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Hormone inhibitor promising for hard-to-treat prostate cancer

For prostate cancer patients whose tumors have continued to grow despite
medical or surgical castration, a new drug candidate that inhibits production
of male hormones anywhere in the body is showing promise in early trials. Two
poster to be presented at the ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU) show the drug
results.

Analysis confirms benefits of combining trastuzumab and chemotherapy in
Breast cancer

An analysis of five major breast cancer trials has confirmed
that combination treatment with the antibody treatment trastuzumab and
chemotherapy improves survival in women with operable HER-2 positive breast
cancer, researchers announce at the ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU).

Cancer-fighting virus shows promise in early trial

A virus that has been specifically designed by scientists to be safe to
normal tissue but deadly to cancer is showing early promise in a preliminary
study. Results from an ongoing trial in patients with colorectal cancer to be
presented at the ESMO Conference Lugano (ECLU).

An opportunity for patients to learn and talk about cancer

People affected by cancer in Switzerland and northern Italy have an
opportunity during the ESMO Congress Lugano (ECLU) to talk about the latest
in cancer research and share their knowledge and personal experiences, at the
6th ESMO Patient Seminar. An important theme of the seminar is open
communication. "Communication is one of the best weapons we have against
cancer," said Prof. Michele Ghielmini, the chair of the ESMO Patient Seminar
Task Force. "That means communication between doctor and patient,
communication between patients and their families and between patients
themselves," he said.

ESMO recognizes the Netherlands Cancer Institute for outstanding
achievement in translational research in breast cancer

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is pleased to
announce that the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) is the winner of the
second edition of the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award supported by an
unrestricted grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

The research group was conferred the award for its outstanding
achievements in the area of Translational Research in Breast Cancer. The head
of the Molecular Carcinogenesis Division of the Institute, Dr. René Bernards,
and the Head of the Molecular Pathology Division, Dr. Laura van 't Veer, will
receive the award on behalf of the institute during the Opening Ceremony of
the ESMO Conference in Lugano (ECLU) on Thursday, 5 July 2007.

Cancer on the agenda of the Portuguese EU Council Presidency

ESMO a major player in the Round Table on Health Strategies in the
European Union

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is proud to announce
that it is collaborating closely with the Portuguese EU Presidency on a key
European meeting on health care issues, where cancer will be an important
part of the agenda.

The 'Round Table on Health Strategies in the European Union'
(Lisbon, 12-13 July 2007) is one of numerous initiatives launched by the EU
Portuguese Presidency within the context of the EU strategy on health policy,
focusing on the topic of health and migration. ESMO has been invited by Dr.
Joaquim Gouveia, National Coordinator of Oncological Diseases in Portugal, to
be a key partner in this meeting for aspects related to cancer.

Contact:
    
    Vanessa Pavinato
    European Society for Medical Oncology
    Office Phone: +41-91-973-19-07
    E-Mail: media@esmo.org