SORRENTO, Italy, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

During the International Medical Education Workshop on Molecular Targeted Therapy of Cancer (MTTC), that starts today in Sorrento, a team of internationally recognized oncology experts will discuss the latest developments in molecular biology, targets for cancer therapeutics and the impact of new drugs.

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Serono Symposia International Foundation is the CME provider of this workshop and of the other Medical Education Initiatives on MTTC. The two-day program has been accredited by the European Society of Medical Oncology and endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

"Progress of molecular biology - declares Professor Fortunato Ciardiello from the Second University of Naples, Italy - has opened a great number of possibilities in the fight against cancer and has permitted a better knowledge of the mechanism that determines the development and the growth of a tumor. From that point, the research has been focused on the detection of targeted therapies and today, we can use appropriate treatments that can be addressed to specific targets."

The 14th International MTTC Workshop is characterized by a lively agenda with "Challenge the Expert" sessions and hot topic discussions encouraging full participation on new frontiers in oncology, such as immunotherapy in cancer and mechanisms at the basis of resistance of targeted therapies. This live educational workshop is part of the Medical Initiative on Molecular Targeted Therapy of Cancer, established in 2001 and directed by the International Education Council.

"Thanks to scientific research, we are also able to better understand how the genetic anomalies of a tumor could influence if a treatment works for patients or not. - says Professor Heinz Zwierzina, Chairman of the International Education Council and Professor at Innsbruck Medical University, Austria - Biomarkers are essential to define cancer drug development and we are strongly committed to moving forward in this direction."

"In a constantly and very rapidly evolving and changing field such as clinical cancer research," - says Professor Christoph Zielinski, member of the Scientific Committee of Serono Symposia International Foundation - "the exchange of knowledge, information and discussion of new horizons between experts is crucial to provide patients with optimal and dynamically evolving treatment options."

Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) is a non-profit organization based in Geneva (Switzerland). It was founded to disseminate innovative achievements and developments in medical and scientific research through Continuing Medical Education programs with the aim of improving patients' lives.

SOURCE Serono Symposia