Within the Italian 
                  Research Group for Gastric Cancer an idea arose to constitute 
                  a multidisciplinary network among the European centres specialized 
                  in gastric cancer treatment. Several experts throughout Europe 
                  agreed upon this proposal, 
                For this purpose a meeting was held in the 
                Abbey of Pontignano near Siena on the 9 th -10 th December, which 
                was attended by about 40 participants. The list of participants 
                is reported at the end of this article.