Are you thinking of applying to take part in an ESMO Advanced Course? Previous participants share their thoughts and experiences...
“What a great experience! The ESMO-EANM Advanced Course expanded my knowledge of the physical principles underlying the latest theranostic methods in oncology and provided me with a deep understanding of therapeutic indications and clinical management. Now, I appreciate even more the value of multidisciplinary discussion in modern oncology and will encourage consultations with other specialists in the clinical management of each patient. The faculty was knowledgeable and helpful, and the event fostered an incredible cultural exchange among colleagues from across Europe. Engaging with specialists from diverse backgrounds enriched us all and prompted a strong connection.”
Giuseppe Neola, Italy
ESMO Advanced Course on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Oncology, Essen, May 2024
“This course updated my knowledge in lung cancer management and inspired me to explore current research, clinical trials, and emerging therapies. It was a great experience that improved my ability to collaborate with other professionals and deepened my understanding of the disease. I also appreciated networking with experts in the field of lung cancer.”
Jemma Arakelyan, Hong Kong SAR, China
ESMO Advanced Course on Perioperative Strategies in Localized Malignancies, Hong Kong SAR, China, April 2024
“The Advanced Course provided me with valuable insights. Not only did I gain comprehensive knowledge about phase I clinical trials, but what particularly stood out was the remarkable exchange of experiences among colleagues. Learning about their achievements, challenges, and limitations greatly benefits our institution in preparing for our own participation in phase I clinical trials. Additionally, this experience has significantly expanded my professional network, enabling me to connect with numerous colleagues and join their networks. I now feel much more confident collaborating with my colleagues in a multidisciplinary team for clinical trials, knowing that I have a supportive network to turn to when facing difficulties. The small group sessions were particularly beneficial, facilitating meaningful networking and experience sharing. Overall, the opportunity to connect with colleagues and join their networks has been one of the most valued aspects of this meeting.”
Thanh Hang Nguyen, Vietnam
ESMO Advanced Course on Early Drug Development, Hong Kong SAR, China, February 2024
“The course provided me with a comprehensive understanding of EGFR mutations and diagnosis, highlighting their diverse nature and the varying treatment approaches for patients across all stages of lung cancer. Additionally, it underscored the importance of cautious interpretation of EGFR results and emphasized the need for judicious use of NGS panels, favouring specificity over breadth. It enriched my knowledge on managing EGFR-mutated lung cancer during all stages. I advocate for more specialized meetings like this, focusing on specific topics rather than broad discussions on lung cancer. Learning from global experts has been highly valuable, and I truly believe that the speakers are among the finest in the field of lung oncology. Their receptiveness and willingness to accommodate questions and discussions have further enriched the learning experience.”
John Kelvin Lalusis, Philippines
ESMO Advanced Course on EGFR in Lung Cancer, Hong Kong SAR, China, January 2024
“This Advanced Course was a great opportunity to learn about HCC management in a practical context. It added value to my fund of knowledge and was very helpful for my daily practice. The discussions initiated after every segment allowed me to learn a lot from my colleagues from different countries, about the way they treat patients and manage HCCA in their respective localities. What I appreciated the most were the workshop sessions which had case discussions carried out in a very collaborative environment. This enabled us to apply the treatment guidelines in a more real-world setting. Thank you very much to ESMO for this wonderful course!”
Sachiko Estreller, Philippines
ESMO Advanced Course on Locoregional Systemic Therapy for Advanced HCC Patients, Singapore, December 2023
“This course was very fulfilling! During this Advanced Course, not only I have become familiar with the recent guidelines, but I also learned about the clinical day practice of colleagues coming from all over Asia, which was very enriching. I particularly appreciated the possibility of interacting with key opinion leaders, whose talks were excellent. The content was very relevant to my clinical practice. As a nuclear doctor, I now plan to participate more actively in the MDT and to increase the interaction with the medical oncologists to ensure the best treatment option for my patients.”
Manoj Gupta, India
ESMO-EANM Advanced Course on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Oncology, Singapore, December 2023
“This was my first time attending an ESMO Course and I would definitely repeat the experience! The educational style of the course allowed me to truly understand the possibilities of precision oncology, get comprehensive data from biomarkers and their detailed use in clinical practice, and find out about current issues generating hypotheses for further research. The section on immunotherapy was incredibly useful to me: after the discussion about the need for adjuvant therapy, among all the different changes I plan on adopting in my clinical practice, I will definitely be more careful about patient selection and case discussion during tumour board.”
