The Congress welcomed an active field of experts, researchers, and clinicians from around the world for a robust scientific learning program and networking opportunity.

BARCELONA (July 7, 2022) — For the first time since 2019, the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (World GI) was held in person this year, bringing together a global community of oncology professionals dedicated to improving the lives of patients impacted by diseases of the GI tract.

Organized by HMP Global, the leading healthcare event and education company, in collaboration with the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the 24th annual World GI was held June 29 through July 2 at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona. The premier global gathering in the field, the Congress brought together thousands of oncology, pathology, and hepatology experts, clinicians, and surgeons, as well as clinical researchers from across the globe to share pioneering research, approaches, and best practices in improving patient outcomes.

The scientific program featured lectures, tandem talks, debates, keynote lectures, and abstract presentations examining a range of gastrointestinal malignancies. Focus areas included pancreatic cancer, cancer of the bile ducts, clinical trials, rare tumors, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, liver malignancies, prevention of GI cancers, immunotherapy for GI cancers, colorectal cancer, and peritoneal metastases.

Conference chairs include:

• Dr. Eric Van Cutsem, professor and Division Head of Digestive Oncology at the University of Leuven, and University Hospitals Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium. Dr. Van Cutsem co-founded the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer and serves as founding chair.
• Dr. Josep Tabernero, head of the Medical Oncology Department at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, and professor of medicine at UVic-UCC. Dr. Tabernero serves as chairman of the World GI Congress.
• Dr. Michel Ducreux, head of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Unit at Gustave Roussy, and professor of oncology at University of Paris Saclay in France. Dr. Ducreux serves as vice chairman of the World GI Congress.

“Throughout the Congress, we learned of the latest updates in available treatments, and new best practices that we can incorporate into our day-to-day work with patients,” said Dr. Van Cutsem. “We were honored to host the leading minds in gastrointestinal oncology. The 2022 Congress was an exciting experience, and it was wonderful to meet and share with the GI oncology professionals who are changing the world.”

Poster presentations and guided poster discussions during the event allowed authors to present their ground-breaking research on esophageal, colon, rectal, hepatocellular, gastric, pancreatic, and biliary tract cancers, and neuroendocrine and other GI tumors. Abstract awards were presented on June 30, recognizing Travel Award winners Paramasivam Arumugam, Nandin-Erdene Enkhbaatar, Shivakumar Gudi, Babita Kataria, and Rahul Krishnatry, and Young Investigator award winners Nicolas Cabrit and Maximilian Kloft.

Dr. Egidijus Morkūnas, gastroenterologist from Lithuania, said he enjoyed the scientific program and the structure of the World GI Congress.

“It allowed us to go deeper, with different types of cancers,” he said. “It was great to meet the leading specialists in the field. I am from a smaller country, and this Congress allowed me to meet with professors from Belgium, France, Austria, and other countries.”

Dr. Waleed Al Selwi, medical oncologist from Saudi Arabia, agreed. The 2022 event was his sixth year to attend the World GI Congress.

“This is one of the most exciting Congress meetings I have attended,” he said. “I prefer networking with friends and colleagues here. The science presented is very important, and so is the networking.”

Dan Lowrie, President, Oncology, Gastroenterology & Autoimmune, HMP Education (a subsidiary of HMP Global), said the ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes, and the World GI Congress offers participants top-tier learning opportunities and professional development to meet this goal.

“After holding the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer virtually for the past two years, we were honored to welcome the international GI community back for an in-person event this year,” Lowrie said. “In addition to the many learning opportunities available through the robust scientific program, the 2022 Congress was also an opportunity for participants to network with their colleagues, meet the experts in their field, and forge relationships that will lead to ongoing learning and collaboration.”

The Congress featured a series of satellite symposia, offering in-depth information about clinical research, innovative treatment approaches, and expert perspectives on patient journeys and personalized care. Participants also interacted with more than 40 supporting organizations in the Exhibit Hall, showcasing the latest services, products, and exciting new technology available to clinicians to incorporate into their practice.  

“This was the best conference I have attended in 35 years,” said Hernando Andreu, CEO of 2cureX, an event exhibitor. “We had a lot of traffic at our booth, with good depth of conversation, and a lot of interest in what we offer. The World GI Congress was a fantastic event for us.”

Catie Young, communications manager for Digestive Cancers Europe, said this year’s World GI Congress “has a warmth about it.” 

“It’s different from a Zoom meeting. The level of connection is different,” she said. “It is very refreshing to be here.”

The 2023 World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer will be held June 28 – July 1 in Barcelona, Spain. For more information, visit worldgicancer.com.

 

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (ESMO)

ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With approximately 25,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 160 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. Driven by a shared determination to secure the best possible outcomes for patients, ESMO is committed to  standing by those who care about cancer  through addressing the diverse needs of #ONEoncologycommunity, offering #educationforLIFE, and advocating for #accessiblecancerCARE. For more information, visit esmo.org.

 

ABOUT HMP GLOBAL   

HMP Global is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical — and is an omnichannel leader in healthcare content, events, and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events — in person and online via its proprietary VRTX virtual platform — and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include the HMP Global Learning Network, healthcare's most comprehensive source for news and information; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; the Evolution of Psychotherapy, the world’s largest independent educational event for mental health professionals; the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC), the leading, global gathering for interdisciplinary cardiovascular specialists; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.