Welcome to the symposium

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are pleased to announce you the preliminary program of the Xth International Symposium on Platinum Coordination Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy which will take place in Verona, Italy, from November 30^th to December 3^rd, 2007.

Following the serendipitous discovery of cisplatin by Barnett Rosenberg back in 1965 and its approval in 1978 by the Food and Drug Administration, a growing number of Platinum compounds have emerged as fundamental components for the treatment of different types of cancer. Although replaced by the better tolerated analogue carboplatin, cisplatin itself is still an important tool for the treatment of germ cell tumours and cancer of head and neck. The introduction into the clinic of the DACH platinum compound oxaliplatin has broadened the spectrum of activity of the platinums to gastro-intestinal cancers, and especially colorectal cancer.

With the help of the scientific committee, chaired by Dr Franco Muggia, New York University, we built-up a program that covers the most important issues related to platinum drugs including the mechanisms of action and resistance; the development of novel platinum compounds such as satraplatin, nedaplatin, and other metal coordination compounds; the combination of platinum drugs with targeted therapies for the treatment of common malignancies such as breast, colorectal, lung and gynaecologic cancers; new therapeutic indications in prostate and genitourinary tumours; integration with radiotherapy; special therapies such as intraperitoneal administration; pharmacodynamic-based dosing; management of anaemia and myelosuppression; mechanisms of neurotoxicity and its protection.

The symposium will be hosted in the Palazzo della Gran Guardia, located in the very hearth of town (Piazza Brà), in front of the Roman Arena. The venue is within walking distance from the majority of the hotels.

Verona is well known not only for old monuments, good food and very nice wines but also for the romantic atmosphere. Shakespeare fell in love with Verona and located here some of his tragedies, including the unforgettable Romeo and Juliet. ..... “There is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture and hell itself”.....

Keep in mind these words of Romeo and come to the symposium and enjoy the town as well.

Looking forward to meeting you in Verona

Andrea Bonetti, MD   Roberto Leone, B.Sc.

            Meeting coordinators