European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma

A new corporation joins the fight against cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). At 25th September 2018, partners of the World Cholangiocarcinoma Day from USA (The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, The Bili Project Foundation and TargetCancer Foundation), Thailand (The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation of Thailand and Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Programme (CASCAP)) and Europe (AMMF The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity) gathered at the Imperial College London (London, United Kingdom). Inspired by this meeting, the first Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance was founded to boost international collaboration as well to broaden the knowledge and visibility of this devastating cancer. The aspiring goals to be achieved by this alliance in the struggle against CCA will be launched in a comprehensive porfolio of initiatives at the beginning of 2019. 

Given the social value and scientific relevance of this event, Dr. Vinzenzo Cardinale (Rome, Italy) and Dr. Sahid A. Kan (London, United Kingdom) attended on behalf of the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma (ENS-CCA). The presence of the ENS-CCA served to show interest in this outstanding initiative and to offer its contribution. Since the ENS-CCA is constituted by numerous clinical and research experts on CCA, this may reinforce the European branch of the alliance.

Advances in the etiology, diagnosis, progression and eradication of this lethal disease will lead to greater global awareness.

The “II Biennal Congress of the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma (ENS-CCA)”, organized by Professor Domenico Alvaro, was held during the 21^st to 23^rd June 2018 in the Sapienza University of Rome, an exceptional place at the Italian capital. The excellent organization of the congress allowed participants to enjoy all the interesting talks focused on clinical and basic aspects of CCA. Noteworthy, during this conference the guidelines that govern this scientific network were established and presented.

A total of 180 participants attended the Congress in which 36 studies were presented, including 8 oral presentations by young investigators. Furthermore, during the meeting, several international collaborations between ENS-CCA members were proposed, further promoting and strengthening the study of this nefarious malignant tumor in Europe.  These collaborations could be only possible since a very friendly environment was noticeable along the conference and the social gatherings. 

Last but not least, a special recognition was attributed to Professor Domenico Alvaro for his outstanding career and for all the contributions that he provided to the scientific community. 

CHECK PROGRAM

We would like to invite you to the EASL Monothematic Conference on "CHOLANGIOCYTES IN HEALTH AND DISEASE: FROM BASIC SCIENCE TO NOVEL TREATMENTS" to be held on 09-11 June 2017 in Oslo, Norway.

The conference will address major novel findings on the pathophysiology of biliary diseases and bile acid metabolism; implications of the gains in knowledge on the current and future clinical practice will be discussed. It will be the perfect venue for young scientists and clinicians to present their work and listen to key opinion leaders about what will be important in science and in clinics in the coming years.

We highly encourage all of you to submit abstracts and attend the meeting. 

More information

The "I International Monothematic Congress in Cholangiocarcinoma" was held in San Sebastian (Spain) and attracted more than 60 clinic and basic researchers specialist in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Participants came from several European countries, as well as from the United States of America, to discuss current issues about this rare cancer whose incidence is growing worldwide. 

From 04 to 06 May 2016, a remarkable programme was developed around the State of Art of the cholangiocarcinoma. The organizers of this scientific event (Dr. Banales, Dr. Bujanda and Dr. Marzioni) awarded 4 young researchers with a travel bursary for the oral communication of their scientific work in front of CCA experts during the meeting.

The conference culminated with a session in which all members of the ENS-CCA discussed crucial points about the management of the European registry on cholangiocarcinoma. This initiative was funded a month earlier by EASL, the main European body for the study of the liver. 

The next meeting to share the new discoveries around the pathophysiology of this biliary cancer will be in June 2018 and it is expected to have a greater impact on the scientific society than the first edition.

In April 2016, the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma (ENS-CCA) was awarded with the EASL Registry Data Collection Grant a way to boost the establishment of consortia groups dedicated to data gathering which focus specifically on liver diseases.

The proposal of the ENS-CCA, entitled "European Registry Data Collection on Cholagiocarcinoma" was selected by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Governing Board as one of the four beneficiaries of this important prize. In the case of the ENS-CCA, the funding provided has been set aside to create an international, multicenter and observational cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) database using a secure web application called REDCap™, as well as for the shipping of samples between the institutions of the network. This international collaborative project will allow to collect, both retrospectively and prospectively, a large information of CCA patients, who will provide detailed knowledge about the geographical distribution and the natural course of CCA. 

Dr. Bañales gathered up the award on behalf of all ENS-CCA members in the event held on the International Liver Congress™ 2016 organized by the EASL in Barcelona.