Dear Colleagues,
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem. It is currently the third cause of cancer-related death with an steady incidence increase. Major during the last decades, several advancements have been produced in the preventive and therapeutical field. Implementation of primary prevention programs through HBV vaccination has decrease the incidence in some Asian countries. In addition, effective treatment of HCV chronic hepatitis with novel drugs effectively prevent the progression of the liver disease to advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, which represents a genuine carcinogenic field. Once cirrhosis is established, surveillance programs enables early detection and increases the applicability of potentially curative treatments. Nonetheless, effective prevention and early detection of liver cancer still remain as major clinical challenges.
The refinement in surgical techniques and better selection of candidates for loco-regional therapies has expanded the life expectancy of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. More recently, the advent of sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, as effective treatment approach for patients with advanced tumors has represented a major breakthrough in the clinical research arena, and has stimulated several pre-clinical and clinical investigations with novel drugs and combinations towards a more personalized medicine. In parallel, recent data on high-throughput technology may lead towards the identification of novel drivers and targets for therapies. Thus, these are exciting areas of research that will require further attention.
The Special Conference organized in Dubrovnik (Croatia) by EASL and supported by AASLD, APSL and ALEH, represents a consistent effort to gather experts of around the world to exchange research and cutting-edge advancements in the understanding and managing of this neoplasm.
Central questions that will be addressed include:
• Epidemiology, surveillance and early diagnosis
• Signaling, driver oncogenes an molecular classification in HCC
• Novel concepts in surgery and loco-regional therapies
• Advances in molecular therapies
We are looking forward to your participation at this exciting event in Dubrovnik, Croatia, June 25-26, 2010!
Sincerely,
Dr. Josep M. Llovet
Chair, on behalf of the Scientific Committee (Dr. Jorge Marrero, Dr. Flair Carrilho, Dr. Masao Omata)