abstract: The last years were characterized by efforts on the field of urological oncology: development of highly effective regimens for the curative treatment of metastatic diseases, improvement of diagnostic techniques based on monoclonal antibodies and molecularbiological techniques, development of operative techniques to improve quality of life in tumor patients. The cisplatin-based chemotherapy led to a dramatic improvement in patients with even extended testicular cancer disease and reflect one of the major highlights in urological oncology in the last century. Based on monoclonal antibodies and molecular techniques, diagnostic approach changed for prostatic carcinoma by using prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and for testicular cancer by determining alfa fetoprotein (AFP) and beta human choreongonadotropin (beta-HCG). These marker systems are of importance for treatment decision and follow up. Other efforts were revealed in the development of operative techniques with an improvement of quality of life (urinary bladder substitution, potency sparing operative techniques) and the possibility of organ preserving treatment in renal cell carcinoma. Copyright 2000 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Essen.
authors.forename: H.
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rübben