The Spanish Ovarian Cancer Research Group (GEICO) was established in 1999 as a non-profit Scientific Association with two main purposes:
- Develop, promote and coordinate clinical research studies into gynaecological cancer in general, with special attention to ovarian cancer.
- Organize scientific meetings, congresses and symposiums either with a teaching aim or for the promotion of such studies.
Right from the Group’s initial establishment one of the goals of GEICO has been to offer most of the country’s health centres the chance of taking part in international protocols of top-flight scientific quality. To achieve this aim, in 2003 the Group joined the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG), where it participates in conjunction with other world cooperative groups involved in gynaecological cancer research. As an outcome of this cooperation with GCIG, GEICO has, and continues to play an active part in various randomized gynaecological cancer trials, which are listed in the tab CLINICAL RESEARCH of this website. GEICO is also participating actively in the design and promotion of new clinical studies under the auspices of GCIG.
GEICO has also recently joined the ENGOT (European Network of Gynaecological Oncological Trial Groups) platform and the American Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), with a view to being able take part in international trials both in Europe and in the United States.
As mentioned above, another of the foundational aims is the promotion and holding of scientific meetings on Gynaecological Oncology. In this respect, the International Symposium “Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Optimal Therapy Update” is organized every two years in Valencia. Thanks to the quality of its speakers and the topical nature of the subjects addressed, this Symposium has become a teaching benchmark in the medical management of ovarian cancer in Spain and one of the leading discussion and updating forums in Europe, with the participation of an ever-increasing number of specialists from the USA, Canada and Australia.
Although GEICO was initially only made up of practising oncologists, in the last few years the Group has been joined by other specialists engaged in the treatment and research of gynaecological oncology, such as gynaecologists, pathologists or molecular biologists. This has enriched the Group considerably and brought about the possibility of designing translational oncology studies and taking part in clinical trials evaluating surgical aspects. The Group is currently composed of specialists from some 70 hospitals in Spain.
Finally, this website, which has recently been revamped, arose with the idea of familiarizing society with our work and the health professionals involved in the care of patients with gynaecological cancer.