Welcome letterfrom Leonard Patrlj, MD, PhD Prof.

It is my great pleasure to have been invited to the International Conference on Ulcer Research. This distinguished international meeting provides ample opportunities for lively discussion on important issues, such as the elucidation of pathophysiology not only of ulcer disease, but also of a great variety of gastrointestinal disorders and the development of treatment methods.

Of particular interest are basic and clinical research on etiology and treatment of primary and secondary malignant diseases of gastrointestinal tract. Colorectal cancer, being the third most common cancer in Europe and USA, and hepatocellular cancer, as on of the most common cancers worldwide, certainly deserve special scientific and clinical attention.

Recent years brought a rapid development in the field of surgical treatment of these neoplasms. Modern surgical approaches are the result of better understanding of tumor development and progression, as well as increased knowledge about the response to surgical trauma. Combined with the development in operating technology, this resulted in the new concept of minimally invasive oncologic surgery. In my institution, these novel methods are fully embraced, and continual clinical research keeps the door opened for other emerging concepts.

Together with non-operative modalities of cancer treatment, we are now able to provide more oncologically radical surgical procedures that range from minimally invasive local resections and tumor ablations to extensive multiorgan resections. Such advancement in treatment could not have become reality without extensive basic and clinical research.

I am hopeful that many interested and enthusiastic researchers will attend the conference, and I am very much looking forward to taking part in this important international meeting!

Sincerely

Leonard Patrlj, MD, PhD Prof.