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High-level experts join forces to form the International Prostate Cancer Group
Cologne, January 24, 2007 - The West German Prostate Center Cologne, together with the New York Prostate Institute, has given the go-ahead for the International Prostate Cancer Group (IPG) research cooperation. The goal of this alliance of prostate cancer specialists from Germany and the USA is to optimize the quality of prostate cancer treatment through scientific cooperation, information exchange and patient counseling.
"The focus of the international cooperation is the coordination and implementation of joint research projects in the field of prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy," explains Stephan Neubauer, senior physician at the West German Prostate Center in Cologne and one of the initiators of the IPG. The research focus is on brachytherapy, an innovative method of modern radiation therapy. Internal" radiation has been used in Germany since 2000 for the treatment of prostate cancer and has since established itself as a recognized and particularly gentle procedure. The West German Prostate Center is one of the pioneers in Germany of this forward-looking form of treatment.
From research into practice
"Today, cutting-edge research is only possible through international collaboration," emphasizes Louis Potters, Medical Director of the renowned New York Prostate Institute. The IPG uses an international network to conduct transnational scientific studies and discuss current research findings together with expert colleagues at international events. "Our concern is to translate new medical findings into practice in a timely manner," Potters adds.
Each expert of the International Prostate Cancer Group has access to the anonymized patient data and thus insight into the respective course of the disease. The advantage of this is that if a patient has an unclear diagnosis or a complicated tumor, this is discussed in a multidisciplinary scientific committee and the further course of action is jointly determined. "The professional exchange with experts from the U.S. and Europe will help us to predict the course of the disease even better in the future and to offer a customized therapy for our patients," emphasizes Neubauer. Conversely, patients with prostate cancer from Germany and abroad also have the opportunity to benefit from the medical knowledge of the experts and to obtain a competent and independent second opinion.
The heart of the IPG is the joint homepage, which is continuously populated with current information and serves as a discussion platform for physicians, patients and interested parties. "The Internet offers patients a flood of information that is difficult to assess and classify. Our concern is therefore to offer up-to-date information on the subject of prostate cancer in a comprehensible and transparent manner," emphasizes Neubauer.
The aim of the "International Prostate Cancer Group" is to integrate even more international know-how in the future and to cooperate with other renowned institutes from Europe, the USA and Canada.