Friday, 29 March 2008 - On Saturday morning, the prestigious Prize of the Congress President of the 23rd Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology was awarded.

The Prize of the Congress President for the best presentation on clinical urology was handed out by Professor P. Rigatti (IT), one of the congress presidents, to Professor Richard Sylvester from Belgium for his presentation on:

Long term efficacy result of EORTC GU group study 30911 comparing epirubicin, bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG), and BCG plus isoniazid in patients with intermediate and high risk stage Ta T1 papillary carcinoma of the bladder
Sylvester, R.J., Brausi, M.A., Hoeltl, W., Powell, P.H., Whelan, P., Gorlia, T., De Reijke, T.M. Supported by an educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals

The results were presented in oral session 14 entitled "Management of superficial bladder tumours". From January 1992 to February 1997, a total of 957 patients were randomized after TUR but prior to confirmation of histological stage and grade in EORTC Genito-Urinary Group phase 30911. "In patients with intermediate and high risk stage Ta and T1 bladder cancer, this trial confirms the superiority of intravesical BCG compared to intravesical chemotherapy with epirubicin not only for the short term endpoint of recurrence, but also for long-term endpoints of time to distant metastases, overall and disease specific survival. Most importantly, this study shows that BCG was more effective in the intermediate risk group patients where there has always been a controversy as to whether BCG or chemotherapy should be given," the authors summarized.

This award comes with a financial prize of € 2,500.

The event is being held at the Milano Convention Centre (MIC) in Milan (IT).