The European society for medical oncology (ESMO) is the leading European professional organisation, committed to advancing the specialty of medical oncology and promoting a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment and care. The international liver cancer association (ILCA) is the only international organisation devoted exclusively to liver cancer research for experts from all related disciplines.
Current concepts in the treatment of colorectal hepatic metastases were discussed in the “ECIO meets ESMO” session. Vincenzo Mazzaferro, Milan, Italy, spoke on the outcomes of surgical resection. Following this, Alfredo Falcone, Pisa, Italy spoke on the current chemotherapy regimens in the first and second line.
Hans-Joachim Schmoll, Halle, Germany, spoke on chemotherapy of non-resectable liver metastases in advanced colorectal cancer. Luigi Solbiati, Busto Arsizio, Italy, discussed the outcomes of percutaneous ablation, and Jose Ignacio Bilbao, Pamplona, Spain, updated delegates on the developments in radioembolization. Robert C Martin, Louisville, US, spoke on conventional chemoembolization and drug-eluting beads.
In the “ECIO meets ILCA” session, there were several presentations under the umbrella of “Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: ongoing challenges”.
Massimo Roncalli, Milan, Italy guided delegates over the need for difficult decisions and novel pathology criteria in the talk “When is biopsy needed and image not enough?” Carmen Ayuso, Barcelona, Spain then explained about the HCC staging, evaluation of treatment efficacy and detection of recurrence.
Pietro Majno, Geneva, Switzerland spoke on the way in which interventional radiology and surgery are expanding in different directions. He said surgery was moving into areas of advanced pauci-focal disease and portal vein thromboses while interventional radiology is focusing on advanced multifocal disease. Majno’s talk was titled “surgery and interventional radiology: competitors or complementary?”
Thomas K Helmberger, Munich, Germany concluded the latter session with “Is radiotherapy back for the treatment of HCC?”
