Monique Roobol, PhD, presented “Prostate Cancer Screening Practices in Europe” during the 7th Global Summit on Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer on September 21, 2023.
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How to cite: Roobol, Monique “Prostate Cancer Screening Practices in Europe.” September 21, 2023. Accessed Aug 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/prostate-cancer-screening-practices-in-europe/
Prostate Cancer Screening Practices in Europe – Summary
Dr. Monique Roobol, PhD, discusses prostate cancer screening practices in Europe. She emphasizes the variability in screening protocols across different European countries and the impact of these differences on prostate cancer detection and management.
Dr. Roobol notes that while some countries have implemented organized screening programs, others rely on opportunistic screening or have no formal screening policies at all. This variability is influenced by national healthcare policies, resource availability, and differing interpretations of clinical evidence.
The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), provides significant insights into systematic screening. However, some European countries tailor screening intensity to individual risk profiles to refine screening recommendations, while others are incorporating advanced diagnostic tools, such as multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and novel biomarkers, to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection and help reduce unnecessary biopsies.
Dr. Roobol addresses the ongoing challenges in harmonizing screening practices across Europe. She discusses the need for standardized guidelines that reflect the latest evidence and technological advancements, as well as the importance of public awareness and education campaigns to ensure informed decision-making among men considering screening.
Dr. Roobol presents a comprehensive overview of prostate cancer screening practices in Europe, emphasizing the diversity of approaches and the evolving landscape of screening protocols. She underscores the importance of continued research and international collaboration to optimize screening strategies and improve prostate cancer outcomes across the continent.
The Global Summit on Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer is a unique multi-disciplinary forum organized to inform the key health care stakeholders about the emerging advances in clinical case and research and create a consensus-based vision for the future of precision care and educational and research strategy for its realization. The mission of the Summit is to fill the currently existing gap between the key experts of in vivo imaging, the world authorities in the in vitro fluid- and tissue-based molecular diagnostics, including genomics, and thought leaders in the development of novel observation strategies (e.g., active surveillance, or AS) and therapeutic interventions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monique Roobol is Professor Decision Making in Urology and the Head of the scientific research office within the Department of Urology at Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She has a masters and a PhD degree in epidemiology.
The last thirty years have been completely dedicated to research on the early detection of prostate cancer. Next to her significant contribution to the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, she co-developed the “Rotterdam Prostate Cancer Risk calculator, a multi-step risk analysis tools to guide laymen and physician in decision making at diagnosis and the study on active surveillance. (PRIAS: Prostate Cancer Research International Active Surveillance.
The scientific research office performs and supports several clinical and population-based screening studies. On average five PhD students are working under Prof. Roobol’s guidance. She is now the PI of ERSPC and co-PI of PRIAS and the Movember Global Action Plan-3 (active surveillance). Since 2018 she is part of the PIONEER European network for big data in prostate cancer. She is board member of the ERSPC Foundation, and the chairwoman of the Dutch Prostate Cancer Research Foundation (SWOP).
Prof. Roobol has (co)-authored over 350 scientific publications, book chapters and reviews. She is an advisory board member of several major trials related to prostate cancer
Prof. Roobol’s research has been awarded with several prices, such as the bi-annual “van Stockum prize” from the Dutch Urological Association for best thesis, the EAU best clinical paper of the year 2009, the European Urology Platinum Award 2011 and 2018 and the BJUI best urological mobile application award 2015.
