As chairpersons of the GEC-ESTRO, it is our pleasure to invite you to the next GEC-ESTRO meeting, which will be held from 7th to 10th May 2011 in London, UK.
This meeting will be linked to very special events. First, we have the pleasure to share this meeting with ISIORT, like we did in Montpellier in 2007 and in Porto in 2009. Secondly, the GEC-ESTRO meeting will take place on the same dates as the 11th Biennial ESTRO Conference on Physics and Radiation Oncology for Clinical Radiotherapy. Third, the brachytherapy community is proud to be associated with the very special event of the 30th anniversary of ESTRO.

In this very busy framework, a special attempt was made to create multidisciplinary discussions and to avoid overlapping in the programmes. Once again, this special meeting reflects the integration of brachytherapy within the radiation oncology community, showing its dynamism and its capacity to face the most modern and sophisticated radiotherapeutic techniques. This topic will be approached during our pre-meeting workshop, with specific presentations on “high-tech” brachytherapy and “high-tech” external irradiation.

New areas of research will be considered, integrating potential new radionuclides and new brachytherapy indications. Brachytherapy techniques have significantly improved with imaging and the results of the integration of images into brachytherapy techniques will be presented in cervix cancer, in the so-called “RETRO -EMBRA CE” and “EMBRA CE” studies. Prostate brachytherapy will be also covered in the “intermediate-risk” population in which its role is increasing. An overview of the integration of brachytherapy into international publications will also be presented. Finally, quality assurance in brachytherapy and how to avoid accidents will be covered within a symposium. Tracks will also be reserved for proffered papers, allowing time for fruitful discussions.

We hope this challenging programme, combined with ISIORT and in the frame of ESTRO ’s Anniversary Congress will represent a very nice opportunity of exchanges between colleagues. London is a very exciting and living city and we are sure that you will not miss this very promising meeting.

Christine Haie-Meder and György Kovács
Chairpersons of the GEC-ESTRO EG