Iryna Zherka, Belarus
ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Immuno-Oncology Across Tumours, Zurich, November 2023
“This Advanced Course provided valuable insights into the challenges and advancements in the treatment of this complex disease. The discussion surrounding adjuvant and palliative treatment were extremely stimulating. It was also beneficial to learn about the importance of personalized treatment plans and holistic palliative care. It underscored the relevance of continued research, clinical trials and patient centric care in improving outcomes for cholangiocarcinoma patients. This meeting was an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange and networking and I found it an extremely useful opportunity for professional growth and knowledge enhancement. The presentations and discussion offered a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and advancements in treating cholangiocarcinoma.”
Guacimara Ortega Sanchez, Switzerland
ESMO Advanced Course on Cholangiocarcinoma: Where are we going, Barcelona, September 2023
“Thanks to this ESMO Advanced Course I have learnt very precise and complete information on the rare targets. The clinical cases presented were insightful and the faculty was beyond expectations, both during lectures as well as discussion times. I gained very impactful insights on rare targets, so my ideas are more clear now, in particular about recent data and testing techniques. I will take home the enthusiasm for my projects and the central role of the pathologist for all my clinical and research activities. It was a great experience! I had the opportunity to meet top level colleagues from all over Europe and the Faculty was outstanding, especially because they were all very approachable and they made me feel free to share my ideas and projects.”
Arianna Marinello, France
ESMO Advanced Course on Precision Oncology in Oncogene-Addicted NSCLC, Barcelona, September 2023
“First of all, thanks to this ESMO Advanced Course I learnt a lot about the pathologists’ point of view and how the tumour molecular board should evolve and become a standard in every oncology reality. Second, I was inspired by the questions and doubts raised by my colleagues on resistance mechanism to TKI and how we can overcome this issue. I came back to Italy with some new ideas on topics to focus on in oncogene-addicted NSCLC patients. During the course, in fact, many questions were raised about problems we still need to solve and that do not just concern endpoints like PFS and OS. This experience was fulfilling, interesting and also fun. As a second year resident, I had the opportunity to listen to the experts’ presentations on specific topics and guidelines application, as well as to learn about the day-to-day work at various institutions in different parts of Europe. The best part of my first ESMO course was the chance to meet experts in this field from all over Europe. I think that, besides the application of the standard guidelines, by attending these courses one can learn a lot by getting to know how the “real work” is done in different countries and institutions.”
Martina Gasparro, Italy
ESMO Advanced Course on Precision Oncology in Oncogene-Addicted NSCLC, Barcelona, June 2023
“This ESMO Advanced Course has been a great opportunity for me to go through translational aspects of breast cancer and has expanded my knowledge of its molecular framework. It allowed me to understand the importance of detecting molecular aberrations and how to use this information in the therapeutic algorithm, aiming to select a precise drug for tumours harboring a specific alteration, ultimately providing to patients the most effective and safest treatment for their condition. I was very enthusiastic about my participation in this meeting because it represented an important chance to listen to outstanding talks by the main European experts in breast cancer translational world, and to interact with people from other countries who shared their experiences as oncology researchers. I particularly appreciated that the key leaders in breast oncology were actively taking part in the meeting not only as speakers but also as auditors, underlining how important is the topic of precision medicine in breast cancer.”
Claudia De Angelis, Italy
ESMO Advanced Course on Precision Oncology in Breast Cancer, Barcelona, June 2023
“This advanced course on Nuclear Medicine allowed me to improve my knowledge in the field, and refine the fundamentals acquired on diagnostic tools and radio-ligand therapy. I would like to thank the organizers and faculty for providing an excellent opportunity to broaden the treatment landscape for difficult-to-treat cancers and help us utilize the most up-to-date personalised oncology treatment options. I also appreciated the emphasis on the importance of multidisciplinary teams while accompanying patients through their ailments. Workshops were extremely interactive and were, not only a great opportunity for discussion of challenging clinical cases but also a chance to explore different treatment approaches across various countries through stimulating topics.My experience was overall quite positive. I highly recommend it for oncology healthcare professionals and would gladly participate again!”
