3rd MESTRO Congress — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 27–29, 2024

The 3rd Congress of the Middle East Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (MESTRO) — MESTRO2024 — was held at Princess Haya Hall, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 27 to 29, 2024. The three-day congress brought together more than 80 local and international speakers from leading oncology centres across the Gulf states and the wider world. The congress was accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) for 26 continuing medical education (CME) hours — a formal recognition of the scientific depth and clinical relevance of the programme. ## Scientific Programme The scientific programme comprised more than 40 sessions addressing the most consequential advances in radiation oncology practice. Key themes included: - **Live precision radiotherapy and medical imaging** — integrating real-time MRI into the treatment workflow - **Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy)** — advances in technique and clinical application - **Particle therapy (proton therapy)** — the latest evidence and regional developments - **Artificial intelligence** in treatment planning and medical imaging - **3D printing and virtual reality** in radiotherapy - **Diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation protection** The congress also featured intensive physician training workshops and sessions on clinical applications and future innovations in cancer care. ## Historic First: SGRT Workshop Outside the Western World One of the landmark moments of the 3rd Congress was the first-ever workshop on surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) to be held outside Western countries — a milestone that underscored Riyadh's emergence as a global hub for advanced radiotherapy education and technology transfer. ## Japanese Delegation — Nobel-Nominated Faculty For the first time in MESTRO's history, a Japanese delegation of oncology specialists participated in the congress, led by **Professor Jun Hisomi**, a former nominee for the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The inclusion of Japanese faculty reflected the congress's expanding international reach and its ambition to connect the Middle East radiation oncology community with the broadest possible global network of expertise. ## International Societies and Supporting Organisations The 3rd Congress was supported by a distinguished roster of international professional societies, including: - The **European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)** - The **Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO)** - The **Australasian Brachytherapy Group (ABG)** - Saudi and regional oncology societies Leading international companies in radiation oncology technology — including **Elekta**, **Varian**, **Brainlab**, and **Tamkeen Medical Solutions** — participated in the congress and conducted workshops. ## Gulf and Regional Participation The congress drew participation from the region's leading oncology centres, including the **Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre (Oman)**, and specialist centres from Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside faculty from universities and medical centres worldwide. ## Congress Vision Dr. Saad Alrashidi, Congress President and Chairman of MESTRO, stated: *"Saudi Arabia, thanks to its strong economy, has been able to attract the largest Western companies specialising in radiation oncology to participate in the congress."* He described the congress's vision as developing and strengthening healthcare in the region through training and medical research, with a focus on radiation medicine applications to ensure safe, high-quality care for cancer patients. A stated aim of the 3rd Congress was to attract global investment to strengthen radiotherapy technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — positioning MESTRO as not only a scientific forum but a platform for advancing the regional infrastructure of cancer treatment. ## Official Closing Recommendations At the conclusion of the congress on 29 November 2024, MESTRO issued a set of formal recommendations reflecting the consensus of the scientific sessions and faculty discussions: 1. **Activate and regulate artificial intelligence** in radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging, to improve treatment quality and accelerate access to care. 2. **Unify efforts between oncology centres** in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states to develop shared treatment protocols and specialised clinical recommendations in radiation oncology. 3. **Establish a unified Gulf cancer registry** providing accurate data on cancer patients, enabling longitudinal tracking of treatment outcomes and side effects, and supporting integrated healthcare delivery across the region. 4. **Strengthen partnerships** between MESTRO and Gulf and Arab oncology societies, and expand collaboration with the **Federation of Asian Radiation Oncology Societies (FARO)**, to facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation. 5. **Support cancer research** to drive innovation and improve the quality of healthcare in the region. Dr. Alrashidi commented on the congress outcomes: *"We look forward to these recommendations contributing to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, unifying efforts to improve the quality of health services provided to patients, and adopting modern technologies that make a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients."* Sources: Al Madina newspaper, 26 October 2024 — al-madina.com/article/908780 (pre-congress announcement, reporting by Saeed Al-Zahrani); Al Madina newspaper, 26 November 2024 — al-madina.com/article/913232 (congress launch, reporting by Saeed Al-Zahrani); Al Riyadh newspaper, 30 November 2024 — alriyadh.com/2106597 (closing recommendations, reporting by Mohammed Al-Haider); Al Yaum newspaper, November 2024 (reporting by Abdullah Al-Omari). MESTRO thanks all delegates, faculty, sponsors, and the local organising committee at Alfaisal University for their contributions to the 3rd Congress. The society looks forward to welcoming the radiation oncology community back to Riyadh for the 5th Congress on December 4–5, 2026.