Axel Bex

I have been working as a urologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute since 1999. Within our specialism, I take care of patients diagnosed with kidney cancer. I highly value the work environment at the institute, in particular the short lines of communication between colleagues. We all concern ourselves with oncological diseases and share the same goal. This greatly benefits the care for our patients.

After my training as a urologic surgeon at the University Hospital Essen, Germany, I focused on the management of urological tumors and kidney cancer in particular. I combine high-quality patient care with research. Within our team we study the effects of anticancer drug therapy given either before or after kidney cancer surgery on a national and international level. Our internationally leading research provided me with a multidisciplinary worldwide network of experts ensuring we offer people diagnosed with kidney cancer the best and most innovative care. This applies to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of kidney cancer.

I lead the multidisciplinary kidney cancer focus group at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, chair the Dutch kidney cancer guideline, and am vice-chair of the renal cancer guideline of the European Association of Urology (EAU). Jointly with regional hospitals (AUMC, OLVG and Spaarne hospital) we founded the Renal Cancer Network Amsterdam (NKNA) with the aim to deliver optimal personalized care to patients with kidney cancer in a common multidisciplinary tumor board. Within this network, I treat all stages of kidney cancer ranging from small localized tumors to larger, advanced renal cancers that have spread locally to lymph nodes, the major veins that carry blood into the heart or distant organs. I have more than 25 years of experience and perform about 150 kidney surgeries each year, including robotic approaches with the Da Vinci system.

As of 2019, I have been working part-time at the NKI, combining my work with my position as Clinical Lead of the Specialist Centre of Kidney Cancer at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest kidney cancer centres in Europe. In 2020 I was appointed Professor of Urology at University College London (UCL). I strive to deliver the best available treatment for each individual patient based on innovative care and research.

Roles and focus points:

• Urologic surgeon specialized in kidney cancer
• Head focus group kidney cancer at the Netherlands Cancer Institute
• Member of the Renal Cancer Network Amsterdam (NKNA)
• Chair of the Dutch renal cancer guideline
• Vice-Chair of the European Association of Urology renal cancer guideline
• Steering committee member and medical advisor of the patient advocacy group Kidney Cancer Association (KCA)
• Steering committee member and medical advisor of the patient advocacy group International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC)

Qualifications:

• 2005: PhD on combination of anticancer drug therapy and surgery for advanced renal cell carcinoma
• 2020: Professor at University College London (UCL)

Scientific publications:

Scientific publications Pubmed