Lyna Haybout, Finland
ESMO Advanced Course on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Oncology, Essen, May 2023
“This Advanced Course helped me to acquire the necessary skills to choose among different molecular tests and it taught me about various biomarkers and DNA-repair pathways to be used to achieve the most clinically useful results, as well as the limitations of these various methods. I absolutely loved the informal atmosphere of this course and the opportunity it gave me to learn from the leading experts in the field. It was really fantastic to be able to approach such an internationally renowned faculty, both during course sessions and during informal course breaks. The speakers’ willingness to teach and to mentor was really remarkable. At the same time, I appreciated very much to share and to exchange experiences with colleagues from other institutions and other countries. It felt both really encouraging and inspiring.”
Dorota Nowakowska, Poland
ESMO Advanced Course on Precision Oncology Across Tumours, Lisbon, May 2023
“This was a very complete course with very detailed lectures about the design and methods of Phase I trials, with step-by-step guidelines for patient selection, biomarkers, and pharmacodynamics. The course covered a wide range of topics by mentors who are internationally renowned in academia and industry. It provided me with a lot of useful information about how Phase I clinical trials are conducted, and more importantly the experts’ knowledge and experience to handle potential challenges such as financial issues, reviewing processes, IRBs, IP management, and safety reporting. I have benefited a lot, not only from the technical details but also from the in-depth interactions with experienced mentors and other participants from different countries in the Asian-Pacific region. We exchanged our everyday experiences from different research fields and agreed on the importance of multidisciplinary collaborations as well as getting involved in the research networks as a community. This experience was very helpful to establish multi-centre clinical trials in my future research.”
Xin Wang, Hong Kong SAR, China
ESMO Advanced Course on Early Drug Development, Singapore, February 2023
“I highly recommend this Advanced Course and I would be more than happy to participate again! The ESMO experts guided us into Exon 20 insertion molecular science, clinical application, clinical trials, and future possibilities. I especially appreciated the workshops on the second day, which turned out to be fruitful and remarkable. Also, discussing and making connections with colleagues from all over the world was enriching, and made us deem the possibility of building in the near future a more efficient international cooperation.”
Chang-Wei Wu, Taiwan
ESMO Advanced Course on EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations in NSCLC: Optimising Patient Diagnosis and Management, Singapore, December 2022
“Participating in this advanced course, allowed me to gain insights as to when it is advisable to suspect an NTRK fusion in a given clinical scenario and how to manage and follow up on these cases. In my country, this is very difficult to see in daily practice as we do not have access to many drugs and, for this reason, we do not even consider testing and/or suspecting the possibility of TRK fusions. I also had the opportunity to learn the types of NTRK fusions, the epidemiology of TRK fusions in various adult and pediatric tumours, the methodology, the algorithms and challenges involved in testing TRK fusions and the drugs used to target them. All sessions were very informative and gave a clear overview of NTRK fusions and their management.”
Siva Sree Kesana, India
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on NTRK Gene Fusion: A New Target in Precision Treatment of Cancer, December 2022
“The ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Cancer Medicine was a great educational event. One of the things I appreciated the most is the high level of engagement, which was not comparable to any other conference I have attended so far. I am thankful to the renowned faculty for presenting up-to-date lectures and for making this course so communicative and interactive. The sessions on the first day laid the foundations to more clinically oriented, practical, and valuable workshops on the second day, where, among the other things, I have learned how to read and interpret reports from NGS results. In this era of fast scientific achievements, these courses are an essential tool to exchange ideas with experts in the field and bring advanced knowledge into practice. Thank you ESMO for this enjoyable course!”
Amalya Sargsyan, Armenia
ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Cancer Medicine, Zurich, November 2022
“This ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on KRAS targeting in NSCLC has provided comprehensive and structured knowledge about new targets of precision medicine in oncology practice. This advanced course has given me more confidence as a thoracic radiation oncologist not only in treating patients but also as part of a multidisciplinary team.The virtual format was very successful and has given me the opportunity to interact constructively with international experts in the field in a very efficient way.
It was overall a great experience. I really appreciate the fact that the educational material is available on OncologyPRO soon after the meeting.”
Hongcheng Zhu, China
The ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on KRAS targeting in NSCLC, November 2022
“The experience at this advanced course was nothing less than fantastic! The knowledge in oncology is rapidly evolving and one may struggle to catch up with all the emerging data: joining this advanced course, has made me confident that my practice is up-to-date and that my patients are receiving the best care available based on current scientific evidence. I have learned the nuts and bolts of early-stage NSCLC from experts in the field and gained new insights on how to manage challenging cases. Faculty members were very available, and I had the opportunity to ask questions and clarify my doubts. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to my colleagues and trainees!”
