The 6th Biennial Meeting of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, October 10th to 12th, 2019.

INTRODUCTION

According to GLOBOCAN database for 2018, 637,761 (48.7%) new gynecologic cancer cases and 305,000 (50.1%) gynecologic cancer deaths were observed in Asia [1]. The difference between Asian women and non-Asians concerning genetic background, cancer epidemiology, disease characteristic, and socio-cultural environment has been well recognized. However, most of the experimental evidence to guide clinical gynecologic oncology practice have traditionally been derived from studies in western population. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO) was founded in 2008 as the principal organization in Asia contributing to the study, prevention, and treatment of gynecological cancer by means of scientific exchange, regional/international collaboration, provision of educational opportunities, and strengthening friendship among members [2]. Currently, ASGO has members in over 10 countries in Asia.

Organizing the biennial scientific meeting has been an important activity of ASGO. Following the success of 5 previous biennial meetings held in Tokyo (2009) [3], Seoul (2011) [4], Kyoto (2013) [5], Seoul (2015) [6], and Tokyo (2017) [7], the sixth Biennial Meeting of ASGO was successfully arranged at state-of-the-art Songdo Convensia in Incheon, Korea from October 10th to 12th, 2019 under the theme of “Optimal Gynecologic Cancer Care in Asia”. The organizing committee chair was Professor Seung-Cheol Kim. In ASGO 2019, 865 participants from 23 countries attended. The Organizing Committee invited 156 honored speakers and chairs from 17 countries. There were 72 oral/surgical video presentations and 228 poster presentations. A wide range of scientific topics from principles of gynecological cancer care to advanced, high-technology practice based on cutting-edge research was covered (Table 1). Presentation files and photos of the meeting are available at the meeting website (http://www.asgo2019.org/).

Table 1

Number of participants and presenters by country/region

Countries/Regions	Participants	Speakers/presenters
		Invited	Oral/film	Poster	Chair	Total
Korea	474*	38	29	91	39	197
Japan	102	17	12	38	9	76
China	77	7	12	34	7	60
Thailand	58	7	4	12	2	25
Taiwan	38	3	4	11	4	22
Philippines	32	-	1	13	1	15
Indonesia	25	2	3	13	1	19
Singapore	9	-	1	4	3	8
Malaysia	9	-	1	2	1	4
USA	7	6	-	-	-	6
India	5	1	2	2	1	6
Hong Kong	5	-	1	2	1	4
Myanmar	4	1	-	2	-	3
Nepal	3	-	-	1	-	1
Pakistan	3	-	-	1	-	1
Canada	2	1	1	1	-	3
Australia	2	1	1	-	-	2
Germany	2	2	-	-	-	2
Mongolia	2	-	-	1	-	1
Madagascar	2	-	-	-	-	-
Saudi Arabia	2	-	-	-	-	-
Denmark	1	1	-	-	-	1
Tanzania	1	-	-	-	-	-
Total	865*	87	72	228	69	456

*Includes 142 participants for exhibition.

This report summarizes main scientific program topics and the society associated events.

OPENING CEREMONY

Professor Seung-Cheol Kim, organizing committee chair of ASGO 2019, delivered opening remarks. Subsequently, recognition awards for outstanding contribution were presented to Professor Shingo Fujii (Japan) and Professor Soon-Beom Kang (Korea) by Professor Hee-Sug Ryu, president of ASGO (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Opening ceremony. (A) Professor Seung-Cheol Kim, Organizing Committee Chair of ASGO 2019. (B) Professor Hee-Sug Ryu, President of ASGO. (C) Outstanding contribution award, Professor Shingo Fujii. (D) Outstanding contribution award, Professor Soon-Beom Kang.

ASGO, Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

MAIN SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS

1. Plenary sessions

Twelve invited speakers gave lecture in 3 plenary sessions. For plenary session 1 “President Invited Lectures”, the presented topics included ‘Toward precision medicine: evolution of global distributed research network in Korea’ by Dr. Rae-Woong Park (Korea) and ‘Artificial intelligence in medicine’ by Dr. Yoon-Sup Choi (Korea). Plenary session 2 highlighted surgical issues in the field of gynecologic oncology. In the first subsection concerning secondary debulking in epithelial ovarian cancer, Dr. Andreas du Bois (Germany) summarized evidence from studies on the role of surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer including the DESKTOP series and others. Also, Dr. Robert Coleman (USA) addressed the surgical part of the Gynecologic Oncology Group 213 study. In addition, Dr. Dennis Chi (USA) provided expert viewpoint on selection criteria and principles of secondary debulking surgery. In the second subsection on surgical approach in early-stage cervical cancer after the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial, Dr. Joo-Hyun Nam (Korea) pointed out the real problems of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy while Dr. Mikio Mikami (Japan) and Dr. Mario Leitao (USA) addressed the Asian and American/other part of the world viewpoints, respectively (Fig. 2). In the plenary session 3 on “Immuno-oncology and beyond”, the topics discussed included: ‘PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer: is it time for a paradigm shift?’ by Dr. Richard Penson (USA), ‘Prevalence of BRCA mutation and real world experience of PAPRi’ by Dr. Byoung-Gie Kim (Korea), ‘Biomarkers for immunotherapy usage in gynecologic cancer’ by Dr. Wei Zhou (USA), and ‘Novel and emerging agents under development for gynecologic cancers’ by Dr. Wen Yee Chay (Singapore).

