The annual meeting of the International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy (INCIP) brought together leading researchers and experts in the field in Milan on April 22 and 23.

The meeting was opened by Professor Frédéric Amant, founder and president of INCIP, discussing interesting publications from last year, including the long-term outcomes of children prenatally exposed to radiotherapy (Van Assche et al, Lancet Child Adolesc. Health 2024) and a case study of an infant with severe immune-related enteritis after in utero exposure to pembrolizumab (Baarslag et al, NEJM 2023). These studies are possible thanks to the network's international registry database, which currently has approximately 3,600 women enrolled, more than 40% of whom have been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Christianne Lok spoke on behalf of the Advisory Group on Cancer in Pregnancy (ABCIP) about the initiation of the Dutch Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (AKZ) in 2012, the results so far, and the challenges in practice. Since then, the ABCIP has expanded internationally. Inge Peters presented the process of establishing the national board - ABCIP Italy - last year. This was followed by a fruitful brainstorming session on ideas to improve the workflow of the forum and increase its visibility. 

The meeting also featured a number of exciting abstracts, ‘state-of-the-art’ presentations and posters. These included, among others, ultrasound monitoring of ovarian masses in pregnancy, fertility preservation in gynaecologic tumours, and ‘whole-body diffusion-weighted’ MRI as an alternative to PET/CT in cancer staging during pregnancy.

The next meeting will be held in Leuven in the spring of 2025. This promises to be a festive occasion, as INCIP will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.