?
“Most overlap can be found in the fields of prostate cancer and bladder cancer”, says Professor Bellmunt. “And especially in patients from the intermediate risk group, sometimes even from the high risk group. Oncology treatment is like a diamond; it
has many facets. For example, in prostate cancer the urologist starts working with the patient. He is responsible for the treatment at the early stages. He is essential in the decision making process. Later on, the radiotherapist is involved, followed by the medical oncologist.”

Professor Wirth: “In the treatment of cancer, medical oncologists and radiooncologists are partners; they need to cooperate. The pathologist and other diagnostic specialists are responsible for a correct diagnosis.”

Bellmunt: “In advanced disease the medical oncologist plays a major role. Palliative care issues are relevant in that phase. In patients with an intermediate or high risk and comorbidities there is a role for radiotherapists. It is a continuum with different
percentages of involvement depending on the patient and his disease; thus the comparison with a diamond and its facets.”

Q: What was the main result from the 1st EMUC meeting?
“It proved to be a perfect way to get all specialties together, without friction or fights”, says Bellmunt. “It was a smooth congress; all specialties were represented. Because the collaboration between oncologists, radiologists, urologists and radiotherapists was good, we decided to organise a second EMUC meeting. Pharmaceutical companies involved in urology, oncology and radiotherapy recognise the success and provide support for the different disciplines”.

Professor Wirth applauded the first joint multidisciplinary meeting. “In 2007, we showed that the future of uro-oncology is to work together to get the best possible treatment for the patient. I sincerely hope to welcome more medical oncologists this
time. It would be beneficial for the meeting”, he said.

Q: Which promotional efforts does your organisation undertake to attract delegates, sponsors and/or journalists to the EMUC meeting?

Professor Wirth: “Obviously we advertise the meeting in medical magazines, websites etc. Generally, the sponsors and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole are keen on the multidisciplinary approach since they are convinced that this is the
future. After all, the multidisciplinary approach is the best way to treat patients. The sponsors are happy to be able to promote their products at such a meeting.”

“The ESMO follows the same procedure we do to promote other meetings. We advertise to promote the congress as much as we can. We publish in journals, newsletters, handouts, etc. The main target group are medical professionals”, says
Bellmunt.

Q: How do your organisation’s staff members feel about the EMUC?
“At ESMO we are used to organising an increasing number of combined congresses such as the EMUC and the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) - ESMO meeting in Berlin (DE). ESMO feel that a multidisciplinary approach of oncological diseases is
crucial. So bringing together surgeons, radiation therapists, medical oncologists etc is the future for all of us!”, says Bellmunt.
Wirth: “At the last EMUC meeting all EAU staff was very enthusiastic. Expectations are that the upcoming EMUC meeting in November will be at least as good as the previous one.”

Q: What do you expect of future EMUC meetings?
Wirth: “I expect that the multidisciplinary approach we have taken will prove to be the future in uro-oncology. I feel that urology will continue to play a major role, since we treat only urological patients; medical oncologists and radio-oncologists treat all kind
of patients. This makes us true specialists with indispensable experience.” “Of course, it depends largely on the success of the 2nd EMUC meeting; if it is successful, the meeting’s added value is confirmed. We expect many people to
attend, but we will only know for sure once they are actually there”, says Bellmunt. “In the end, the multidisciplinary approach will prevail - in my opinion. We all need each other, we cannot work alone. This particularly applies to working with patients
who suffer from comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach is already standard procedure in the major European hospitals. Now we need to take it to places where it is not yet standard.”

For more information about the 2nd EMUC meeting, please visit www.emucbarcelona2009.org.