Proceedings of the 7th Copenhagen Workshop on Testicular Carcinoma in Situ and Germ Cell Cancer, 13–15 October 2010

Abstract

We are pleased to present to our readers a special issue of the International Journal of Andrology containing the proceedings of the 7th Copenhagen Workshop on Testicular Carcinoma in situ and Germ Cell Cancer, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, between October 13th and 15th, 2010. Thirty years have passed since the 1st Copenhagen Workshop on Carcinoma in situ took place in 1980 and the publication of the first proceedings in the International Journal of Andrology (Skakkebæk et al., 1981). Despite this round anniversary, the topic remains alive, because the aetiology and pathogenesis of testicular cancer are still not yet completely elucidated and more needs to be done to improve early detection of carcinoma in situ. Thus scientists keep returning to Copenhagen and – as was true for all previous workshops – the list of participants who attended the 7th one, read as a virtual who-is-who in the field of the basic aspects of germ cell cancer. Despite focussing on translational and basic aspects, the programme encompassed a broad variety of relevant topics, including a review of the approaches to early diagnosis and late side effects of treatment. Thus both, clinicians and molecular geneticists alike could find something of interest at the meeting; either during plenary lectures or at the excellent poster sessions. Most of the speakers contributed papers for this special issue, which reflects very well the variety of topics, the current state-of-the-art in the field covering the diagnosis and basic aspects of testicular cancer. All papers were subjected to the usual, stringent peer-review process according to the requirements of the International Journal of Andrology. Please note that many papers in this special issue are followed by comments voiced by the audience during the meeting; this will give you a feeling of a lively scientific discussion invoked by each topic during the workshop. In addition to the papers presented, several peer-reviewed studies of various aspects of testicular cancer, which had been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Andrology independently of the meeting, are also included in this issue. We feel that these papers enrich this issue while their authors will benefit from the greater attention of the testis cancer research community. As editors of this special issue, we extend our gratitude to all contributors for their excellent articles. We warmly thank all members of the local Organizing Committee, in particular Kathrine Hurtigkarl, Anne Marie Ottesen, Kristian Almstrup, Anette M. Pedersen, Anne Jørgensen, Kate Ewen, Tina Tronier, Britt de Stricker and Britt Meyer Christensen. We thank also Vivien McGrath (Edinburgh) and Andy Beare (Copenhagen) for editorial assistance. Finally, we gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Lundbeck Foundation, the Global Excellence in Health Award from the Regional Council for the Capital Region of Denmark, and the Danish Cancer Society.