Thamlikitkul Lucksamon, Thailand
ESMO Advanced Course on Early Stage NSCLC, Melbourne, October 2022
“I attended this advanced course with an open mind and big expectations and the course was exactly what I had hoped for. Given the large number of available biomarker testing tools, it is essential to know the clinical utility and practical application as well as the cost-effectiveness of each. The 2 days of the course were very intense: a deep interactive learning on molecular oncology and precision medicine, a good mix of didactic lectures and clinical case-based workshops, coupled with fun networking and a lot of insight gathering. Thank you ESMO for opportunities like these that continue to build capabilities and enhance learning beyond geographical barriers.”
Grace Nilo, Philippines
ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, Singapore, October 2022
“Participating in this advanced course allowed me to learn valuable information about diagnostic imaging and therapies as well as how to build a PRRT unit. In my daily work, patients often ask me about new frontiers of therapy and diagnostic methods. It’s necessary to provide correct information and refer patients to the best medical center. By attending this course, I feel that I updated my knowledge, which will help my future practice. My experience at the course was perfect—there were knowledgeable speakers with impressive scientific and practical experience, while the informal setting with the constant exchange of experiences between the speakers and audience created a comfortable environment. The hotel accommodation and timing of the course were also well-organized. Linking ESMO and EANM was an excellent chance to improve networking and to get different perspectives on nuclear medicine.”
Chiara Peterle, Italy
ESMO-EANM Advanced Course on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Oncology, Essen, July 2022
“This ESMO Advanced Course has truly been a high yield discussion on the fundamental topics and latest developments on the management of advanced bladder and renal cell carcinoma. Practice-changing developments in the field were presented and synthesized in an organized and relatable manner to oncologists. It allowed me to see a different perspective that is beyond what is currently done in my local practice. The meeting also allowed me to better understand the essentials in the management of advanced bladder and renal cell carcinoma patients, and the value of having a multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure the successful treatment of these cases. The case-based scenarios were interesting and practical, and the discussion was well-organized. I commend ESMO for continuously looking for ways to help the oncology community to improve the management of cancer patients. My experience in this advanced course, just like the many other preceptorship courses I have been involved with in the past, has been enjoyable. Attending these advanced courses has a deep impact and contributes to the confidence of oncologists starting out in clinical practice.”
Marvin Jonne Mendoza, Philippines
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Advanced Bladder & Renal Cell Carcinoma, June 2022
“By joining this advanced course, I learnt more about GI cancers: the basics as well as risk factors of early onset colorectal cancer—about novel therapeutics and the evolving treatment landscape in GI cancers, including immunotherapy, anti-HER2, and targeted therapies in colorectal, esophageal, gastric, HCC, and biliary tract cancers. During the case discussions, I learnt about possible multidisciplinary approaches for GI cancers. Since several cases that I often see in the clinic and those discussed on the tumour board are GI malignancies, I feel that this meeting armed me with knowledge on the current and novel therapeutic and management options for GI malignancies which in future will help me make management decisions within my team. The topics chosen for this virtual course were very relevant to daily practice. I especially loved the workshop sessions, wherein I heard opinions from experts in the field. I appreciated that I was able to ask questions about some of the difficult cases I have encountered, and the panel of experts was approachable and kind even in a virtual format. I always recommend that my fellow medical oncologists and trainees attend and take advantage of ESMO courses, for I always learn a lot from them.”
Adeline Gonzales, Philippines
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Applying Latest Advances in Clinic for GI Cancers, June 2022
“In the ESMO Advanced Course on Cancer Vaccines and Cellular Immunotherapy, I got an update of ongoing trials and new concepts in the field. My participation in the meeting influenced my daily practice in that it made me think about how I would design new pre-clinical and clinical trials. The course was well-organized, and I especially appreciated the synthetic and clear presentations in the context of the online format.”
Max Piffoux, France
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Cancer Vaccines and Cellular Immunotherapy, April 2022
“This was a lovely event. I enjoyed all the presentations and interactions. As a medical oncologist focused on the treatment of genitourinary malignancies, I found this event to be especially relevant. I had the opportunity to discuss treatment options for prostate cancer with leaders in the field, and I intend to update my practice and form new ideas for research projects in the future. I know that the new concepts of therapies on molecular alterations of prostate cancer that I learned about in this course will influence my treatment decisions in the years to come.”
