European Cancer Congress ESMO 2018 and Key Advances

Bringing together 26 thousand oncology professionals, the European Cancer Congress ESMO 2018 will take place on 19-23 October in Munich, Germany.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (European Society for Medical Oncology, ESMO), since its founding in 1975, has pursued its mission of supporting cancer research worldwide, particularly in Europe.

Alongside record attendance, the congress also received a record number of scientific submissions this year, and nearly 1600 original studies were accepted.

The theme of ESMO 2018 was chosen as "securing access to optimal treatment / care for every cancer patient" . Regarding the scope of the congress, ESMO President Dr. Josep Tabernerowrote the following letter:

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Our annual Congress (19-23 October) is fast approaching, and as ESMO President, it is very exciting to see this event continuing to expand in scope and depth of topics throughout the year. This year's meeting features multistakeholder discussions, the latest groundbreaking results to be announced for the first time and an outstanding forum on oncology education.

Scientific and clinical insights

To embody the theme "securing access to optimal treatment / care for every cancer patient," we all look forward to coming together in Munich to explore the latest scientific data, more affordable and sustainable models of care, and collectively advance oncology. Across a total of 21 different categories and, for the first time, a dedicated three-day nursing section organized in collaboration with the European Oncology Nursing Society, the ESMO 2018 Congress will attract oncology professionals from every specialty. The multidisciplinary framework in which our congresses take place will make this community a trusted, leading arena for scientific excellence and evidence-based debate, driven as always by a shared ambition to continuously improve patient care.

I am not alone in my positive thoughts about our Congress, and I am proud that so many colleagues recognize its value and choose it to share the results of their valuable work. Approximately 2,000 oral presentations, poster discussions and posters will feature across 200 sessions.

Maintaining the highest quality standards

ESMO aims to be prudent and forward-looking in organizing its meetings and is deeply committed to the highest quality standards. For example, clinical trials conducted outside an academic framework are clearly identified, and everyone presenting their work provides a declaration of interest. All ESMO initiatives are designed to ensure that the data and perspectives put forward rest on the strongest and most rigorous evidence.

Speaking of evidence, I am pleased to report that this year's congress program contains important insights into still-debated secondary findings from some widely discussed published studies of common cancers.

And this is only the beginning…

As a team, we will also follow the ESMO 2018 Congress on site and share developments in oncology with you.