1. ¹ASL 11, Laboratorio di Oncologia Clinica, Vercelli, Italy
2. ²Lung Biology Center, Box 0854 UCSF, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco 94110, USA

Correspondence: L Mutti, Laboratory of Clinical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Local Health Unit 11, P.le Lora 1, 13011 Borgosesia, Vercelli, Italy. E-mail: ftepjm@tin.it

Received 7 September 2004; Accepted 7 September 2004; Published online 1 November 2004.

Abstract

The International Mesothelioma Interest Group sponsored its 7th international meeting in Brescia, Italy from June 24–26, 2004. The meeting, entitled 'How advanced technology and new drugs are changing the perspectives of patients with malignant mesothelioma', was organized by Luciano Mutti (Vercelli, Italy) and GF Tassi (Brescia, Italy) and was attended by 350 participants. The general tone of the meeting was that real progress is now coming in the understanding of mesothelioma biology, progress that may soon translate into improved treatment options. The investigators and clinicians agreed on the importance of referring patients with mesothelioma to centers with expertise where patients can receive the best available treatments and can be offered entry into clinical trials of new and promising agents.