2012 EDUCATIONAL BOOK - American Society of Clinical Oncology

The European Society of Gynaecological
Oncology: Update on Objectives and
Educational and Research Activities
By Renata Brantnerova, Ranjit Manchanda, MD, and Nicoletta Colombo, MD
Overview: The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology
(ESGO) is the principal European society contributing to the
study, prevention, and treatment of gynecologic cancers.
Founded in 1983, ESGO has more than 1,300 members in more
than 40 European countries and worldwide who benefit from
ESGO’s innovative education and research initiatives and
networking opportunities. ESGO objectives have been recently
identified through a strategic planning process and include
education, care, research, collaboration, awareness, and sustainability.
As a leading gynecologic oncology society, ESGO
holds biennial meetings where experts meet to discuss latest
advances in gynecologic treatment and care. The 17th International
Meeting of ESGO (ESGO 17) proved to be a resounding
success, with 2,700 delegates and speakers who gathered
from around the world in the cultured city of Milan, Italy. The
structure of the congress included keynote lectures, debates,
FOUNDED IN 1983 in Italy as a forum for professionals
dedicated to the care of women with gynecologic cancers,
the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology
(ESGO) will soon celebrate 30 years of existence.
The mission of ESGO is to improve the health and wellbeing
of European women with gynecologic (genital and
breast) cancers through prevention, excellence in care, and
high-quality research and education.
Looking back over the last decade, our membership has
increased rapidly from being an exclusive club of about 150
members in 2002 into a truly pan-European and international
community of multidisciplinary professionals: ESGO
had 1,330 members in 2011, with an additional 240 new
members joining in the last quarter of the year. ESGO is a
young society: In 2011, 37% of members declared to be
younger than age 45 and 25% of all members were part of
the European Network of Young Gynaecologic Oncologists
(ENYGO), which is the ESGO’s European platform for trainees
and professionals younger than age 40. ESGO cares about
members from all regions of Europe: Members from lowerincome
countries form 27% of ESGO active membership.
European Challenges in Gynecologic Oncology
There are approximately 630,000 women diagnosed with
gynecologic cancers in Europe every year (including breast
cancer). Patterns of incidence and mortality are different
from region to region, and there are continuing inequalities
both among and within European countries in terms of
cancer risk, detection, and treatment. The estimated incidence
for cervical cancer is 54,517 new cases/year with
24,874 annual deaths related to this disease. 1 Cervical
cancer is the seventh most common cancer among European
women of all ages, and the second most common cancer in
women ages 15 to 39 years. 2 Rates are highest among
women in countries of the former Soviet Union, who have
twice the risk of dying as a result of cervical cancer as
Western European women. Women in Romania are 11 times
more likely than Finnish women to die as a result of cervical
cancer. 3
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among
state-of-the art sessions, and focused sunrise sessions, together
with oral and poster presentations and satellite symposia
sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. For the first
time, during ESGO 17 the Society organized a seminar for
European patient groups with an interest in gynecologic
cancers with the aim of facilitating different patientrelated
activities across Europe. Moreover, The European Network of
Young Gynaecologic Oncologists (ENYGO), the European Network
of Gynaecologic Oncology Trial Groups (ENGOT), and
the European Network of Translational Research in Gynaecological
Oncology (ENTRIGO) had their own section during
ESGO 17. ESGO also holds numerous workshops throughout
the calendar year and provides clinical and research grants,
online educational materials, webcasts, and numerous networking
opportunities
women in Europe, with more than 65,000 new cases and
41,000 deaths annually. Rates are highest in Eastern and
Northern Europe and lowest in Southern Europe. 1
Uterine cancer is the fourth most common female cancer
in Europe, with 88,000 new cases/year and 22,000 deaths.
The highest incidence is observed in Eastern and Northern
Europe, and lowest in southern regions. 1
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in
Europe, with over 425,000 new cases/year. Breast cancer is
responsible for more deaths among European women than
any other cancer, but survival has improved thanks to
screening and better treatments. However, survival is
higher in Western than in Eastern Europe, with further
differences within Western Europe: lower in the United
Kingdom and Denmark than in Finland, Sweden, France,
Italy, and the Netherlands. 2 These statistics outline how
there are unacceptable inequities in access to information,
prevention, screening, treatment and care across Europe.
Patterns of incidence and mortality are different from region
to region, often reflecting a lack of awareness and access to
appropriate services. ESGO is committed to help women
with gynecological cancer across Europe to obtain accurate,
reliable and timely information about their disease, to understand
treatment options and to have access to the best
possible care.
ESGO Objectives
Considering the changing external and internal environment,
as well as global and medical trends affecting the field
of gynecologic oncology, ESGO conducted strategic planning
From the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, the UCL Elizabeth Garrett
Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, and the University of Milan Bicocca, European
Institute of Oncology.
Authors’ disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.
Address reprint requests to Nicoletta Colombo, MD, University of Milan Bicocca,
European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy; email:
Nicoletta.colombo@ieo.it.
© 2012 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
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