AUA2022 announces first bladder cancer forum

Bladder cancer is always a major topic for AUA’s Annual Meeting, with multiple research presentations, panel discussions and lectures. AUA2022, however, marks the first time the AUA has developed a dedicated forum in conjunction with the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) to explore the latest, most practical clinical developments and approaches in bladder cancer.

“The goal is to tackle the hottest clinical controversies in bladder cancer that are relevant to the practicing urologist,” said Ashish M. Kamat, MD, MBBS, FACS, president of IBCG and endowed professor of urologic oncology and cancer research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “The Forum aims to clarify controversies in management of bladder cancer from a practice viewpoint, focusing on topics attendees can use when they get back to their practice to help them move the needle in patient care right now.”

Dr. Kamat will co-chair the Bladder Cancer Forum on Sunday, May 15, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with Sima Porten, MD, MPH, FACS, associate editor of the IBCG Newsletter and associate professor of urology at the University of California, San Francisco. The case-based format of the Forum features 6 rapid-fire debates interspersed with 3 state-of-the-art lectures.

The condensed, practice-focused approach is based on successful forums created by Dr. Kamat for the European Association of Urology (EAU) over the last 5 years. Several IBCG members have volunteered to participate in the AUA Forum.

AUA2022 attendees can expect a full afternoon of practical, focused topics such as active surveillance in nonmuscle-invasive disease, a master class on transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), the role of surgery in metastatic disease, the nuances of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive disease and bladder conservation in appropriate settings. The debate and lecture formats have all been condensed to focus on the key clinical approaches to familiar conundrums from global leaders in bladder cancer management.

“Even the state-of-the-art lectures are not your standard lectures,” Dr. Kamat explained. “The experts will give concise 10-minute presentations, and then another expert will provide a critique to make it even more practical and to help our attendees focus on the things that you can do today to help your patients.”

The condensed format is based on attendee feedback from prior IBCG and EAU bladder cancer forums, he said. Attendees reported that they learned the most from the rapid-fire, case-based debate grounded in the common controversies that urologists face day after day.

“The other key ingredient is the range of international bladder cancer-focused faculty who will bring their unique global experience to the table,” Dr. Kamat said. “This collaboration between the AUA and the IBCG is designed to bring to our attendees at AUA2022 not just the latest developments in bladder cancer, but, especially, clear and practical advice on how to manage the difficult, yet common, bladder cancer controversies we often face.” 

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