Carlos Eduardo Salazar Mejίa, Mexico
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer, March 2022
“This Advanced Course gave me the opportunity to review basic but fundamental concepts about colorectal cancer biology and characterization, and also provided exciting new evidence on various specific fields, such as the use of circulating tumor DNA in early-stage disease or promising data on the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic colon cancer. The chance to learn about recent advances regarding colorectal cancer, in addition to an update on core scientific topics, will definitely impact my daily practice. I believe this will help me make better decisions in defining treatment strategies, as well as be more aware of the complexity of new arising data that can change the continuum of care in this disease as we know it. I always appreciate the opportunity to hear and learn from experts from different countries, being able to understand other realities. I believe this Advanced Course was a good moment for my clinical training, and the environment created by the faculty was very welcoming, promoting and encouraging participants to ask questions.”
José Brito da Silva, Portugal
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Innovation and Emerging Knowledge in Colorectal Cancer, January 2022
“This virtual advanced course was a unique opportunity to update my knowledge on the genomic landscape and recent advances in management of localized and metastatic prostate cancer. The evidence-based case discussions on recent modalities of radiation therapy and the fractionation schedules would definitely influence my practice. This meeting has provided deeper insight into the genomics of prostate cancer and its relevance in prognosis and management. Though virtual, I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion and the enthusiasm of the entire group. The case discussions based on recent evidence were very interesting. I would like to thank the whole Faculty for the wonderful interaction throughout the sessions. The thing I appreciated most was the emphasis put on recent trials and the case presentation discussions, in context with the Asian setting, which is so much relevant in my daily practice.”
Venkata Krishna Reddy Pilaka, India
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer December 2021
“NTRK gene fusion is a new tumour diagnostic biomarker. Its way of functioning is still unknown to many oncologists and, therefore, getting to understand its mechanisms and the methodology to identify it, really opened the way to new methods of treatment. The experts case studies and diagnostic criteria will be useful in my practice to search for this unusual mutation in rare and refractory cancers where treatment is available.
The Faculty of this course is well balanced with both oncologists and pathologists. Besides, being a small group, made the discussion quite interactive and informative. With the Covid 19 pandemic still prevailing, virtual or hybrid will be new norm and it is essential for oncologists to be able to receive and share info about new developments in cancer treatments in the safety of their homes and avoiding unnecessary travels.”
Ravi Patnaik, Brunei Darussalam
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on NTRK Gene Fusion: A New Target in Precision Treatment of Cancer, December 2021
"Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity! I work in Romania, a country with limited material and human resources, where NGS testing and access to clinical trials are limited. Therefore, I usually get access to the information provided in the course only in the scientific literature. It was great to see so many people passionate about these topics, that have the chance to apply all these new strategies for the benefit of the patients. This educational course, as well as the other ESMO courses and preceptorships I had the chance to attend previously, had an excellent curriculum, presented by experts in the field. The organisation was flawless, thanks to the wonderful ESMO staff."
Edvina Elena Pirvu, Romania
ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, November 2021
“This was a very important experience for me as a young specialist who has been working for a year in prescribing anti-tumour drug treatment. By participating in this virtual meeting I learned about the new possibilities of drug therapy for KRAS mutations and gained a more detailed understanding of KRAS biology. My daily practice has changed and improved to the point that now I can explain to patients in a more professional way why they need a drug acting on KRAS or why it needs to be added to a chemotherapy regimen for treatment. Most of all, I appreciated the detailed analysis of biology and the study of the molecular aberrations of KRAS; it was also interesting to learn about the new results of clinical trials and therapeutic strategies.”
Sofiia Simonenko, Russian Federation
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on KRAS Targeting in NSCLC, October 2021
“This virtual advanced course covered a wide range of precision oncology topics. It gave me the opportunity to consolidate my knowledge on various cancer-related genetic alterations and the relevant diagnostic tests. This educational event also covered emerging technologies and biomarkers and it provided me with a basic understanding of these technologies. The course also gave me ideas on how to conduct translational research in the future. In my institution, we demand investigations and discuss treatment recommendations based on guidelines and landmark trials, however we often lack an understanding of the basic science underneath, including the pathogenesis of genetic alterations, pros and cons of different molecular tests, future biomarkers, etc. This advanced course brought together high-level medical oncologists, pathologists and scientists who offered a simple yet essential synthesis of precision oncology to medical oncology trainees like us. I really appreciated the session on HRD that was the best I have ever heard. Excellent course!”
