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International liver cancer congress provides possible solutions to reduce significant burden

Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, 25 June 2010: Today, world renowned experts have assembled in Dubrovnik, Croatia to discuss the latest trends in treatment and cutting edge research in diagnostic techniques that will shape the future management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – the third most common cause of cancer-related death globally, and a leading cause of death among patients with liver cirrhosis.

"This HCC conference is a significant milestone in the field of HCC research. We are encouraged by the range of topics and eminent researchers in attendance, bringing new understanding and celebrating new research opportunities from across the world that will help address the current challenges we face as clinicians. This ultimately will help drive our ultimate goal of reducing the suffering caused by this devastating and debilitating disease," commented Professor Josep M Llovet, chair of the HCC special conference and Professor of Research, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain and Professor of Medicine, Director, Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Research Program, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

At the two-day conference, entitled: Hepatocellular Carcinoma from genomics to treatment, organised by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), experts will address a range of key topics, including: the genetic make-up of HCC, the molecular signatures and biomarkers and other advancements to determine diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, and potential disease targets to develop new treatment strategies. Specifically, several novel molecular targeted therapies are currently being tested in advanced stages of clinical research, and their results expected by 2011-14 might improve the standard of care of patients suffering this neoplasm.

HCC is a cancer originating in liver cells and is one of the most common types of tumour. Worldwide, HCC accounts for approximately 5.4% of all cancers3 and causes 610,000 deaths per year. It is the fifth most common cause of cancer in men and the eighth most common cause in women. HCC is the most common cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia mainly due to the high rates of HCV and HBV infection. In western countries, alcoholism and viral hepatitis are the leading causes of cirrhosis and subsequent HCC.

The HCC conference is supported by leading professional organisations across the world, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the Asian Pacific Association for Study of the Liver (APASL) and the Latin-American for the Study of the Liver (ALEH).

"EASL is dedicated to promoting research and education in the field of hepatology to improve the treatment of liver disease throughout the world. In bringing experts together at this first-ever medical conference on HCC we aim to promote the latest evidence base and best practise to address this significant global killer disease," added Professor Heiner Wedemeyer, EASL Secretary General.

In line with the importance of the meeting, EASL would like to inform its members and the conference delegates that the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-Health 2010) has funded the HEPTROMIC project, a 3-year translational research initiative on liver cancer. This network, aimed at solving molecular and technological challenges, constitutes the first European research project specifically focused on genomics in HCC funded by the European Union. With the final negotiations with the European Commission well underway, HEPTROMIC is currently gearing up to become a decisive modern cooperative and multidisciplinary effort in the fight against this cancer. Led from the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) - Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Spain), this initiative combines the knowhow of six leading research groups in Europe and the USA and two companies, to ensure the translation of research results into new prognostic tests and devices.

Further details of the HCC special conference can be found at: http://www2.kenes.com/croatia2010/pages/home.aspx

About EASL

EASL is the leading European scientific society involved in promoting research and education in hepatology. EASL attracts the foremost hepatology experts as members and has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.

EASL's work continues throughout the year with numerous events and initiatives, including:

• The International Liver CongressTM which lasts several days and attracts upwards of 7,500 participants
• EASL meetings including Monothematic and Special conferences, Post Graduate courses and other EASL endorsed meetings that take place throughout the year
• EASL Clinical and Basic Schools of Hepatology, a series of events covering different aspects in the field of hepatology
• Journal of Hepatology published monthly with a readership of over 40,000
• Presenting new initiatives for European liver policy change

About the International Liver CongressTM 2011

The International Liver Congress™ 2011, the 46th annual meeting of the European Association for the study of the Liver, will be held in Berlin, Germany at the Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC Berlin) which ranks among the biggest, most advanced and most successful congress venues in the world. The annual meeting which provides an opportunity to hear the latest research, perspectives and treatments of liver disease from principal experts in the field shall take place from March 30-April 3, 2011 and is expected to attract over 7,500 clinicians and scientists from all around the world.

For further information, please contact the EASL press office:
media.easl2010@cohnwolfe.com
+44 20 7331 5371

About the HEPTROMIC Project

HEPTROMIC is the first European Union-funded research network focused specifically on genomics in liver cancer and supported by EASL.

This international initiative takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the molecular complexity of liver cancer through six academic centers: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Spain) (Coordinator); Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) (Paris, France); Fundació Privada Institut D'Investigació biomedica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) (Barcelona, Spain); Helmholtz Zentrum Für Infektionsforschung (HZI) (Braunschweig, Germany); Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei tumori (INT) (Milan, Italy); Broad Institute, Harvard (Boston, USA).] and the commercialization of new tests and devices [through 2 small-medium enterprises: Diagenode (Liège, Belgium) andTcLand Expression SA (Nantes, France).

After the final negotiations with the European Commission, HEPTROMIC will officially start during a kick-off meeting to be held in Barcelona (Spain) in October 2010.

References

1. Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J, Pisani P. Global cancer statistics. 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2005;55(2):74-108
2. Sangiovanni A, Del Ninno E, Fasani P, et al. Increased survival of cirrhotic patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma detected during surveillance. Gastroenterology 2004:126(4):1005-14.
3. Kumar Vinay, Nelso Fausto and Abul Abbas. Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Seventh Edition. Saunders; 2004.
4. Cancer factsheet. World Health Organisation. February 2009. https://www.who.int.mediacenter/factsheets/fs297/en. Accessed 22.06.2010
5. Weber S, et al. Liver and bile duct cancer. In Abeloff MD, et al. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2004:1981-2011.
6. Sherman M. Hepatocellular carcinoma:epidemiology, surveillance and diagnosis. Semin Liver Dis. 2010;30:3-16

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