Radiation and thyroid cancer

The first international seminar on "Radiation and thyroid cancer" will be held in Cambridge, United Kingdom, from 20 to 23 July 1998. The seminar is being jointly organized by the European Commission, the US Department of Energy, the US National Cancer Institute and the Department of Pathology of the University of Cambridge (UK).

The occurrence of a considerable increase in incidence of thyroid cancer in children in areas exposed to fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident has drawn attention to the need for a better understanding of the relationship between radiation exposure and the risk of thyroid cancer.

The principal aims of this first international seminar are to describe the link between radiation and the thyroid cell, which together determine the likelihood that a cancer may result. It will include the most recent evidence derived from studies of the effects of Chernobyl, but will place them in the wider context of other experiences of radiation-induced thyroid carcinoma.

The seminar programme will include sessions on:

- Thyroid dosimetry from radioactive iodine;
- The post-Chernobyl incidence of childhood thyroid cancer in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation;
- Pathological, molecular and cytogenetic analysis of radiation-induced thyroid tumours;
- Tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes in thyroid cancer;
- Treatment and prevention of thyroid cancer following radiation exposure;
- Epidemiological investigations of thyroid cancer following radiation exposure;
- Reactor accidents, radioactive iodine and thyroid cancer risk;
- Open Forum with the scientific media.

The deadlines for applications for young scientist awards and submission of abstracts are now closed.
For further information, please contact:

European Commission
DG XII - Science, research and development
Dr. A. Karaoglou
Unit XII/F-6 - Radiation Protection Research
200 rue de la Loi (MO75 4/14)
B-1049 Brussels
Tel. +32-2-2965415; Fax +32-2-2966256
E-mail: research@ec.europa.eu