Molly Siu Ching, Hong Kong SAR, China
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, September 2021
“After attending this advanced course I feel more confident in managing patients with prostate cancer. This meeting taught me that there is no “one size fits all”; many therapeutic options are available, and we should tailor the treatment according to the patient’s preferences and comorbidities and also to the tumor biology and disease stage. The lectures covered all topics from the translational research to the clinic, and from localized disease to the metastatic setting. Special thanks to the moderators who conveyed our queries to the panelists and provided adequate time for a fruitful debate. The thing I appreciated the most is that the course was updated with the latest findings in the field; even data from the last ESMO Congress, which was held the week before, was incorporated in the lectures and discussions. This denotes the huge efforts invested by the speakers to provide a comprehensive and evidence-based overview of the topic to participants from across the globe. I could not be more grateful for such an opportunity!”
Ichrak Ben Abdallah, Tunisia
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer, September 2021
“This course was exceptional, both in terms of programme and presentations. The main topic was state-of-the-art knowledge on applications of nuclear medicine in oncology and the rationale for theranostics, based on the use of one radioactive drug to diagnose the tumour and a second one for the treatment. I appreciated the high quality of all lectures, illustrated by examples of existing applications of nuclear medicine as well as the vision of future changes, which in the field of oncology usually come very soon. I definitely recommend this course to all medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists and surgeons who treat these pathologies. It is a unique opportunity to learn about this very specific topic.”
Katarzyna Holub, Spain
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Nuclear Medicine in Oncology, July 2021
“This Advanced Course has been a very enriching experience since the lectures were comprehensive, easy-to-understand, and well targeted to the audience. I have greatly expanded my knowledge regarding the many different technologies used in liquid biopsy beyond CTCs and ctDNA. I will now have a better understanding of the pros and cons of using liquid biopsies in my daily practice, namely for the detection of oncogenic drivers among patients with lung cancer (my main field of work). Additionally, the acquired knowledge is helping me to develop a trial to assess the clinical utility of performing extended NGS in ctDNA from patients with advanced NSCLC. Finally, I appreciated the interaction between the Faculty and the participants; although it was a virtual meeting, everybody was very eager to interact and to discuss questions and ideas.”
Mariana Brandão, Belgium
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Management, June 2021
“I have learned a lot from this meeting. Firstly about the current applications of CAR-T in solid tumors, secondly about drugs and targets in general and thirdly and most important, how to wisely choose and plan the treatment, considering the cost and effort behind each drug. Thanks to this meeting, I will look more closely at patients with lymphoma aiming at identifying the eligible ones for CAR-T, suggesting it when needed. The thing I appreciated most was the opportunity to extend my daily learning opportunities. I want to express my gratitude to the organizers and speakers, since everything went smoothly on the virtual platform and the speakers did their best to address such a complex topic leaving enough time for discussion. I look forward to participating in more courses like this!”
Aleksei Koviazin, Russian Federation
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on CAR-T and Next Generation Cell Therapies in Haematology and Solid Tumours, June 2021
“The overall approach and the proper management of the subset of patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC was one of the most important things I learnt by attending this meeting. The outstanding speakers covered all the aspects: from structure of EGFR to mechanisms of resistance and new drugs in the development of resistance. I feel more confident in managing uncommon EGFR mutations after listening to the experts and this will benefit my patients. I am sure that the clarity on the nuances of EGFR mutated NSCLC, which I got after participating to this event, will improve the overall management of my patients. I was able to clear all my doubts and queries with the Faculty. It was an excellent and unique learning experience for me. This event, although virtual, was thoroughly enjoyable. Having the opportunity to attend this virtual advanced course on EGFR- mutated NSCLC has opened for me additional areas of interest in this field. It was very well organized and all the sessions were very interactive. The event not only was high in its educational content and organizational aspects, but also gave me enough space and time to interact with many excellent speakers. I am grateful to ESMO for giving me the opportunity to attend this course which was one of the most comprehensive and finest virtual meetings.”
