Testimonials

"Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed male cancer in the developed world. My fellowship project is a pre-clinical trial to test the efficacy of a pro-senescence therapy targeted at quiescent cancer stem cells in vivo. This approach is based on genetic research showing a link between phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a gene deleted in the vast majority of prostate cancers and senescence."

"Due to limited basic research experience and several hours spent daily in the clinical practice, medical oncologists have disadvantages in receiving grants in Europe in the field of translational research ― most grants go to scientists with PhD degrees and are devoted to basic research. However, therapeutic knowledge and clinical background are relevant to translate experimental observations to clinical practice. More grants like those offered by ESMO are urgently needed for young oncologists involved in translational research."

Andrea Alimonti, Italian, Fellow 2008-2009

"Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common leukemia in many developed countries. A transformation occurs in 5-20% of CLL patients ― known as Richter's Syndrome (RS) ― that is a marked by non-responsiveness to therapy and a very poor prognosis. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization represents a powerful tool for comprehensive genomic study that will allow us to discover predictors for the RS transformation. This knowledge will definitely help us not only to better predict the transformation, but also to discover potential targets for future therapy."

Ekaterina Chigrinova, Russian, Fellow 2008-2009

"My research project enabled me to gain a true appreciation of translational oncology. By working with new target agents against phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) both in the laboratory and in phase I clinical trials, I now view patients not only in terms of what standard treatments are available, but also by what signaling pathways or genetic mutations may be driving their tumors. Thus, I try to adopt a more tailored approach to therapeutic choices for a given patient."

"My fellowship has changed the course of my career. Whereas previously my work was entirely clinical, my future plans include ongoing work in phase I trials, drug development and translational collaborations with laboratory researchers. It has also provided me with the opportunity to network, establishing professional relationships that I will nurture in future years for the advancement of my clinical investigations."

Ben Markman, Australian, Fellow 2007-2008

"The project supported by my ESMO fellowship focused on the characterization of mesothelioma tumor initiating cells. Our working hypothesis is that mesothelioma 'stem cells' are responsible for current therapy resistance and a rapidly fatal patient outcome. We have been able to detect stem signaling in mesothelioma tissue and are now trying to identify the cells responsible for it."

"With the support of the ESMO fellowship, we created the mesothelioma stem cell project, an important pillar of our mesothelioma research. It offered me the opportunity to establish myself as a group leader within our research network of the University Hospital Zurich and Division of Thoracic Surgery."

Isabelle Optiz, German, Fellow 2007-2008

"During my fellowship in Barcelona, I worked on a phase III trial led by Prof. Jose Baselga to test the safety and efficacy of using trastuzumab, paclitaxel and liposomal doxorubicin in combination ― a therapy that could shift the paradigm for standard treatment in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive metastatic breast cancer. I also led a phase I trial to explore a new antibody directed against the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) (MK-0646)."

"Through my fellowship, I learned the methods needed to lead a Phase I clinical trial, and I would like to apply those skills at my center in Italy. It has also translated into immediate benefits for my patients. When I encounter cases for which there is no standard treatment, I know how to refer them to ongoing clinical trials for new therapies, which gives them something precious: hope."

Francesco Atzori, Italian, Fellow 2006-2007

"The prediction of treatment failure in advance of primary chemotherapy as well as the development of alternative or second-line chemotherapy strategies in case of failure are key objectives in the field of modern oncology. For both, our research insights on the Rat sarcoma (RAS) / V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) (Mitogen-activated protein kinase - MAPKinase) pathway and on microsatellite instability (MSI) / mismatch repair (MMR) protein deficiency in response to chemotherapy will be useful in terms of future diagnosis and treatment."

"As a clinician, I had only limited insights into molecular biology material and methods when starting my project. After doing molecular research for two years, I have gained practical skills that I can use to perform biotechnological research. For me, this lab experience, realized through my ESMO fellowship, enables me to engage in science in addition to my clinical work. This makes my profession much more interesting and inspiring."

Hendrik Wermann, German, Fellow 2006-2007

"My project was focused on examining the role of cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38), an ectoenzyme and a receptor in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We could show that the molecule is directly involved in chemokine-mediated homing of CLL cells and that blocking anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can be effective in an in vivo mouse model in inhibiting CLL homing from blood to spleen and bone marrow. These results provide early evidence that CD38 has a potential as a therapeutic target for selected CLL patients."

"In addition to the scientific research, my stay at the University of Turin introduced me to Italian culture and hospitality. I received exceptional professional and personal support from Prof. Fabio Malavasi and Dr. Silvia Deaglio. The ESMO fellowship is definitely a unique possibility to create important job-related and personal relationships."

Semra Aydin, Turkish/German, Fellow 2005-2006

"During my research fellowship, I performed a preclinical study aimed at developing a vaccine for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We focused our attention on human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), an enzyme that partially accounts for the unlimited proliferative capacity of malignant cells. We could show that in CLL patients with hTERT overexpression, dendritic cells pulsed with hTERT peptide were able to stimulate autologous T cells, which in turn displayed a cytotoxic activity against the leukemic cells."

"The ESMO Fellowship gave me the opportunity to conduct research and later to enter a PhD program in one of Europe's largest medical universities. The two years of medical research training at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden helped me to acquire the technical expertise I needed to be a "translational researcher".

Marzia Palma, Italian, Fellow 2004-2005

"Despite new molecularly-targeted anticancer drugs, chemotherapy remains the backbone of solid tumor treatment. My research project focused on customizing chemotherapy in terms of individual variability in metabolizing drugs and its effect on toxicity, DNA polymorphisms impacting drug metabolism and clearance, and drug interactions."

