Introduction

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of malignancy and much progress has been made in recent years in the understanding of the biology and treatment of this disease. These developments concern almost the full research area including genetics, biology, pathology/prognostic markers, surgery, screening, systemic treatment, radiotherapy and imaging. This implies that both pre-clinical and clinical research is becoming much more multidisciplinary oriented.

The European Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Congress (EMCCC) is the European conference that truly provides a platform for in-depth multidisciplinary interaction among the various research areas involved.

The Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) has taken the initiative for the EMCCC in 2001. The conference in 2010 builds upon four previous successful multidisciplinary conferences on colorectal cancer which were held in The Netherlands in 2001 and 2004 and in Germany in 2006 and 2008, visited by more than 500 participants from more than 30 countries.

The conference will have separate sections on Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radio Oncology, Pathology, Imaging, Gastroenterology, Genetics and Biology. The format of the conference consist of oral and poster presentations, keynote lectures and interactive sessions between the various disciplines.

We kindly invite you to participate in EMCCC 2010 from 28 to 30 March 2010 which will be held in Nice, France, with high quality science in a stimulating environment. This beautiful city is easy to reach through its international airport close to the downtown and will offer you the opportunity of usually fine weather, pleasant seaside and still snowy mountains at this time of the year.

We look forward to meeting you in Nice.

Prof.dr. C.J.A. Punt                                 Prof.dr. J.P. Gerard
On behalf of the executive committee