Divya Khosla, India
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on EGFR-Mutated NSCLC, June 2021
“This high-quality virtual meeting provided me with an excellent update about the state-of-the-art within diagnostics, therapeutical modalities, and treatment strategies in GEP neuroendocrine neoplasms. The virtual format worked excellently and fitted the purpose of the course. I particularly liked the interactive sessions and the case discussions. Being able to give a feedback and ask questions during the event via chat is great. I have attended various educational meetings, and this was by far the best. I have really appreciated the live interaction and discussions via chat. It worked perfectly.”
Gabor Liposits, Denmark
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Individualising the Therapeutic Approach in Patients with GEP NENs, May 2021
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and learnt a lot from it. It was great to observe the tremendous progress in prostate cancer management. The course brought together experts from various backgrounds who covered all aspects of prostate cancer very comprehensively including updates on the current evidence and standard of care, emerging treatment and what is on the horizon including how we apply the evidence into clinical practice. I learnt most from the discussion on real-life cases, their management options and pros and cons. It highlighted the challenges clinicians face on daily basis, that require not only knowledge on the available evidence but also the art of applying the data from clinical studies into individual patients, especially in situations where there is lack of clear evidence. It was very reassuring to observe that we do share many similarities in terms of challenges and decision-making which enhanced my confidence with my own practice and thought process. The virtual meeting had many advantages. It brought together individuals from various parts of the world onto the same platform more efficiently. No extra time needed for travels & logistics, which was very convenient for busy clinicians and academicians. Thanks so much.”
Marniza Saad, Malaysia
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer, March 2021
“This virtual meeting was as well organized as the “real” ones. We were offered new comprehensive knowledge from the best experts. In many aspects, this course has a significant impact on our daily practice: we can implement new instructions and new guidelines into our workflow to improve patients’ treatment. I really enjoyed the discussion part which allowed us to analyze the latest data from studies and how they can influence our treatment protocols. This preceptorship also helped a lot to understand how to detect and choose druggable targets and accompanying medications to reach the most reasonable future perspectives for our patients.”
Andrea Furka, Hungary
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Innovation and Emerging Knowledge in Colorectal Cancer, December 2020
“As a clinical pathologist, the course was extremely informative and helpful to me. I was able to get comprehensive pathological and oncological perspectives of the NTRK gene fusion from experts. I felt there was a knowledge gap about this specific topic that was completely filled and sealed! As a result of my participation, I am more aware of diagnostic approaches of the NTRK gene fusion as well as treatment options. This course has helped me improve my diagnostic skills and provide better consultations. I like how ESMO has nicely switched to the virtual mode of delivering conferences and advanced courses. Virtual meetings have worked nicely with my work schedule. In this particular course, I was able to ask question and make comments in a very convenient way. Everything was nicely organized and well put together. One thing that I really appreciated was the level and diversity of speakers on this course. Such knowledgeable experts were able to nicely and smoothly address all aspect of NTRK gene fusion. I like how the session started from basics and moved to epidemiological overview then evolved to pathological diagnosis to conclude with treatment and clinical trails.”
Mohanad Nada, Iraq
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on NTRK Gene Fusion: A New Target in Precision Treatment of Cancer, November 2020
“This course has been extremely useful! I gained more knowledge on the different methods and their strengths and limitations. In addition, it provided me with a more systematic and structured way of thinking and evaluating the results of the different methods. I really enjoyed the speaker's presentations and the workshops discussions of the clinical cases which really helped me assimilate acquired knowledge during the course and put that in a clinical and research context. The faculty was truly dedicated to explaining and discussing all the different aspects that influence my approach to what investigations consider sound biomarker studies.”
Andri Papakonstantinou, Sweden
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, November 2020
“With the exponential increase in the number of biomarkers and associated druggable targets, it is sometimes difficult to keep up to date with the latest developments. This was a timely, well-designed, structured course organized by ESMO and taught by expert Faculty members covering many aspects of this evolving field which included the basics, in depth discussions and interpretative challenges, which also allowed me to gain a more thorough understanding of the current limitations, pitfalls, and future directions. The course has given me confidence in interpreting commonly encountered biomarkers and their clinical relevance, and I personally believe that it is a prerequisite for anyone who is interested in applying the principles of precision medicine in daily clinical practice. Despite being a virtual meeting there was a lot of discussion and interaction with the expert panel. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to participate again, and hopefully attend in person when the COVID-19 pandemic settles!”