Fig. 2

Plenary session: surgical issues in gynecologic oncology field.

2. Symposia

Thirty-six invited speakers discussed topics in the area of their special interest in 8 symposia, which included: rare gynecologic cancers, cervical cancer screening in Asia, revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage of cervical cancer and related issues, endometrial cancer update, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in Asia, minimally invasive surgery in gynecologic cancer management, fertility preservation upfront, and chemotherapy and related supportive care. In addition, there were 3 special symposia: “Evolving of BRCA mutated ovarian cancer treatment” by Dr. Richard Penson (USA), “Role of bevacizumab in ovarian cancer & evolution as backbone of novel combination” by Dr. Mansoor R. Mirza (Denmark), and “New PARP inhibitor in recurrent ovarian cancer, regardless of BRCA status: the role of niraparib” by Dr. Masataka Takenaka (Japan).

3. Education and special sessions

Forty-seven speakers provided fruitful discussion in 13 education sessions and special sessions (31 speakers in 8 educational sessions and 16 speakers in 5 special sessions). Education sessions addressed issues specific to certain disciplines of gynecologic oncology, which included: radiation gynecologic oncology, gynecologic cancer pathology, enhanced recovery after surgery, surgical and molecular tumor board, uterine and cervical cancer surgery, training for young investigator and research nurse, imaging in ovarian cancer practice, and ovarian cancer surgery. Special sessions considered topics with certain clinical, experimental, and societal application such as “Molecular dissection of ovarian clear cell carcinoma”, ASGO-Asia-Oceania Research Organisation on Genital Infections and Neoplasia joint session on how to collaborate to eliminate cervical cancer in Asia-Pacific region, international research collaboration through Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup, “Clinical trial in Asia: can we make a quantum jump?”, and “From good research to good publication”.

4. Other sessions

Shingo Fujii Medical Academy was organized as part of ASGO 2019 meeting with the goal of improving surgical techniques by the presenters sharing non-edited surgical videos at approximately twice the normal speed to expert surgeons from various recognized institutions and audiences for open discussion. Eight presenters participated in this very nourishing session (35 minutes of presentation time plus open discussion for each presenter) (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

Shingo Fujii Medical Academy.

Ovarian cancer roundtable session of Chinese Society of Gynecologic Oncology was incorporated to the main ASGO meeting, which discussed recent advance in surgery and targeted therapy for ovarian cancer.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOCIAL EVENTS

1. ASGO Council Meeting

The 15th ASGO Council Meeting was held at Songdo Convensia, Incheon, Korea on October 9th, 2019 (Fig. 4). Yang Xiang (China) became a new council member. Preparation of the ASGO Workshop 2020 was presented by Kung-Liahng Wang (Taiwan). Preparation of the 7th Biennial Meeting of ASGO 2021 was presented by Sarikapan Wilailak (Thailand). Steering committee of ASGO 2021 meeting was appointed. Professor Daisuke Aoki took over the President of ASGO from professor Hee-Sug Ryu and presided over the last part of the council meeting. Professor Jae-Weon Kim was elected as President-elect.

Fig. 4

A group photo of the 15th Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO) council meeting. Front row left to right: Sarikapan Wilailak (Thailand), Joo-Hyun Nam (Korea), Toshiharu Kamura (Japan), Daisuke Aoki (Japan), Hee-Sug Ryu (Korea), Shingo Fujii (Japan), Soon-Beom Kang (Korea), Ikuo Konishi (Japan), Seung-Cheol Kim (Korea). Back row left to right: Dong-Hoon Suh, Suresh Kumarasamy (Malaysia), Neerja Bhatla (India), Rongyu Zang (China), Duk-Soo Bae (Korea), Efren Domingo (Philippines), David SP Tan (Singapore). Kung-Liahng Wang (Taiwan), Andri Andrijono (Indonesia), Yuen Sheung Hextan Ngan (Hong Kong), Chunling Chen (China), Jae-Weon Kim (Korea), Suk-Joon Chang (Korea).

2. Social events

The banquet night was arranged at Songdo Convensia on December 11, 2019 in a warm and relaxing atmosphere (Fig. 5). Professor Hee-Sug Ryu, president of ASGO, gave a welcome remark. Professor Daisuke Aoki, president-elect of ASGO provided toast proposal. Professor Warner Huh, president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, delivered a congratulatory remark. After the opening addresses, representatives from the organizing committee of the next ASGO meeting delivered promotional presentations for the congresses, Professor Chih-Ming Ho from Taiwan Association of Gynecologic Oncologists for the sixth International Workshop on Gynecologic Oncology and Professor Jatupol Srisomboon, president of the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society for the seventh Biennial Meeting of ASGO. Subsequently, the ceremony for the Journal of Gynecologic Oncology awards took place. All attendees then enjoyed a terrific performance from the Korean professional string chamber ensemble and opera singers. In addition, the talent shows by representatives from all participating countries tremendously enhanced the joy of the night. This pleasant social event was a great occasion to deepen friendship and promote future collaboration among all participants.

Fig. 5

Scenes from the banquet of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO).

We will meet again at the Sixth International Workshop on Gynecologic Oncology, which will be held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taiwan from May 2nd to 3rd, 2020. The Seventh Biennial Meeting of ASGO will be held at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from November 25th to 27th, 2021.