ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU) - Oncology Scientific And Educational Conference And Cancer Patient Seminar

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 13 Jun 2008 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Cancer experts and patients are gathering in Switzerland next month for the 2nd ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU), where they will discuss the latest advances in the treatment and prevention of diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.

Following the success of the 2007 ECLU Conference, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) will host around 600 doctors and researchers at a four-day meeting featuring highlights presentations on the most common tumor types plus educational sessions addressing key issues such as cancer and pregnancy, human papillomavirus vaccines, cancer stem cells and biomarkers.

New data on cancer prevention, treatment and survival will be presented in poster symposia and other sessions, where highlights include:

- a study showing how changes in tumor cell count can identify which prostate cancer patients are benefitting from treatment;

- a large study of male breast cancer; and

- an analysis of data comparing treatments for aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

On the opening day of the conference, a symposium hosted by the European School of Oncology (ESO) will focus on the important topic of treating breast cancer in young women, followed by a keynote lecture on how far we have come in terms of helping patients who survive cancer, by Professor Sophie Fossa from the Norwegian Radium Hospital.

Over the following days, world leading experts will present the most recent updates on lung, prostate, colorectal, breast, head and neck cancers and brain tumors.

"An important focus of this meeting is to further educate oncologists at an early stage of their careers," said ESMO President José Baselga, Spain. In line with this objective, two Masterclass sessions will address the practical needs of young oncologists, discussing the benefits of translational research and how to effectively use the internet for daily clinical practice.

"We have carefully designed an interactive program, where faculty can disseminate the major recent advances in oncology and young doctors will have the opportunity to actively participate with questions," said Nicholas Pavlidis, Greece, chair of the conference working group.

Along with the scientific conference, ESMO will also be running its well-known Patient Seminar, which represents a vital opportunity for cancer patients and families to interact and communicate with doctors and other patients about treatment opportunities as well as the psycho-social aspects related to the disease.

Notes

1. The 2008 ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU) will be held at Palazzo dei Congressi Lugano, Piazza Indipendenza 4, 6901 Lugano, Switzerland. Thanks to the City of Lugano, all registered ECLU participants will be able to use Lugano public transportation free of charge during the period of the Conference. Shuttle buses will be organized for official hotels situated outside the city.

2. A fully equipped press room will be in operation at the conference with Internet access and telephone lines for registered reporters. Journalists will have the possibility to schedule one-on-one interviews with top speakers and presenters of the studies, both in presence and remotely. Please contact the ESMO Communication Dept. at media@esmo.org to already find out about the preliminary timetable or to book a telephone hook up. The press conference program will be available soon. The conference full program is available here.

To register for the conference as a media representative, please visit here and send the Complimentary Media Registration form to the ESMO Head Office within Monday, 30 June to benefit from pre-registration. On-site registration will also be possible at the registration desks.

3. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the leading European non-profit, professional organization for medical oncology with a focus on promoting multidisciplinary cancer treatment around the world.

ESMO unites medical oncologists and other oncology specialists, healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients, policy-makers, the media and other key stakeholders in a global alliance committed to advocating for equal access to high quality prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for all patients. Thanks to its state-of-the-art education and training programs, ESMO plays an instrumental role in providing the oncology community with the most up-to-date scientific research and information available. Annals of Oncology, ESMO's flagship journal, ranks among the leading clinical oncology journals worldwide. ESMO is dedicated to educating and supporting oncologists, optimizing patient care, disseminating cancer-specific information to the public, and advocating patient rights. As an authoritative voice in the fight against cancer, ESMO provides both the platform and the consultative expertise to influence national and international organizations as well as European authorities, in order to establish common standards for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment.

European Society for Medical Oncology