ASGO's First Biennial Meeting, Nov. 22, 2009

Abstract

With words of congratulations from International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) and European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO), the first Biennial Meeting of Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO) was held in Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo, November 22, 2009, during the 47th annual meeting of Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO). This biennial meeting emphasized on three aspects of cervical cancer: 1) epidemiology and diagnosis; 2) HPV vaccines and prevention; and 3) new trend of treatment. Eighty-two abstracts were presented at the ASGO inaugurating meeting (Table 1), including 12 speeches on cervical cancer, 69 posters (Korea, 38; Taiwan, 15; Japan, 8; Indonesia, 4; Kazakhstan, 3; and Singapore, 1), and a commemoration lecture from IGCS and SGO entitled Global cooperation in gynecologic by Dr. Edward L. Trimble (National Cancer Institute, USA). Table 1 Symposium on cervical cancer Approximately one-half of all global cancer mortalities were observed in Asia.1,2 The majority of current clinical practices in cancer prevention and management are based on the studies in Western patients.1 However, the most appropriate clinical practice for Asian women may not be exactly the same as the clinical practice for Western women. Asian differs from Western people in constitution, genetic background, characteristics of disease, and especially, socio-cultural environment.1 With purposes to the facilitation of scientific exchange, international collaboration for clinical studies and basic research, provision of educational opportunities for doctors in developing countries, and deepening friendship between members in Asia, ultimately to improve the standard of practice and the outcomes of patients with gynecologic cancers, ASGO was initiated in the 7th Japan-Korea Joint Conference of Gynecologic Oncology Group (JKGOG) in Seoul on November 27, 2008 to expand the spirit of cooperation of JKGOG to all Asian countries.4 ASGO now has members in over 10 Asian countries. The first and the current president of the society is Dr. Soon-Beom Kang (Seoul National University, Korea). The president-elect (also the congress president of the first biennial meeting of ASGO) is Dr. Toshiharu Kamura (Kurume University, Japan) (Fig. 1). The initiating council members (Fig. 2) came from 9 countries including China (Chinese Society of Gynecological Oncology, Hong Kong Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology), India, Indonesia (Indonesian Society of Gynecologic Oncology), Japan (Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology), Korea (Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy), Philippine (Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines), Singapore (Society for Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology of Singapore), Thailand (Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society), and Taiwan (Taiwan Association of Gynecologic Oncologists). Fig. 1 Photo of Dr. Soon-Beom Kang, the first and the current president of the society, from the 1st Biennial Meeting of ASGO, held in Tokyo on November 22, 2009. Fig. 2 Photo from the 2nd council meeting of the ASGO, held in Tokyo on November 21, 2009. The second biennial meeting of ASGO will be held in November, 2011 in Seoul, Korea. With thanks to the effort of Japanese and Korean doctors in establishing ASGO, gynecologic oncologists in other Asian countries will follow these pioneers' steps and dedicate themselves with powerful support. ASGO is expected to an essential role in understanding, investigating, and resolving regional health problems like other regional societies such as the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) and the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ESGO).1 Asia is the most populous land in the world, containing highly developed cities on the cutting edge of medical care, and also containing poor rural areas which have almost no any medical resource. In the future, ASGO may play the role of the polestar that guides the prevention, treatment, and holistic health care of gynecologic cancers in this vast land of diversity, culture, history, and tribulation.