Rashid Lui, Hong Kong SAR, China
ESMO Virtual Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, September 2020
"This advanced course will influence my daily practice as it has improved the skills I need to be part of the MTBs meetings in my home institute. A personalised medicine approach will become more used in the near future and oncologists should be properly trained to deal with NGS testing. The experts’ panel was well prepared to deliver a comprehensive education about a very theoretical field. I really appreciated their willingness to discuss difficult topics and the open atmosphere created."
Gabriel Funingana, United Kingdom
ESMO Advanced Course on Biomarkers for Precision Medicine, Zürich, November 2019
"I really appreciated the quality of organisation, programme and competence of the speakers throughout the course. The course provided a complete and effective overview of the NTRK testing and treatments. It was a great experience and I hope to be able to have the opportunity to participate in other courses."
Giovanna De Maglio, Italy
ESMO Advanced Course on NTRK Gene Fusion, Barcelona, October 2019
"The course provided the opportunity to listen to comprehensive lectures and actively participate in group discussions with colleagues from other countries. I have learnt about a brand-new field in precise oncology – the NTRK gene fusion and TRK inhibitors as well as new drugs under development. Thank you ESMO for a perfectly organised course!"
Bohdan Bidovanets, Ukraine
ESMO Advanced Course on NTRK Gene Fusion, Lyon, September 2019
"The meeting was awesome in all aspects: scientific content, faculty, venue and organization. By participating I learnt about the management of advanced prostate cancer with a comprehensive approach. It also gave the immense opportunity to interact with an international faculty. I will now be able to offer state-of-the-art treatments to my patients and stop using bone modifying agent in castration-naive metastatic disease due to absence of supporting data. Thank you ESMO!"
Amol Nandkumar Patel, India
ESMO Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer, Singapore, September 2019
"Great experience, learning from top professors and sharing knowledge, doubts and personal experience with oncologists from other countries.I really appreciated the debate pro and contra about first-line treatment with IO in lung cancer and had the opportunity of directly ask and discuss clinical cases with top oncologists at the workshop sessions.This meeting will impact directly my daily practice as I treat every day lung cancer patients with IO."
Miguel Garcia, Spain
ESMO Advanced Course on Lung Cancer in Immunotherapy, Zürich, July 2019
"I believe ESMO could not have a better concept for education than Advanced Courses. I'm amazed by this course, the interactivity there and everything I have learned. This course highlighted the importance of individualizing MDT approach taking into consideration all the specificity of neuroendocrine tumour biology and reflecting on both diagnostic and treatment options, treatment complications and patient's wishes. It provided evidence-based background, pointing specificities regarding NENs studies and their clinical implications, and reflected on current unmet needs in this field which are going to be a subject of future research."
Petra Vuković , Croatia
ESMO Advanced Course on Individualising the therapeutic approach in patients with NENs, Barcelona, June 2019
"Neuroendocrine tumours are rare malignancies and there is a lack of experience and literature, therefore this course was really helpful as it gave us a lot of useful information in a very interactive atmosphere. I found the workshop part particularly effective as it helped us to improve our clinical way of thinking and to consider the importance of a multidisciplinary team."
Lilit Harutyunyan, Armenia
ESMO Advanced Course on Individualising the therapeutic approach in patients with NENs, Barcelona, June 2019
"This advanced course was a great opportunity to keep up with the complex and fast changing world of oncology and to learn how a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to manage patients. The knowledge gained during this course allowed me to learn, unlearn and re-learn data regarding prostate cancer management and will help me to choose the best clinical approach tailored to each single patient. The workshops were one of the highlights of this course: they allowed us to interact actively and challenged us to apply what we already knew and what we have learnt during the course to real clinical case scenarios."
Maria Diana Aileen Chua Bautista, Philippines
ESMO Advanced Course on Clinical Questions in Prostate Cancer, Singapore, September 2018
"The meeting was excellent. The interactive approach was very innovative and useful. The Faculty was outstanding and composed of high level experts in every field of immuno-oncology, including some of the rising stars of the European medical oncology field. I have learnt how to manage and recognize immune-related adverse events of special interest, especially in unusual organs, and how to better interpret responses to immuno-oncology."
Alessandro Russo, Italy
ESMO Advanced Course on Unsolved Questions in Immuno-Oncology, Amsterdam, February 2018