The three-day scientific and educational virtual event brought together over 2,500 medical professionals on a common platform to shape the future of cancer care in the Asia-Pacific region and accelerate cancer research.
In its sixth edition, the yearly ESMO Asia Congress was held virtually due to the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Opening on the 20th of November 2020, the event saw over 2,500 medical professionals from 90 different countries convening with a common goal for cancer care and research for the three-day event. The ESMO Asia Virtual Congress 2020 is organised by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the leading professional organisation for medical oncology.
“Since the first edition of the ESMO Asia Congress back in 2015, it has become increasingly clear that if we truly want to alleviate the global cancer burden and improve patient outcomes everywhere, we need to build more bridges between Europe and Asia,” says ESMO President Prof Solange Peters.
“Identifying and sharing paths to overcoming common challenges in the advancement or delivery of cancer care, learning from one another and building knowledge together is the only way forward.”
The ESMO Asia Virtual Congress is the leading scientific platform in the Asia-Pacific region, helping to strengthen collaboration within the medical community and encourage a multi-disciplinary dialogue on integrated cancer care. The 2020 programme was been completely redesigned to take into consideration its virtual nature, but remains packed with scientific and educational lectures, aimed at responding to the unique challenges faced by the oncology community in the region. In addition to sharing best practice standards of care for cancer patients, plenty of opportunities for a fruitful learning and networking experience have also been created.
On open day, the keynote lecture was presented by Professor Tak W. Mak, a global heavyweight in the field of genetics and immunology of cancer. In his lecture on T-cell receptors, Professor Mak discussed the evolution of immuno-oncology.
This year, the ESMO Asia Congress will featured speakers covering the full range of oncology topics including the latest advances in cancer medical treatment, radiotherapy, prevention, supportive and palliative care, with an eye on Asia’s unique challenges and demographics. Other programme highlights include; latest research in neo-adjuvant immuno-oncology, new breakthroughs in immunotherapy for breast cancer, molecular stratification of gastrointestinal malignancies, as well as their therapeutic targeting with smart drugs in immuno-oncology. Combination of loco-regional and systemic therapies in the control of head and neck cancers and insights into the molecular aberrations of thoracic malignancies, the use of biomarkers and their therapeutic modulation were also some of the topics discussed during the event.
The ESMO Asia Virtual Congress 2020 was endorsed by 20 oncology associations in the Asia-Pacific region. [APBN]