Havana, November 19 (RHC-PL) -- Renowned researchers, physicians and other specialists from Europe, Asia and Latin America are attending the Oncology Congress "Habana 2014," which opened its doors today at Havana's International Convention Center.

The event is sponsored by the Cuban Society on Oncology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine and the National Institute on Oncology and Radiobiology of Cuba.

The congress features the participation of some 150 specialists from Turkey, France, Italy, Spain, China, United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and other countries, as well as 250 Cubans.

In statements to Prensa Latina news agency, Doctor Jorge Juan Marinello, president of the congress' organizing committee and the Cuban Society on Oncology, stated that cancer is currently the leading cause of death in Cuba, and therefore its main health problem.

The Cuban Ministry of Public Health has provided great priority to the scientific development of specialists in this field, therefore this kind of events are the finest example of the work being carried out by the Cuban Society on Oncology for the promotion of scientific knowledge.

The Havana-based Center of Molecular Immunology has developed many therapeutic vaccines of proven efficiency in some kinds of tumors, including lung, head and neck, and some in brain. This among other developments will center the congress' discussions.

Several minor conventions will be held parallel to this forum. They are the Eleventh National Congress on Oncology, the Sixth International Meeting on Oncology Nursing, the Third International Meeting on Nuclear Medicine, the First National Meeting on Gynecologic Oncology, the Second National Meeting on Mastology, and the First International Symposium on Cranial Base Surgery.