The International Consultation on Urologic Diseases (ICUD), in response to requests from the World Health Organization (WHO) and The International Union Against Cancer (UICC), spent 2 years preparing for the First Consultation on Prostatic Cancer. Experts from all disciplines accepted requests to work on over 18 committees dealing with all aspects of prostatic cancer. A preliminary meeting was held in May 1996 in the United States. In this article, highlights from the Executive Summary will be presented.