"One of the most critical findings was that protone-pump inhibitors, frequently prescribed to patients receiving high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy, inhibit renal clearance of methotrexate ― potentially resulting in fatal toxicity levels. Another key finding was that patients with liver dysfunction should receive lower doses of paclitaxel chemotherapy."

Markus Joerger, Swiss, Fellow 2003-2004

"I am Bulgarian and medical oncology is a very young specialty in our country. The ESMO fellowship in Italy was a unique possibility for me to understand how good clinical and scientific practice in medical oncology should be conducted. In short, I am what I am as a professional medical oncologist thanks to ESMO and Italy!"

"I continue to apply the lessons learned from my fellowship. First, I am pursuing my research in biological markers at our institute in Sofia. Second, I gained experience in clinical trial design - we recently started an investigator-initiated trial on neoadjuvant chemo- and targeted therapy for liver metastases in colorectal cancer. Third, I learned how multidisciplinary teams work. We are now trying to implement such teams in gastrointestinal and lung cancers."

Zhasmina Mihaylova, Bulgaria, Fellow 2001-2002

"My home institution is still working closely with my host institute on work begun during my ESMO fellowship. This includes collaboration to identify target antigens in myeloma for immunotherapeutic approaches. We are already in the process of designing a phase I-II clinical trial to test a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine strategy to target myeloma cells."

"A deeper insight into biologic mechanisms underlying cancer is very helpful in my daily clinical practice. Such understanding is not only personally satisfying, but also helpful in communicating with patients and their relatives."

Niklas Zojer, Austrian, Fellow 2001-2002

"My research project resulted in the identification of one of the first explanations of chemotherapy resistance in germ cell tumors. The work added significantly to the understanding of general chemotherapy sensitivity and intrinsic chemotherapy resistance in germ cell tumors."

"The ESMO fellowship program was definitely the most important step in my professional career. Next to learning methods in cancer research and understanding clinical pathology and basic tumor biology, I was able to build up relationships that I still benefit from today."

Frank Mayer, German, Fellow 2000-2002

"My research project at Gasthuisberg University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium, focused on the prognostic value of the presence of bone marrow micrometastases in breast cancer by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using cytokeratin 19. This methodology, which had not been practiced before in Egypt, was the basis for my PhD thesis. The clinical implications will become clear once we have data on long-term patient outcomes."

"The ESMO fellowship offered me a great opportunity to work with world leaders in oncology such as Prof. Robert Paridaens, Prof. Eric van Cutsem and Prof. Allan van Oosterom. For a young oncologist from Egypt, this was an invaluable experience. In addition, I was able to learn important lessons about how to efficiently run an oncology ward. I am using that knowledge in my current position as the Medical Director and Assistant to the General Manager at Wadi El-Neel Hospital in Cairo."

Mohamed Saad, Egyptian, Fellow 2000-2002

"My research project was focused on finding predictive and/or prognostic factors to better understand which cancer patients are biotherapy responders or non-responders. I am convinced that my ESMO fellowship research project stimulated my interest in the recent proteomic approach that is currently used in our laboratory for biomarker discovery."

The ESMO fellowship not only allowed me to receive new knowledge in conventional medical oncology, it opened up the field of translational cancer research at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology at Innsbruck Medical University. That collaboration continued, and I later became a leader in the translational research team, which allowed me to participate in the establishment of the new Laboratory for Translational Research in Radio-oncology."

Ira Skvortsova, Austrian, Fellow 1998-2000

"My research project led to the discovery of a proteasome subunit and to the proposal of the proteasome as a therapeutic target in oncology. The results were presented at the Presidential Symposium of the ESMO Congress in Vienna 1996 and published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 1997. Further to our work, proteasome inhibitors were tested in the USA National Cancer Institute (NCI) screening panel of cell lines and the compound bortezomib (formerly PS-341 and MLN-341) was developed. This has had a tremendous impact on the clinical treatment of multiple myeloma and on the prognosis of patients suffering from this disease."

Vito Spataro, Swiss, Fellow 1995-1997

"The first part of my research project focused on developing new molecular tools to monitor T-cell response during tumor growth. The second part focused on studying the long-term outcome of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma."

"My fellowship had a big impact on my career, allowing me to create a new research lab at the University of Geneva 15 years ago. The robust scientific, clinical and methodological knowledge acquired during my fellowship was the basis for my own development, my scientific maturation, and my continuous enthusiasm to manage and help cancer patients."

Pierre-Yves Dietrich, Swiss, Fellow 1990-1992

"My project was a classical example of translational research: customizing the best treatment for lung cancer patients according to genetic profiles. We studied new approaches of treatment with differentiation therapy and new biological targeted therapies. These strategies have improved the response rate, time to progression and survival rate."

"The ESMO fellowship is an excellent program that fosters growth and learning at both the scientific and personal level. My research experience was exciting, and it has made an important impact on my career as medical oncologist."

Manuel Domine, Spanish, Fellow 1990-1992

"I did my fellowship at the Barts (St. Bartholomew's Hospital) in London on the use of polymerase chain reaction methodology for monitoring residual disease in patients with follicular lymphoma. At the time, this was pioneering work ― only a few groups in Europe were studying the use of molecular markers for detecting minimal amounts of lymphoma cells."

"The impact on my career has been fundamental. I was able to continue my research in the lymphoma field. Today, I am co-author of 100 papers, several book chapters and reviews, and three books on lymphomas. Everything began with the ESMO fellowship 20 years ago."

Emanuele Zucca, Italian, Fellow 1989-91