Welcome to FICARE 2026!
Dear Colleagues,
It is a true privilege to welcome you to the 10th FICARE, taking place from October 29th to 30th at the Tivoli Mofarrej Hotel in São Paulo, Brazil.
Reaching our milestone 10th anniversary cements FICARE as the premier stage for rectal cancer discussion in Latin America. From the very beginning, this forum has been recognized worldwide for its cutting-edge scientific program, focusing on real-world updates, new technologies, and shifting treatment paradigms.
This year's landmark edition carries a deeply meaningful purpose: to honor and build upon the extraordinary legacy of our founder and eternal chair, Dr. Angelita Habr-Gama. Keeping up the high standards, continuous innovation, and clinical passion she always brought to FICARE is our greatest tribute and our commitment to the future. True excellence in rectal cancer care is inherently collaborative. FICARE 2026 brings together top experts from across the globe to share ideas, challenge current concepts, and bridge the gap between latest evidence and daily clinical practice.
With a dynamic program led by world-renowned international speakers, this edition promises to be a great space for deep debates, case discussions, and high-level networking.
São Paulo is ready to host you for two days of inspiration and clinical breakthrough. We look forward to seeing you there!
Dr. Rodrigo Oliva Perez
President of FICARE 2026
Don't miss the World's Largest Rectal Cancer Forum
Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo Hotel
Alameda Santos, nº 1437
Cerqueira César
São Paulo – SP
(Please note that the program and schedule may be subject to changes)
The “perfect” lateral node dissection with the robot – Tips and tricks.
Tsuyoshi Konishi
Lateral node dissection deferred (after) from primary TME surgery
Guilherme São Julião
Lateral node dissection in the setting of primary complete clinical response?
Tsuyoshi Konishi
Case Discussion
10:00
Faculty:
Roel Hompes
Carl Brown
Tsuyoshi Konishi
Josh Smith
Laura Fernandez
From Complete Clinical Response to Organ Preservation
Discussion
12:30
Setting the stage: mrT1/T2N0 rectal cancer
Rodrigo Perez
How does MR help selecting patients with early rectal cancer appropriate for local excision in rectal cancer?
Monique Maas
Local excision ALONE for early rectal cancer – Is it enough for T2?
Roel Hompes
Local excision after nCRT is equal (or even better) than TME in selected rectal cancers
Xavier Serra Aracil
What to do with unfavorable pathological findings after a local excision?
Roel Hompes
Neoadjuvant treatment with chemo but without radiation for early rectal cancer?
Carl Brown
Case Discussion
15:30
Mucinous rectal cancer with a cCR – what are the limits of radiology?
Monique Maas
Rectal cancer and IBD – Can we even consider organ-preservation?
Paulo Kotze
Residual adenomas in rectal cancer after nCRT/TNT.
Julio Garcia-Aguila
Discussion
ICG during extended/lateral node dissection – How useful is it?
Tsuyoshi Konishi
Can ctDNA help guide organ-preservation strategies? What is the data?
Josh Smith
18:00
Delayed primary coloanal anastomosis – Turnbull Cutait
Quentin Denost
Very low anastomosis: anatomy and technical tricks
Tsuyoshi Konishi
Endoscopic management of a leak without initial diverting stoma – How I do it…
Roel Hompes
Transanal transection with single-stapled anastomosis
Quentin Denost
Discussion
What Radiological features REALLY change management within the mesorectal compartment – nodes, deposits and/or EMVI….or all of the above?
Monique Maas
When Upfront TME (without RT or chemotherapy) is a better option regardless of nodal stage?
Laura Fernandez
When and why upfront chemotherapy is a better option – Has the prospect trial impacted clinical management?
Julio Garcia Aguilar
Case Discussion mrT3bEMVI+CRM-N1 above the level of the anorectal ring
Leonardo Corbi
Discussion
11:00
Is more treatment better? Trials towards intensifying treatment
Josh Smith
Less is More….towards De-escalation of TNT in rectal cancer
Bruna Vailati
Is immunotherapy going to be useful for MSS rectal cancer?
Josh Smith
What is the current role of induction chemotherapy for distal rectal cancer?
Quentin Denost
Can we enhance the effects of immunotherapy with BOL/BAT in rectal cancer – the new kid on the block
Thiago Jorge
Discussion
13:00
What matters and what doesn’t in radiological assessment of tumor response to nCRT/TNT when organ preservation is considered
Monique Maas
How and why I manage a patient with initial near-complete clinical response after nCRT/TNT…
Watch & Wait
Julio Garcia-Aguilar
Local excision
Quentin Denost
TME
Dieter Hahnloser
Can we predict response – from zebra-fish organoids to endoscopic spectrometry
Laura Fernandez
Salvage options for Local regrowths
Geerard Beets
Case Discussion
15:30
A tribute to prof Angelita Habr-Gama
16:00
Step by step intermuscular Local excision for early rectal cancer.
Roel Hompes
Completion TME after initial local excision – is it a nightmare?
Quentin Denost
Challenging Scenarios in Transanal Surgery
Carl Brown
Local Excision after nCRT – How I do it
Xavier Serra-Aracil
Expanding the Scope: Opportunistic Salpingectomy during Rectal Cancer Surgery
Carl Brown
Discussion
5 cases and 5 initial treatment strategies from AI versus world-renowned experts…
Presentation: Rodrigo Perez, Thiago Jorge and Fernanda Mazzucato
Faculty:
Dieter Hahnloser
Geerard Beets
Xavier Serra-Aracil
Quentin Denost
Discussion
Hotels Ficare 2026
Alameda Santos, 1437
Cerqueira César - São Paulo – SP
Alameda Santos, 1123
Jardim Paulista - São Paulo – SP
Alameda Jaú, 729
Jardim Paulista - São Paulo – SP
R$1.800
R$2.200
R$2.500
Explore São Paulo
Stay active during FICARE 2026!
Discover running routes near the conference venue, including Ibirapuera Park, Paulista Avenue, and Pacaembu Stadium. Explore distances, maps, and practical tips to enjoy your run in São Paulo.
View Runner's Guide (PDF)
