The progress of major trials, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), and interdisciplinary best practices will comprise the scientific programme of the 16th European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC24), which will take place from 7 to 10 November 2024 in bustling Portuguese city of Lisbon.
This article provides a quick overview of what to look forward to at EMUC24.
Collaboration = EMUC24 core
Not only will the topics cover a multidisciplinary scope, the congress faculty itself will comprise experts in medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, and urology.
EMUC24 is organised through the collaborative efforts of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the European Association of Urology (EAU). These will be represented by Congress Chairs Prof. Karim Fizazi (FR), Dr. Alison Tree (GB), and EAU Secretary General Prof. Arnulf Stenzl (DE), respectively.
Frontiers in kidney cancer
This year’s edition will feature the valuable kidney cancer updates courtesy of the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA). During Plenary Sessions 4 and 7, the KCA will provide trial updates of FASTRACK, KEYNOTE-564 OS, and SUNNIFORCAST, as well as, riveting debates such as WoodFire.
Beyond the AI hype
Know about the practical applications for AI, the guidelines, and matters on ethics through Plenary Session 1 “From theory to practice: Where are we on artificial intelligence in GU tumours?”.
In addition the ESUP Symposium “Artificial Intelligence: Clinical applications”, organised by the EAU Uropathology and Urological Research sections, will cover AI’s role in genitourinary (GU) cancer pathology, spatial transcriptomics/proteomics, grading of urologic cancers, biobanking for precision medicine, and computational personalised medicine, to name a few.
Delegates will also receive the AI-related developments from the EAU Imaging Section during the ESUI Plenary Session 1 “Artificial intelligence: Is it ready for screening? The ProCancer-I experience”.
A clearer picture
“As the prostate cancer screening programmes in Europe will start in the next few years, we will provide EMUC24 delegates with updates on the most important current initiatives/studies and insights on the challenges in the field of imaging,” stated EAU Imaging Section Chair Prof. Francesco Sanguedolce (IT). “New recommendations from the EAU Guidelines such as strategies (e.g., regional biopsy) and approaches (e.g., trasperineal vs transrectal) for imaging-guided prostate biopsy will be provided. Additionally, a special focus on practice-changing imaging studies, with special regard to the PRIME study, is to be expected.
According to Prof. Sanguedolce, new and exciting imaging tools are emerging, especially for bladder cancer. Developments will be presented at the congress in an interactive session that will offer delegates practical guidance on who, when, and how to benefit from tools such as bladder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for diagnosis, patients stratification, and systemic treatment response assessment. Aside from AI, the other hot topic will also include radioguided surgery.
Fellowship in Anatomic deLineation and CONtouring (FALCON) Workshop
For clinical or radiation oncologists who want to improve their contouring skills and refresh their knowledge, the FALCON Workshop by ESTRO is a must-attend. This delineation workshop will focus on the optimal contouring for the prostate, nodes, and post-operative radiotherapy in prostate cancer. Experts radiation oncologist Prof. Thomas Zilli, (CH) together with radiotherapists Dr. David Buchser (ES) and Prof. Valerie Fonteyne (BE) will spearhead the workshop.
To join, simply add the workshop to your EMUC24 registration.
The power of soft skills
Improve effective patient communication, boost empathy, and learn leadership strategies during the YAU Soft Skills Session organised by the Young Academic Urologists (YAU), Young ESTRO (Y-ESMO), and Young ESTRO (Y-ESTRO).
European School of Urology (ESU) courses
Two popular ESU courses will complement the EMUC24 programme. ESU course 1: Oligometastatic treatment in genitourinary tumours (bladder, renal, prostate) will centre on the radiotherapeutic management of oligometastases in GU tumours, salvage surgical treatment, and the role of systemic therapy in oligometastatic disease. ESU Course 2: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments in genitourinary tumours will offer neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment in renal, bladder cancer, and high-risk localised prostate cancer, as well as, eye-opening clinical cases.
You can also include the courses in your EMUC24 registration.
