The Urologic Oncology Group provides a national multidisciplinary forum for clinicians and researchers involved across the spectrum of urologic malignancies to come together to discuss initiatives in treatment and management and to develop collaborative basic and clinical research programs. The group continues to aim to be inclusive and welcomes anyone with an interest in research, management or treatment of these cancers.
The management of urologic cancers has changed rapidly over recent years. Treatments for bladder cancer have evolved considerably and new therapeutics are available for kidney and prostate cancer. Even in testicular cancer, where outcomes are already excellent, new opportunities for collaboration and improvement of care continue to arise. The optimal care of all patients with urologic malignancies is best performed in the context of a multidisciplinary group comprising urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, pathologists, palliative physicians, and many disciplines within allied health. In the past, many of these groups did not ever see patients with some types of urologic cancers; now, it is increasingly recognised that they all have very important parts to play. Consumers are playing an ever increasing and important role in setting priorities for research and use of public funds.
Opportunities and activities for the COSA Urologic Oncology Group
1. COSA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2008
The COSA ASM held in Adelaide in November 2007 had a very significant focus on urologic cancers, with eminent international and local speakers. The 2008 ASM to be held in Sydney in November will include an intergroup symposium across two sessions entitled, “Multidisciplinary and evidence based care for urologic cancers.” The first session will include various COSA groups and will concentrate on prostate cancer. The second session will be held jointly with IACR and will involve epidemiology and basic science. We encourage all interested people to register, submit abstracts, and enjoy what will be an exciting and interesting meeting.
2. The Australian Prostate and Urogenital Cancer Group (APUG)
APUG is a new national cooperative trials group in urologic oncology research, funded initially by s seed grant from the Victorian Cancer Agency. APUG will be merging with the Australian and New Zealand Germ Cell Trials Group before the end of 2008 to form a powerful resource for clinical research in urologic cancers.
The first study for the group will be the SORCE trial of adjuvant sorafenib in intermediate or high risk renal cell carcinoma being run by MRC UK. This will be sponsored in Australia by the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre and several Australian and New Zealand sites will be involved in the study.
Other trial opportunities are also becoming apparent and we will continue to place the group in a leadership position for these.
3. Research opportunities
The Group encourages its members to consider ways of setting up collaborative research opportunities with other group members or to establish new external links. Subcommittees are being established to facilitate bioinformatics and tissue acquisition
Chair: A/Prof Ian Davis
For more details regarding this group or to become a member please contact us at: cosa@cancer.org.au.