Cancer is a very complex group of diseases. To date, more than 150 different cancer types have been defined by histopathological criteria. The complexity is even higher at the molecular level. As of last month, 355 genes have been found to be mutated in at least one type of human cancer. This number would be considerably higher if would take into account other genes that may contribute to cancer by altering their levels or pattern of expression. Thus, it is essential to gain a better understanding of CANCER BIOLOGY.

OncoBio Consolider Programme, (http://oncobio.org/publica/index.php) sponsored by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, is integrated by some of the top investigators in Spain working on various aspects of Cancer Biology in a network that study in a coordinated fashion some of the most critical aspects of cancer biology such as:

• The role of various oncogenes and tumor suppressors in physiologically relevant animal model systems.
• The identification of the cancer stem cells (CSC) responsible for maintaining tumor growth.
• The role of tumor microenvironment such as the stroma, blood vessels (angiogenesis ) and inflammatory responses.
• The identification of molecular markers and biologically relevant targets for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, respectively.

Salamanca is a small but alive and widely known University city, plenty of students, and having many interesting historical and culture buildings and places. The city is just 2 hours away from Madrid by motorway, or 1 hour away from Valladolid, where an international airport is working. Salamanca is also connected with Barcelona by plane, and with Madrid by highway, bus and train.

Thank you very much and looking forward to meeting you in Salamanca in November 2010.

Mariano Barbacid, Pedro A. Lazo and Isidro Sánchez-García Chair for the Organizing and Scientific Committees.