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 as we develop a greater understanding of the biology of these diseases. New therapeutics are available for kidney and prostate cancer and treatment for bladder cancer is also evolving. 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 other disciplines within medical and 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.
In 2011 the Group held a Clinical Professional Day on the 14 November in Perth. Please click here to read the report.
Chair: A/Prof Ian Davis
Group Resources
Join COSA now
Contact COSA for more information about this group.
Clinicians and researchers involved across the spectrum of urologic malignancies are welcome to join this group. COSA membership comes with a range of member benefits.
To become a member of this group select the Urologic Oncology membership box on the COSA joining form. Current members can join this group by selecting the Urologic Oncology membership box in update profile in the members’ area.
Opportunities and activities for the COSA Urologic Oncology Group
1. COSA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM)
Since its inception, the COSA Urologic Oncology group has had a substantial presence at COSA ASMs even when genitourinary cancer was not a featured theme of the meeting. The group has held symposia including visiting international speakers and has had a significant presence in the submitted abstracts. We encourage all interested people to register, submit abstracts, and enjoy what is always an exciting and interesting meeting.
2. The Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group Ltd (ANZUP)
ANZUP is a national cooperative trials group in urologic oncology research, funded initially by a seed grant from the Victorian Cancer Agency and now with funding from Cancer Australia under its Support for Cancer Clinical Trials Program. ANZUP has several active studies including four studies in testicular cancer (phase II accelerated BEP; aprepitant; Chemo & Cognition; Survivorship [in conjunction with PoCoG); one in prostate cancer (the RAVES study in prostate cancer being run jointly with TROG and USANZ); two in renal cell carcinoma (the SORCE trial of adjuvant sorafenib in intermediate or high risk renal cell carcinoma being run by MRC UK; and EVERSUN, involving alternating sunitinib and everolimus). Several other trial concepts are under development including opportunities to collaborate with other groups and we will continue to foster these opportunities. ANZUP wishes to develop further research ideas from within its membership and you are invited to participate in this process.
3. Research grant opportunities
In 2009 COSA was pleased to partner with sanofi-aventis to host the "Advancing Care for Prostate Patients" research grants. These grants were available to nursing and/or allied health professionals and the aim was to improve the outcomes of prostate cancer patients by the development of sustainable processes, in a patient-based project with a research component. This was a highly successful initiative and COSA is pleased and proud that it has continued in 2010.
4. Other 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.
