Marking its 10th year, this year’s annual European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC18) will emphasise the synergies from multidisciplinary teamwork (MDT) to highlight that comprehensive cancer care is only possible when various experts work together to identify and achieve optimal treatment strategies.
First held in 2007 as a biennial meeting, EMUC has successfully bridged the interests of experts in onco-urological diseases. Organised as an annual MDT event since 2012, EMUC is now known for providing an effective knowledge and skills-sharing platform to medical oncologists, urologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists, among other key cancer specialists.
EMUC is led by three of Europe’s frontline professional associations: the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the European Association of Urology (EAU), and the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO). Ranging from updates on new research and clinical developments to identifying best practices, the annual congress critically examines key issues in urological cancers.
Renowned US pathologist Prof. Jonathan Epstein will return to EMUC this year, which will be held for the first time in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 8 to 11 November. As Director of Surgical Pathology Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Epstein is an opinion leader in his field and is known for his body of work on precursors of prostate cancer.
Epstein will deliver a lecture on 10 November, during the session ”New developments in prostate cancer evaluation.” His lecture titled “Everything in prostate cancer pathology you were afraid to ask” is anticipated not only to provide updates in innovative pathology work but to also offer new insights to clinicians.
“My lecture will provide the forum for attendees to answer some of the more confusing and clinically important issues relating to prostate pathology,” said Epstein. Pathology experts say urological tumours are becoming more precisely classified based on a combination of morphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular findings. With new developments, treatment regimens can, therefore, be tailored more accurately to the specific subtype of the tumour, according to Epstein.
Asked to comment on inter-disciplinary events such as the EMUC, Epstein underlined the benefits to be gained through closer MDT collaboration. “The importance of MDT from the participating pathologists’ standpoint is that the meeting provides an opportunity to inform clinicians about critical and often confusing issues relating to pathology that directly impact patient care,” he said.
Epstein is not only a medical scientist but also an educator and he underscored the central role of sharing expert knowledge. “An MDT event like the EMUC gives clinicians access or a platform to ask from the top experts in the field questions related to pathology, which helps them better understand their pathology reports and better manage their patients,” he said, while adding that two-way dialogue among experts can only boost the cancer care community’s goals for optimal care.
Experts believe current collaboration among onco-urology has improved with more educational activities being held and funded by professional organisations.
The four-day EMUC will be preceded by the 7th Meeting of the EAU Section of Urological Imaging (ESUI18), the EMUC Symposium on Genitourinary Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics (ESUP), and the EAU-ESMO Bladder Cancer Consensus meeting. Organised with main congress is the EAU Prostate Cancer Consensus meeting on Active Surveillance (EPCCAS) to be held on Friday. The European School of Urology (ESU) will offer Hands-on Training and specialised courses.
