Innovations Presented at the European Oncology Congress ESMO 2016

The European Society for Medical Oncology (European Society for Medical Oncology = ESMO) is one of the world’s two leading professional cancer organizations. It has members from 130 countries, numbering more than 13 thousand oncology professionals. Since its founding in 1975, it has pursued the mission of supporting cancer research and oncology professionals with different specialties and experience from across the world, particularly Europe.

Average life expectancy is increasing worldwide. Cancer incidence is increasing largely because of longer life expectancy, as well as failure to achieve tobacco control and increasing obesity. So much so that, as of this year, in 12 European countries, the number of deaths due to cancer has exceeded the number due to cardiovascular diseases. With this striking increase in cancer incidence and the contribution of advances in science, our desire to treat cancer is greater than at any other time in history.

Both scientific and public awareness are the most important motivators of cancer research. International annual meetings that bring together oncology professionals are among the most important steps toward removing the boundaries of science in the fight against this disease, which recognizes neither borders nor social classes. These annual congresses provide a platform acting as a bridge between physicians, where knowledge, education, research and new treatment methods are shared.

The European Cancer Congress (ESMO Congress) is held every October. This year, held in Copenhagen on 7-11 October, the ESMO 2016 Congress not only broke attendance records but also made major contributions to oncology practice through the scientific studies presented. At the congress, doctors interested in oncology came together from 30 countries worldwide, numbering more than 20 thousand.

The world’s foremost cancer organization is the American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology). In our previous articles, we have frequently referred to studies presented at ASCO congresses held in Chicago in the first week of June each year. ESMO and ASCO are in a kind of competition in oncology research. This year’s ESMO meeting was praised by ASCO President Dr. Daniel Hayes in these words: “This has been an incredible meeting. As ASCO President, I am really not jealous of the tremendous amount of science here. Many studies that will change oncology practice were presented here – so much so that within 5 days, 6 studies were published in NEJM (the world’s most respected medical journal); this is unprecedented. What really needs to be emphasized here is not that ESMO or ASCO has done a great job, but that we are doing a better job for our patients, and that is what we have really seen here this week…”

For more than 4 years, we too have been sharing important developments in cancer carefully and in understandable language for the entire public through our website. On this occasion, we will share important studies presented at the ESMO congress with you in the coming days, beginning tomorrow with “lung cancer.”