CEM highlight: Challenges in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Prof. Marko Babjuk gives a preview of his presentation on 22 October
The anniversary Central European Meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia, offers a challenging scientific programme. It covers subjects such as Rehabilitation after curative cancer treatment, Hormonal therapy of prostate cancer and Common problems in office urology. One of the many highlights is a lecture given by Professor Marko Babjuk, Challenges in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), on Friday afternoon 22 October.
Marko Babjuk is professor and chairman of the Department of Urology in Motol Hospital and of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. His main interest is in oncourology. Since most of his clinical research activities and publications are in the field of urothelial carcinoma – for example, he is vice-chairman of EAU Guidelines group on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer - he is happy to be presenting on NMIBC during the 10th CEM, held on 22 and 23 October.
Prof. Babjuk is a regular reviewer for European Urology, Urology, World Journal of Urology and Urologia Internationalis and an editorial board member of European Urology and World Journal of Urology.
Young, talented people
“For me the CEM is an important meeting. All regional meetings organised under the umbrella of the EAU provide young urologists with the unique opportunity to present their results. For some of them it is the first time they prepare an abstract or poster and present it in English”, says Prof. Babjuk.
“I myself enjoy getting a good idea of who these young, talented people from central Europe are and what kind of research and clinical activities they are involved in. That is also important for future cooperation, for example when we plan to organise local (national) meetings etc.”
Babjuk: “Another advantage is that I am able to meet friends from surrounding countries to discuss local topics. This is not feasible when we attend large meetings such as the Annual EAU Congress”.
Lecture subject
Prof. Babjuk has chosen to lecture on Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. He feels that
despite many developments in the field over the last decade and the improved experience and knowledge thanks to data from many randomized trials, the prognosis for these patients is far from ideal.
“We are faced with enormously high recurrence rates and a risk of progression that is not negligible. To achieve optimum results we should be able to critically discuss all options and developments and extrapolate them to clinical practice”, Prof. Babjuk explains.
Latest developments
New imaging techniques, such as fluorescence cystoscopy, are now available which should improve tumour detection rates and the outcomes of TURB.
“Thanks to organisations such as EORTC and CUETO and their risk tables we are now better able to predict the individual prognosis. Long-term data and meta-analyses regarding intravesical chemotherapy and BCG immunotherapy have also been presented recently. Thanks to these developments we can now better and more efficiently tailor the treatment to each individual patient”, Babjuk says. “My aim with this lecture is to summarise recent information, provide an overview and give recommendations, however complex, about the management of NMIBC”.
Expectations
The CEM has evolved tremendously over the years and its quality is still increasing. Babjuk: “I was able to attend nearly all CEM meetings since the initial one which was held in Vienna – the increase in quality of the presentations from Central European speakers is so enormous that I consider this to be one of greatest success of the EAU in the region.”