UBE sessions breaks borders with urological updates
The Urology Beyond Europe (UBE) sessions are set in motion today. Through the collaborations between the European Association of Urology (EAU) and 16 urological societies from around the world, these 15 sessions are designed to cultivate and encourage knowledge sharing of what’s crucial and relevant to the countries involved. This article provides some of the updates and insights shared during a few of the UBE sessions.
Chaired by Prof. Dr. Hwancheol Son (KR) and Prof. Dr. Axel. Merseburger (DE), the Joint Session of the EAU, and the Korean Urological Association (KUA) commenced with a welcome word from EAU Secretary General Prof. Chris Chapple (GB) and KUA President Prof. Sang Don Lee (KR).
One of the presentations on urothelial cancer was by Prof. Sangchul Lee (KR). In his presentation “What is the optimal future therapy for bladder preservation in muscle-invasive bladder cancer? New and updated protocol and outcome”, Prof. Lee stated that bladder preservation therapy offers an alternative to radical cystectomy in some patients. In addition, bladder preservation therapy can maintain quality of life and provide similar oncologic outcomes to radical surgery. However, randomised controlled trials have not been performed yet.
Prof. Lee underscored that understanding patient selection is a critical step in balancing bladder preservation and cancer survival. Furthermore, future developments in biological adaptive radiotherapy and the use of biomarkers are likely to further establish TMT (trimodal therapy) as an effective and well-tolerated treatment for MIBC (muscle-invasive bladder cancer) which empowers patients with a real choice between surgery or preserving their bladders.
During the Joint Session of the EAU and the Canadian Urological Association (CUA), Assoc. Prof. Rafael Sanchez-Salas (CA) presented the lecture “Micro-ultrasound (micro-US): Fields of endeavour in prostate assessment”. According to Prof. Sanchez-Salas, imaging is the cornerstone of the prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis pathway. Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) remains the gold standard for prostate evaluation and should be the base of an initial evaluation (when available).
He stated, “MicroUS shows clear utility in both as an addition to MRI and a replacement for MRI in some men. Furthermore, the arrival of molecular imaging should potentially improve lesion localisation and stratification in the PCa pathway. Imaging symbiosis should become the standard approach to improve diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.”
This joint EAU-CUA session was chaired by Chair of the EAU Scientific Congress Office Prof. Dr. Peter Albers (DE) and Dr. Ricardo Rendon (CA).
Spearheaded by Prof. Rafik El Kamel (TN) and Prof. Dr. Jens Rassweiler (DE), the Joint Session of the EAU and the Maghreb Union countries provided insights on the challenges in the management of small renal masses.
In his presentation, “Update on imaging of small renal masses” Prof. Francesco Sanguedolce (ES) concluded that new imaging technologies might help in distinguishing benign/malignant or indolent/aggressive small lesions. “They are mostly used as complementary tests in equivocal cases (10-20 HU [Hounsfield units] attenuation changes). Cases deemed malignant at contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) may still result in benign lesions,” said Prof. Sanguedolce. He added that DECT (dual-energy computed tomography) might replace CECT.
MRI and molecular imaging are promising imaging tests but are costly. Artificial intelligence will open new perspectives.
Due to the COVID-19-related restrictions, the UBE joint sessions with the USANZ (Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand), USI (Urological Society of India), IUA (Iranian Urological Association), PAUS (Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons), CUA (Chinese Urological Association), TUA (Taiwanese Urological Association), and JUA (Japanese Urological Association) took place virtually.
(Re)view the presentations during the UBE sessions via EAU22 On Demand on the Virtual Platform.