Clinical cytometry in Europe, 2006

Abstract

This year saw the transformation of the European Working Group on Clinical Cell Analysis (EWGCCA) into the European Society for Clinical Cell Analysis (ESCCA; www.escca.org). EWGCCA was established in 1996 in order to establish collaboration between large European centers, using (flow) cytometric cell analysis for clinical purposes. Being supported by a “concerted action” grant of the European Union 4th Framework Programme (1996–2000), EWGCCA has performed multicenter standardization trials and produced consensus documents in order to advance and standardize novel techniques for clinical cell analysis (1-11). With time, the activities of the group shifted from experimental to educational, and as such, EWGCCA has organized five annual Euroconferences (2001–2005) and eight workshops (1998–2005). Since 2005, the workshops have been organized as interactive sessions within the Euroconferences. Here, controversial issues in clinical cytometry were introduced by speakers with opposing points of view, followed by a debate in which the audience participated via an “interactive voting system.” Furthermore, EWGCCA has facilitated in 2004 the organization of the MASIR conferences: small European meetings held every 18 months and highly focused on “measuring antigen-specific immune responses” (www.masir.org; Refs.12 and13). Inspired by the Clinical Cytometry Society (CCS), EWGCCA took on the organization of an annual European Course in Clinical Cytometry preceding the Euroconference from 2005 onwards. In 2002, EWGCCA was legally established as a foundation under Dutch law. As the workshops and Euroconferences consistently attracted some 200 paying participants per year, the EWGCCA board decided to transform the foundation into a society with a council that is democratically elected by its members: ESCCA. The closed structure of the EWGCCA foundation did not fit with the need of a more widespread membership and did not allow the periodic renewal of its board by election. The goals of ESCCA are similar to those of EWGCCA. In addition, a close collaboration with CCS and the existing national European societies in the field of (clinical) cytometry as well as similar groups elsewhere in the world are considered of key importance. The 6th Euroconference on Clinical Cell Analysis was held in Stresa (Italy) from 14–16 September 2006, and preceded by the 2nd European Course in Clinical Cytometry (12–13 September). The three major areas addressed by the Course (and also by the Conference) were: (i) functional analyses of the immune system, with particular attention to HIV infection; (ii) diagnosis of clonal hematopoietic disorders; and (iii) minimal residual disease of hematological malignancies. While introductory lectures addressed instrument set-up and calibration, as well as technical aspects of multicolor flow cytometry, the students were offered theoretical lectures on the above three areas, and practiced list mode data analysis of various cases using computers equipped with software of the major instrument manufacturers.1 As for the Euroconference, the table gives an overview, by subject, of the abstracts by the invited speakers and the proffered peer-reviewed abstracts by the participants. Like most cytometry conferences, this Euroconference covers a fairly wide range of topics as technology is its common theme. However, the lack of focus is a potential weakness, and future Euroconferences will therefore center on only 3–4 main areas per congress. As the scientific organizing committee, we are very pleased with the financial support of our industrial partners, and with the opportunity offered by CCS and Clinical Cytometry to publish the abstracts that are shown in the following section. Jan W. Gratama*, Maria Arroz , Bruno Brando , Ingmar A. Heijnen?, Claudio Ortolani?, Stefano Papa**, * Erasmus MC Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Hospital de Egaz Moniz Lisbon, Portugal, Ospedale di Legnano Legnano, Italy, ? Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland, ? Ospedale SS. Giovanni e Paolo Venice, Italy, ** Università di Urbino Urbino, Italy.