New Delhi: The Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) has concluded its 24th Annual International Conference, RGCON 2026, in New Delhi, bringing together more than 2,000 delegates to discuss developments in neuro-oncology and multidisciplinary cancer care.
The three-day conference was held under the theme “Neuro-Oncology (Brain and Spine Tumors): Innovations in Multi-Disciplinary Cancer Management.” Neurosurgeons, oncologists, neuroscientists, and researchers participated in sessions focused on emerging treatment strategies and collaboration in the management of brain and spine tumours.
According to figures cited during the conference, more than 1.4 million new cancer cases are diagnosed in India each year. Cancers of the brain and central nervous system account for about 3% of all cancers in the country but remain among the most complex to diagnose and treat due to their impact on neurological functions.
Conference sessions addressed advances in neurosurgical techniques, imaging technologies, precision radiotherapy, and treatment protocols. Six specialised workshops were also conducted on neuro-oncology surgery, neuro monitoring, neuro radiation oncology, paediatric neuro oncology, neuro radiology, and neuro pathology.
Dr. (Prof.) I. C. Premsagar, Chief of Neuro & Spine Oncology Services at RGCIRC and organising chairman of RGCON 2026, said that although brain and central nervous system tumours represent a smaller share of cancers, they remain difficult to treat and require a multidisciplinary approach. He noted that more than 322,000 new cases of brain and CNS tumours are diagnosed globally each year.
Ashok Kumar Agarwal, chairman of RGCIRC, said academic collaboration is important as cancer incidence in India continues to rise. D. S. Negi, CEO of RGCIRC, added that coordinated care among multiple specialists is essential for treating brain and spinal tumours. Global projections cited at the conference estimate more than 33,500 deaths from brain and CNS cancers in India by 2030.
During the event, the institute also launched a biography titled “How the Crane Caught the Crab,” authored by Bhavana Pankaj, documenting the history and development of RGCIRC.
