The 18th ECCO – 40th ESMO European Cancer Congress (ECC2015) is the largest European multidisciplinary oncology platform for presenting ground-breaking data to a global audience this year.

We are on a path where each ECC Congress sets new records – increasing in the number of participants and submitted abstracts. The most recent ECC2013 in Amsterdam registered 16% growth in delegates and a massive 38% increase in the number of submitted abstracts compared to our event in Stockholm in 2011.

The European Cancer Congress is now giving fresh impetus to its unique philosophy of collaborative innovation to improve outcomes and find new solutions to pressing issues. Led by the ECC2015 Education Committee Chair, the educational programme is a result of the collaboration of all ECCO founding members, all experts in their respective fields. The programme is more streamlined, with fewer tracks, facilitating an even more productive experience for delegates. This Congress bridges basic and translational research to the clinic as research drives the change in how we treat our patients.

Topics of the greatest interest to a multidisciplinary audience will be presented by the very experts who will implement them. There are multidisciplinary tumour board sessions with a clinical orientation supported by case presentations. These sessions emulate multidisciplinary teams working in the real world and provide participants with concrete insights for immediate practical application. The scientific symposia will focus on the new developments in research and treatment that will impact the future of cancer diagnosis and care. ECC2015 will expand the much needed dialogue between basic and clinical researchers as well as the one between pathologists, molecular imaging specialists and clinicians whenever possible. The educational symposia and teaching lectures will provide state-of-the-art training in the most relevant topics in oncology at this time. We have designed more integrated sessions bringing about dialogue and discussion in overlapping areas of scientific research. The Oxford style debates are designed to shed light on the controversial topics impacting an oncologist’s practice today.

The ECC programme also includes a track dedicated to public policy in cancer control. The Oncopolicy Forum harnesses the expertise and experience of the entire oncology community to bridge the gap between science and policy, and maximise the potential for achieving positive policy development with patient interests at the core.

The patient perspective is at the heart of the programme and of our collaborative innovation philosophy aimed at improving outcomes and including patients in identifying breakthrough solutions. The patient voice is now even more present in scientific sessions and delivers essential understanding enabling us to learn and to provide the best possible treatment and care.

Following its record number of abstract submissions in previous congresses, ECC2015 is again opening for abstract submission in January with a deadline of 28 April 2022. Abstracts will be selected to populate the presidential and proffered paper sessions and the poster and poster discussion sessions.

Each poster session is a must-attend event with over 3000 participants viewing the posters. This year, we will host “Posters in the spotlight” where selected authors will present their data during the poster sessions. This unique viewing will take place in the poster area.

And finally our late-breaking submission policy is specially designed to ensure the Congress embraces all promising new developments to ensure a very advanced, forward-looking scientific programme.

An application has been made to the EACCME® for CME accreditation of this event. In addition, we have enriched the programme with new elements over and above those of CME – there are unique mentorship opportunities, a special leadership programme, and a number of targeted sessions offering insights into important areas of professional development for oncologists.

ECC2015 is a unique multidisciplinary Congress with a programme looking to the future through education, research and development, changing the landscape of oncology to improve the quality of treatment and care of cancer patients.

You may now browse the details of the scientific programme for the hot topics which will be presented by leading experts in each of our 27 tracks and for all the integrated sessions making the most of promising connections in research and clinical practice.

We are confident that you will discover much to interest you and we look forward to seeing you in Vienna in September!

Martine Piccart, Congress Chair, ECCO President

Rolf A. Stahel, ESMO President

Peter Naredi, ECCO Scientific Co-Chair

Elisabeth De Vries, ESMO Scientific Co-Chair

Jean-Yves Douillard, ECC2015 Education Committee Chair

Christoph Zielinski, National Organising Committee Chair