International Congress provide the impetus to facilitate the presentation and discussion of a wide spectrum of opinions, which then lead to the development of a broad perspective of understanding. The format chosen is usually designed to accomplish three general aims: the critical review of rapidly advancing and important fields, the integration of cutting edge information considered to represent new pathways of understanding, and the presentation of exciting and provocative preliminary data. The meeting in Fukuoka, Japan held on October 21-25 2002 served these purposes well. In addition, this meeting created unique synergy imparted by the joining of two previously independent congresses, the International Congress on Hormonal Steroids (ICHS) and the International Congress on Hormones and Cancer (ICHC). This joint congress continued a long tradition since it represented the 11th ICHS and 7th ICHC meetings. The marriage of these two congresses was timely and reflected the increasing understanding that hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines all work through receptors and influence cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as differentiated function. By providing a forum to summarize recent data from several disparate areas, this combined congress weaved a fabric of interlocking information based upon evolving principles of cellular biology and clinical intervention.