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Stein Kaasa expertly chaired the meeting during which it was announced by Dean Stig Slørdahl that Geoff Hanks and Augusto Caraceni have been appointed as part-time professors at the Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Techology in Trondheim.

A variety of current and future studies were discussed, encompassing three key areas of cancer; pain, cachexia and symptom assessment.

The meeting opened with Pål Klepstad presenting findings and experiences from the EPOS study. This was followed by the DNA analysis by Tommaso Dragani, and future directions for genetics studies postulated by Frank Skorpen. Skorpen highlighted that fundamental to future work is phenotype classification and the importance of optimisation of analgesia, before patients were labelled as poor responders. Rather than providing answers, the EPOS study has posed questions and illustrated important areas in which future work should focus.

Pain was a key theme of the event with several cancer pain studies being discussed. Barry Laird and Geoffrey Hanks presented pilot data on the study of a two versus three step approach of the WHO analgesic ladder. Valuable thoughts on study design were gleaned from those present and the study is planned to start in 2011. Upcoming studies on nasal fentanyl and spinal opioids were also presented by Morten Thronæs and Kari Bruheim respectively.

Symptom assessment is fundamental to clinical practice, but also to research. Studies in this area were presented by Augusto Caraceni and Declan Walsh. Both highlighted the importance of such epidemiological studies but also the difficulties and challenges presented.

The importance of cachexia was an area for research was reflected by the presentations and debate which followed. Terje Espevik discussed the importance of inflammation in the genesis of cachexia and Neil MacDonald discussed ethical issues. In particular Neil MacDonald challenged the current practice whereby those who are in an oncology trial are prohibited from participating in symptom control studies. He challenged the PRC to take on the mantle of this dilemma.

Florian Strasser presented the status of a new classification system for cachexia, and together with Tora Solheim he also presented the multimodal interventional trial for cachexia (MENAC) which was well received. Using all interventions which independently have been shown to be of use (exercise, anti-inflammatory, nutritional supplements) in a single study, would be of great interest and this opening of this study is eagerly anticipated.

An interesting aspect of the seminar was the "Study I want to do now" component. Per Sjøgren discussed a study on pregabalin in visceral pain, Staffan Lundstrøm presented methadone as an adjuvant analgesic whilst Mike Bennett highlighted a package of work "SONIC" in neuropathic pain. All were warmly received and investigators were grateful for the input provided.

All enjoyed the meeting which Stein Kaasa summarised as a key platform on which to build the PRC.

Author: Barry Laird

 - The Faculty of Medicine welcomes doctors Hanks and Caraceni as part-time professors at NTNU. To reach our ambitions as a university, we depend on having top qualified researchers associated with our activity. We already recruit a large part of the best students in the country, it is important that we can recruit the best people also to the academic staff, Slørdahl said.

In his speech, he also stressed the importance of having research seminars like the one in Risør.

 - We need to gather highly qualified and devoted researchers regularly, so that it is possible to focus on future research. The DMF are extremely proud to have the PRC located in Trondheim. The centre's activity in an international setting can contribute to improving patient care all over the world, Slørdahl said.

GEOFF HANKS is professor emeritus in palliative medicine at the University of Bristol in England. He was one of the founders of EAPC and EAPC RN, and has been chief editor in Palliative Medicine and co-editor of the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine.

AUGUSTO CARACENI is director of the Virgilio Floriani Hospice in Milan, Italy, and leader of the palliative unit at the National Cancer Institute, also in Milan. He is vice-president of the EAPC board.