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The EORTC Radiation Oncology Group (ROG) held its autumn meeting at Institut Gustave Roussy, and this occasion gave the ROG’s Young Radiation Oncologists Group (YROG) an opportunity to meet for the third time. The YROG, a recently formed ROG working party active since 2013, aims to engage early career radiation oncologists in research projects conducted by the ROG and thereby foster the next generation of radiation oncologists dedicated to cancer clinical research.

Germ cell tumors such as those that cause testicular cancer are often cured and treatment guidelines are well established, but still a small number of patients cannot be cured. They either relapse or develop a primary resistance to the prescribed first line chemotherapy and are subsequently treated with conventional or high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant. However, it is unclear whether these approaches are the best route to take.

The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) is an organization with a mission to bring together select researchers and organizations for the purpose of developing new therapies for rare diseases as well as the means to diagnose them. Over the years, the EORTC has contributed to improve survival rates for several types of cancer and has a strong track record in the field of rare diseases, and it recognizes the added value of working with other IRDiRC members for the benefit of patients with rare cancers. In this regard, the EORTC’s efforts are well represented by Dr.

One out of every five new cancer patients is diagnosed with a rare cancer, yet the clinical evidence needed to effectively treat these rare cancer patients is scarce. Indeed, conventional cancer clinical trial methodologies require large numbers of patients who are difficult to accrue in the situation of rare cancers. Consequently, building clinical evidence for the treatment of rare cancers is more difficult than it is for frequent cancers.

The EORTC is recognized worldwide for the exceptional work it does in the realm of cancer clinical research leading to improved treatments for patients with cancer, and EORTC Headquarters Staff are, indeed, deeply committed to that mission. So much so, that a number of EORTC Staff have recently combined their professional commitment to improve cancer treatments with their passion for running and have formed Team EORTC, a group that participates in various cancer benefit runs.

The EORTC has been selected for membership in the European Union Expert Group on Cancer Control. This Expert Group assists the European Union Commission or Commission Services drafting legal instruments and policy documents, guidelines and recommendations on cancer control.

EORTC investigators will present the results of their cancer research at ESMO 2014 Congress, 26-30 September 2014 in Madrid.

Joint Symposium: ESMO-ASCO: The Evolution of the clinical trial landscape

Monday, September 29, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM, Room: Granada

Abstract 121IN