Collaboration with other groups (2009 - 2010)
Other EORTC Groups
The long-standing successful collaboration with the Radiation Oncology Group will be continued in
yet another large trial in prostate cancer patients (EORTC 30041-22034, M. Bolla and H. van Poppel
are the principal investigators).
Medical Research Council (MRC) and other global Cooperative Groups
The existing close collaboration with the MRC will be continued (SORCE trial). Recent contacts
with members of SWOG (Southwest Oncology Group) may mark increased close collaboration with
that Group. Collaboration with other international Groups will be explored to develop a stronger
intergroup network which will be in a better position to explore the efficacy of new forms of
treatment in rarer uro-oncological diseases in a more rapid manner in keeping with the new era.
Ways to implement a fast track system for approving and quickly setting up pharma-sponsored trials
will be further explored.
European Association of Urology (EAU)
Collaboration with other clinical research groups within Europe such as with the EAU is also being explored. There is already a link between the GU Group and the EAU (affiliated membership and
presentation of GU Group data during the annual EAU Congress) and collaboration with the EAU
Research Foundation would enhance this connection and facilitate the exploration of possible joint
studies.
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
Recently the Group has started to explore a close collaboration with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive
Cancer Center in New York (Prof. C. Cordon-Cardo) aimed at studies in both prostate and renal
cancer. In prostate cancer, collaboration will focus on the validation of early studies on the predictive
accuracy of the “systems pathology” approach which will be instrumental in designing novel future
studies.