SUMMARY OF GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER MEETINGS
Two State of the Science (SOTS) meetings on the gastrointestinal cancers have been held since the inception of SOTS in 1999. To date, meetings have covered gastric and colorectal cancers. Each meeting addresses a range of topics, from disease characterization to surgical techniques to new therapeutic and prognostic tools, with emphasis on targeting pathogenesis at the molecular level. The meetings have provided an opportunity for interactive discussion between clinical investigators and basic scientists from several countries regarding the present state of the biology and treatment of GI cancer, and areas that merit further investigation. Participants in the meetings have represented academia, industry, government, and the community, as well as patient advocacy organizations.