Francisco G. La Rosa, presented “Updates on the Latest Classifications of Urothelial Cancers” during the 24th Future Directions in Urology Symposium in August 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
How to cite: La Rosa, Francisco G. “Updates on the Latest Classifications of Urothelial Cancers.” August 2024. Accessed Nov 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/updates-on-the-latest-classifications-of-urothelial-cancers/
Updates on the Latest Classifications of Urothelial Cancers – Summary
Francisco G. La Rosa, MD, provides an overview of the historical evolution and recent updates in cancer classification.
In this 11-minute presentation, he highlights the early stages of pathology in the 1800s. Key advancements emerged with the establishment of histopathology in the early 1900s, marking significant strides in cancer characterization.
La Rosa reviews refinements in classifications, such as the 1952 Armed Forces Institute of Pathology system, the WHO’s 1973 classification, the WHO and International Society of Urological Pathology 1998 collaboration, and, finally, the 2022 WHO update. This final update represents a major advancement by incorporating molecular insights and enhancing cancer classifications’ prognostic and therapeutic implications. This edition also discards ambiguous terms like “urothelial dysplasia” and “papillary proliferation of undetermined malignant potential” to reduce diagnostic variability.
Additionally, the updated classification system includes detailed subtypes based on molecular markers, supporting a more nuanced understanding of tumor behavior. The Cancer Genome Atlas is pivotal in this molecular stratification, identifying specific cancer subtypes and associated prognostic markers.
The Future Directions in Urology Symposium (FDUS) is an annual urology think tank and non-CME educational summit that brings together industry figures and experts to discuss the current state of genitourinary care and define future directions in treatment. Dr. Dreicer delivered this educational activity during the 24th iteration of the meeting in August 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Francisco G. La Rosa, MD, FCAP, serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and is a distinguished member of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. He originally graduated as an M.D. in Lima, Peru, with Residency in Clinical Pathology, followed by Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the “University of Colorado.” He is Board Certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, and specializes in genitourinary, renal, and heart pathology. He is also recognized as an expert in pathology informatics.
Dr. La Rosa actively engages in clinical practice, research, and education with over 100 publications in refereed journals. His primary hobbies include photography and videography, both of which he has utilized for educational purposes by creating several websites dedicated to the teaching of pathology.
Dr. La Rosa holds memberships in several national and international organizations, including the College of American Pathologists, American Urological Association, Peruvian American Medical Association, Catholic Medical Association and Association for Pathology Informatics. His research involvement extends to collaboration on various research grants in genitourinary pathology, and he serves as a member and study coordinator at the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), Genitourinary Committee. Most notably, he collaborates closely with Dr. E. David Crawford and his team on cutting-edge technology for diagnosing and treating prostate and urinary cancers. As a faculty member of Grand Rounds in Urology, he actively participates in various innovative educational activities within the field of urology.
As a graduate from the Teaching Scholar Program at the University of Colorado, Dr. La Rosa imparts his knowledge to medical students, as well as pathology residents and fellows. His commitment to excellence in teaching has earned him several recognitions.
Beyond national borders, Dr. La Rosa is recognized as an Honorary Professor at the Medical School Hipolito Unanue of the National University Federico Villarreal in Lima, Peru. He also serves as the co-founder and current Administrator of the Asociación Iberoamericana de Telesalud y Telemedicina (AITT) and holds the position of founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Revista de la AITT (ISSN 2411-3840). The mission of these endeavors is to promote and coordinate programs and activities in telehealth and telemedicine among Latin American countries. Additionally, he serves on several international scientific committees and editorial boards of scientific journals, further contributing to the global advancement of pathology.
