REPORT FROM NATIONAL SOCIETIES JOINT MEETING AINO (Italian Association for Neuro-Oncology)/ANOCEF (Association des Neuro-Oncologues d'Expression Française)

On November 5, 2011, the first AINO/ANOCEF Joint Meeting was held in Milan during the 16th Annual Congress of the AINO. For the first time a joint meeting between two national groups was organized with the purpose to bring together leading experts from both sides to discuss similarities and differences in the approach to specific tumor types. Low grade gliomas were chosen as the Main Topic and were addressed in all aspects from biology to treatment modalities within four sessions. The meeting was opened by Marie de Tayrac (Rennes) with a lecture on "Molecular profiling of gliomas", illustrating the usefulness of a multi-Dimensional Integrated analysis to identify prognostic signatures.

In the first session, chaired by C. Carapella (Rome) and M. Sanson (Paris), the role of molecular markers was addressed. F. Giangaspero (Rome) illustrated the diagnostic contribution of molecular markers such as p53 mutations, 1p/19q codeletion, alpha-internexine expression, IDH1/2 mutations, BRAF alterations, to conventional neuropathological tools for differential diagnosis. M. Sanson (Paris) discussed the prognostic and predictive value of molecular markers in low grade gliomas particularly IDH-1/2 mutations, 1p19q codeletion and MGMT methylation/CIMP phenotype.

The second session, chaired by J.Y. Delattre (Paris) and M. Scerrati (Ancona), was devoted to neuroimaging techniques. A. Falini (Milan) reviewed the role of MRI diffusion and DTI tractography for diagnosis, for predicting the extent of surgical resection and for monitoring the response to chemotherapy. A. Bizzi (Milan) reported a prospective study on monitoring the eloquent areas for language with both fMRI and neuropsychological tests. Last, E. Guedj (Marseille) reviewed the role of old (FDG) and new (Methionine, FLT) tracers for radiotherapy planning and monitoring the response to treatments.

The third session, chaired by G. Broggi (Milan) and X. Muracciole (Marseille), addressed the role of surgery and radiotherapy. L. Bello (Milan) and H. Duffau (Montpellier) discussed the role of intraoperative use of brain mapping techniques (intra-operative monitoring and awake surgery) to maximize both the extent of resection and the functional integrity of eloquent areas. A survey on patterns of care within Centers of Radiotherapy in Italy and France was presented by U. De Paula (Rome), L. Fariselli (Milan) and X. Muracciole (Marseille). Particular attention was paid to the respective role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as upfront treatment for high-risk patients after surgery.

The fourth session discussed the role of chemotherapy. Khê Hoang-Xuan (Paris) provided an exhaustive review of the state of art, while R. Rudà (Turin) and L. Taillandier (Nancy) described the ongoing Italian and French studies on new strategies, such as dose-dense temozolomide, PCV and its sustained effect as a valuable alternative to TMZ, and pre-operative chemotherapy. A. Pace (Rome) addressed the topic of epilepsy, supportive care and cognitive rehabilitation. The last talk (C. Papagno, Milan) was focused on quality of life and cognitive functions that are increasingly recognized as major endpoints in studies on low grade gliomas.

O. Chinot (Marseille) and R. Soffietti (Turin), chairmen of the last session, closed the meeting with the hope to strengthen, both in term of future meetings and conjoint studies, the cooperation between the two countries. A joint session with AINO is planned at the next ANOCEF meeting in Clermond-Ferrand, France.