EORTC symposium on progress and perspectives in lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer continues to be a major medical problem; its incidence is still rising and its mortality rate is the highest among all cancer deaths in industrialized countries. The limitations of conventional treatment, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are well known; however, new orientations have been suggested based on combined modalities. All disciplines involved in cancer therapy have advanced during the last ten years; although specialization is inevitable with increased knowledge, collaboration is absolutely necessary both for adequate treatment diagnosis and staging. The aim of the EORTC* Symposium on Progress and Perspectives in Lung Cancer Treatment held in Brussels in Ma) 1979 was to summarize recent progress, to refine existing concepts, and to present preliminary results of a combined approach to the disease. A number of experts were invited to present keynote lectures on different topics: early detection, D. Sanderson; regional extension, C. Mountain; detection of distant metastases, H. Hansen; staging and prognostic factors, T. Shields; limits of modern surgery, A. Naef; radiotherapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy as adjuvants to surgery, P. Rubin, R. Baldwin, Y. Kenis; treatment of inoperable lung cancer by radiotherapy or chemotherapy, N. Bleehen and P. Alberto; and small cell anaplastic carcinoma, M. Cohen. The three days that the symposium was held at the Institute Jules Bordet, provided a profitable and interesting experience in evaluation of recent results and in advocating new orientations and further cooperation. The following helped to organize this symposium: P. Van Houtte, P. Rocmans and R. De Jager; D. Eeckhoudt of the EORTC data center provided technical assistance. P. Rubin presented an outstanding lecture and contributed to the publication of selected papers from the symposium.