Refresher Course on Head & Neck Cancers
Refresher Course on Head & Neck Cancers
COURSE LEADERSHIP
Chair - Lisa Licitra, IT
Host Chair - Sandra Schmitz, BE
College Representative - Amil Družic, BA
Course Overview
The aim of this refresher course is to provide a comprehensive overview on the latest diagnostic, therapeutic, and multidisciplinary approaches in the management of head and neck cancers.
Practical training will be offered through selected clinical cases, presented by participants and discussed in a Tumor Board format with an expert panel.
It is designed to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration. The course is suitable for all physicians (medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists) involved in the management of head and neck cancers.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Understand the current status and future challenges of head and neck cancer.
- Accurately diagnose and stage the disease using imaging and molecular biomarkers.
- Know surgical and radiotherapy strategies for localized disease.
- Manage systemic therapies and organ preservation in locally advanced cases.
- Recognize and manage radiotherapy toxicities and support rehabilitation.
- Effectively participate in multidisciplinary case management.
- Understand immunotherapy principles and systemic treatments for advanced or recurrent disease.
- Address special situations including re-irradiation, salvage surgery, and de-escalation strategies.
- Support prehabilitation and rehabilitation and supportive care.
LANGUAGE
The course will be held in English.
No translation will be provided.
RESERVATION FEE
The top 30 applicants will receive a place with accommodation with a reservation fee of €160.
A further 30 applicants will be selected if eligible with a reservation fee of €80 without accommodation.
The fee includes:
Access to the full course and its educational resources
Meals as outlined in the programme
For the top 30 applicants:
Two nights’ accommodation at the event venue (arrival: Thursday 7 May – departure: Saturday 9 May 2026)
Travel costs are not covered and must be arranged independently.
ESO College members at the time of application receive a 50% discount on the registration fee.
The fee is a non-refundable contribution towards organisational costs and will not be reimbursed in the case of withdrawal or non-attendance, regardless of the reason.
CME ACCREDITATION
In the process of accreditation.
ESO COLLEGE MEMBERSHIP
Participation in this course grants eligibility to join the ESO College and allows existing members to earn 9 ESO College credits toward their progression.
Visit ESO College dedicated section for more information on membership and benefits.
INSURANCE
Participants are advised to take out personal and travel insurance. ESO is not responsible for incidents during the event.
CONTACTS - ORGANISING SECRETARIAT
Elena Fiore - efiore@eso.net
Dolores Knupfer - dknupfer@eso.net
07/05/2026 18:00
Registration, arrivals & informal networking
08/05/2026 09:00
Welcome and introduction of course aims & participants
08/05/2026 09:20
Plenary introduction
09:20
Head & Neck Cancer in 2026 – Where We Stand and What We Are Missing
Lisa Licitra (IT)08/05/2026 09:40
Diagnosis, staging and pathology
09:40
Clinical presentation, anatomy and patterns of spread in head & neck cancer
Sandra Schmitz (BE)10:10
Modern imaging & staging – CT, MRI
Thierry Duprez (BE)10:40
Pathology and molecular profiling – p16/HPV, EBV, and emerging biomarkers
Cécile Badoual (FR)08/05/2026 11:10
Coffee break
08/05/2026 11:30
Localised disease: surgery and radiotherapy
11:30
Surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma
Sandra Schmitz (BE)12:00
Principles of radiotherapy in head & neck cancer – target volumes, dose/fractionation and modern techniques (IMRT/VMAT, etc.)
Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli (IT)12:30
Neck management – elective vs therapeutic neck treatment, sentinel node and neck dissection strategies
Sandra Schmitz (BE)08/05/2026 13:00
Lunch
08/05/2026 14:00
Locally advanced disease & organ preservation
14:00
Concurrent chemoradiation – systemic therapy choices, timing and optimisation
Lisa Licitra (IT)14:30
Organ preservation in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer
Felipe A. Calvo Manuel (ES)15:00
Neoadjuvant immunotherapy
Lisa Licitra (IT)15:30
Squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (HNCUP): diagnostic work-up and treatment strategies
Felipe A. Calvo Manuel (ES) Sandra Schmitz (BE)08/05/2026 16:00
Coffee break
08/05/2026 16:15
Toxicity management, supportive care & rehabilitation
16:15
Acute and late radiotherapy toxicities in head & neck cancer – prevention, early detection and multidisciplinary management
Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli (IT)16:45
Speech and swallowing rehabilitation
Sofiana Mootassim-Billah (BE)08/05/2026 17:15
Multidisciplinary tumour board (MTD)
17:15
Tumour board: Selected clinical cases, presented by participants and discussed by the panel
Amil Družic (BA)08/05/2026 17:45
End of the first day
09/05/2026 08:00
Tumour board: Selected clinical cases, presented by participants and discussed by the panel
09/05/2026 08:30
Basics in immunotherapy, biology and secondary effects
09/05/2026 09:00
Advanced / recurrent disease & systemic therapies
09:00
Recurrent and metastatic head & neck cancer – systemic therapy sequencing and practical decision-making
Lisa Licitra (IT)09:30
Immunotherapy and biomarkers – PD-L1, combinations and real-world challenges
Lisa Licitra (IT)09/05/2026 10:00
Coffee break
09/05/2026 10:30
Special situations & interactive cases
10:30
Re-irradiation, oligometastatic disease and stereotactic approaches in head & neck cancer
Felipe A. Calvo Manuel (ES)11:00
Interactive case discussions: complex late toxicities, survivorship and quality of life (multidisciplinary perspectives)
Cécile Badoual (FR) Felipe A. Calvo Manuel (ES) Lisa Licitra (IT) Marta Porebiak (PL) Sandra Schmitz (BE)11:30
Salvage irradiation
Felipe A. Calvo Manuel (ES)12:00
Salvage surgery
Sandra Schmitz (BE)12:30
HPV/p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer: de-escalation approaches in 2026 (radiotherapy and systemic treatment)
Nancy Lee (US)09/05/2026 13:15
Closing remarks & take-home messages
Amil Družic
Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Radiotherapy Dept., Sarajevo 71000, BA
Cécile Badoual
Gustave Roussy, Dep. de Biologie et Pathologie Médicales, Paris, FR
Felipe A. Calvo Manuel
Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Madrid, ES
Jean-Pascal Machiels
Institut Roi Albert II Cancer Center, Medical Oncology Department, Brussels, BE
Lisa Licitra
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, SC Oncologia Medica 3 Tumori Testa e Collo, Milano, IT
Marta Porebiak
SWPS University, Faculty of Psychology, Warsaw, PL
Nancy Lee
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, ., New York, US
Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli
Fondazioe IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, SC Radioterapia 2, Milano, IT
Sandra Schmitz
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BE
Sofiana Mootassim-Billah
Institut Jules Bordet, ., Brussels, BE
Thierry Duprez
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, ., Brussels, BE
Applications closed
PARTICIPATION
The course is limited to 60 participants, selected through a competitive application.
Priority is given to:
- Candidates aged 30–45 years
- With 2–3 years of oncology experience
- Who have previously attended an ESO Masterclass
- Who are fluent in English
HOW TO APPLY
If interested please apply online.
The application process involves completing an online questionnaire, where you will provide details about:
Your work experience and training
Your research experience and publications
Your motivation and personal commitment to participating in this activity
During the application, you will also need to upload the following documents in PDF format:
- Recommendation letter: A letter from your head of department or mentor, written on official hospital letterhead and signed.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Clinical case: Please use this template.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are evaluated through a two-step process:
Automated Scoring: Some responses are assessed using a predefined scoring system to ensure fairness and consistency. Points are assigned based on your answers.
Committee Evaluation: Other sections, including your qualitative responses, are reviewed and scored by our selection committee.
This type of evaluation ensures a transparent and unbiased selection of top candidates for participation in this activity.
Before you start completing the online application form, please be sure you have all the requested files (CV, Recommendation letter, and Clinical Case template) ready to be uploaded to the system. Online applications will not be considered unless all the files are uploaded.
Selected participants will be notified by mid and late March 2026.
You will be asked to accept ESO’s Data Protection Statement during the application process.
