Federation of European Cancer Societies Sponsors Biennial ECCO

HAMBURG—More than 6,000 cancer researchers, clinical oncologists, and specialist cancer nurses from all over the world attended the Ninth European Cancer Conference (ECCO 9), considered Europe’s foremost multidisciplinary oncology event. (See reports on pages 1, 2, 3, 8, 13, 15, 24, 27, and 40.)

The conference is the biennial meeting of the Federation of European Cancer Societies (FECS) (see table). Said FECS president, Professor Jean Claude Horiot: “ECCO meetings give delegates the opportunity to update themselves on a range of cancer issues in one venue. They hear at first hand about advances in research and treatment often before they are published, or when they have appeared only in highly specialist journals.”

Members of the Federation of European Cancer Societies (FECS)

*Affiliated member. All others are full members.

This year, for the first time, FECS has a fellowship program to help delegates from countries in Eastern Europe attend ECCO, said Professor Horiot, professor of radiotherapy, University of Dijon, France.

FECS works closely with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European School of Oncology (ESO), and has links with the institutions of the European Union, the World Health Organization’s Cancer Unit, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), and the Association of European Cancer Leagues.

In addition to promoting and coordinating collaboration in the fields of clinical and experimental oncology throughout Europe and organizing ECCO, FECS is developing a major role in helping its full members to influence governments and other organizations involved in health care in Europe. It also is responsible for the development and coordination of continuing medical education in oncology in Europe.