LETTER FROM THE CHAIRS

Dear Colleague,

We warmly invite you to join us for the ESMO Conference: 11th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer to be held in Barcelona, Spain from 24 to 27 June 2009.

The Congress has grown into an event that encompasses malignancies affecting every component of the gastrointestinal tract and aspects related to the care of all gastrointestinal cancer patients, including screening, diagnosis and the latest management options for common and uncommon tumors.

The ESMO Conference: 11th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer has received endorsements from leading professional societies and organizations, solidifying the reputation of the Congress as the premier platform for specialists in cancer research, leading oncologists and practicing clinicians to review the state-of-the-art advances in gastrointestinal cancer and share the latest information on its multidisciplinary management. Specialized sessions for nurses, surgeons and young medical oncologists provide enhanced educational opportunities.

Presentation of cutting-edge research has become one of the highlights of the World Congress, offering opportunities for researchers to interact with colleagues and share their endeavors with the healthcare community. In 2008, more than 400 abstracts were accepted for presentation and publication in a special supplement to the Annals of Oncology. We invite you to participate in this year’s meeting by submitting an abstract of your work to be considered for presentation.

The ESMO Conference: 11th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer promises to continue the tradition of excellence and stimulate the interest of its participants. We look forward to continuing the journey with you this year.

Mario Dicato, MD
Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Eric Van Cutsem, MD, PhD
Leuven, Belgium