Course director

• Vincenzo Valentini, Radiation Oncologist, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Rome (IT) 

Teachers

• William Allum, Surgeon, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London (UK)
• Francesco Cellini, Radiation Oncologist, Universita’ Cattolica S. Cuore, Rome (IT)
• Hanneke van Laarhoven, Medical Oncologist, Academisch Medisch Centrum Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam (NL)
• Alexander Quaas, Pathologist, Universitätsklinikum Köln, Köln (DE)
• Angela Riddell, Radiologist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London (UK)
• Dirk Verellen, Medical Physicist, Iridium Kankernetwerk, University of Antwerp, Antwerp (BE)
• Marcel Verheij, Radiation Oncologist, Radboudumc Nijmegen, Nijmegen (NL) 

Local Organiser

• Prof Livi, Full Professor in Radiation Oncology, Chair of department of Radiation Oncology - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence

The improvement of technology opportunities in radiation oncology challenges the role of radiotherapy in many tumour sites. Upper GI tumours share a very unfavourable prognosis and in the meantime they could benefit from technology innovation. 

The aim of the course is to support an interactive educational environment by peer review of each step of radiation therapy practice (indication, prescription, delineation, planning, IGRT, outcome evaluation) according to the modern available technologies and knowledge while taking care of the clinician, physicist and RTT perspectives.

Specialists of different disciplines will support the radiation oncology audience in understanding the clinical needs, anatomic and pathologic details, and the therapeutic achievements needed to optimise radiation oncology knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, for each upper GI tumour site, participants should be able to practice:

Proper indication for radiation therapy in a multidisciplinary perspective

• Appropriate prescription 
• Tailored delineation according to tumour location and stage
• Dose distribution optimisation and comparison
• Optimal use of available IGRT technologies
• Proper monitoring of tumour response and control.

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course, participants should have practiced upper GI cancer: 

Tumour board discussion

Delineation

Planning optimisation and comparison

IGRT

Outcome monitoring.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Interactive sessions

Small working groups

Individual practice.

Methods of assessment

Small working groups with experts

On site Survey Monkey

Questionnaires.

Course content:

Session 1: Prescription

Participants will be invited to make their prescription on cases, that will afterwards be delineated and planned in the following sessions by a Survey Monkey questionnaire. Lectures on imaging based staging and state of art of treatment will help the final discussion.

Session 2: Delineation (FALCON session)

The previously discussed cases will be available for a tutored small working group delineation exercise. A video on surgical procedure highlighting the key surgical steps to have a better understanding of the local anatomy will be commented on by a surgeon.

Session 3: Delineation

Lectures on primary tumour extension and nodal subsite involvement based on pathology evaluation and modern imaging will support the final recommendation for subsite delineation by stage and tumour position for the delineated cases.

Session 4: Planning 

The choice among competitive plans for the cases by interactive systems will be supported by lectures on dose issues for tumour control and constraints for organs at risk.

Session 5: In room imaging guided radiotherapy 

Drill and practice exercises in small working groups on how to determine PTV margin, and IGRT by portal imaging and CT cone beam will favour discussion on daily dose delivery issues.

Session 6: What we learn by failure analysis and future perspective

The challenge of tumour recurrence will be addressed by lectures on how to distinguish primary recurrence vs nodal recurrence by imaging, on incidence and location of local recurrences and on the new treatment perspectives.

The scientific programme is available here

Key words

Upper GI malignancies, oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, multidisciplinary management, delineation, planning, IGRT, outcome evaluation.

Accreditation

The course has been granted 21 European CME credits (ECMEC®s) by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®).

Centro Servizi e Formazione Montedomini

Via Faenza 48 (black),

50123 Firenze,

Italy.

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2023 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

Early rates are applied up to three months before the starting date of the course.

Late rates are applied three months before the starting date of the course.

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Since the number of participants is limited, late registrants are advised to contact the ESTRO office before payment, to inquire about availability of places. Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

The organiser does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policies.   

In case an unforeseen event would force ESTRO to cancel the meeting, the Society will reimburse the participants fully the registration fees. ESTRO will not be responsible for the refund of travel and accommodation costs.

In case of cancellation, full refund of the registration fee minus 15% for administrative costs may be obtained up to three months before the course and 50% of the fee up to one month before the course. No refund will be made if the cancellation request is postmarked less than one month before the start of the course.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2023 are eligible (please make sure your 2023 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

 Please note:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
• Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees (3 months before the course date).