Topic: 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium
Sara and I attended The 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium (Science and Multidisciplinary Management of GI Malignancies in San Francisco, January 15 through 17, 2009.
GI cancers include: esophageal and stomach cancers, pancreatic cancer, colon and rectal cancer, and small bowel and hepatobiliary cancers, which include, liver, bile duct and tract, and gallbladder.
We attended a symposium where each member of a milidisciplinary panel covered topics of highest public interest and importance, followed by audience participation.
We are encouraged by some research focusing on developing strategies to reduce normal tissue toxicity which can follow radiotherapy for GI cancers, and we have learned of the collaboration of centers focusing on international clinical trials investigating radiation therapy for hepatobiliary cancer and liver metastases. We will be watching the outcome of this studies and post the results accordingly. Of special interest was the direction of development of novel agents in the treatment of GI malignancies and screening protocols for individuals at high risk for GI malignancies.
We attended several poster sessions which included: Tests to anticipate severe toxicities upon gemcitabine intake, the use of CD133 expression as a prognostic factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and a single-agent study demonstrating the
activity of obatoclas in a rat cholangiocarcinoma cell line.
Other poster sessions included: Expression of CD74 in gastrointestinal cancers as a target for immunotherapy, A phase II study of erlotinib and bevacisumab in patients with advanced upper gastrointestinal cancer refractory to chemotherapy; incidence of diarrhea in patients with GI malignancies treated with PHY906 and cepetitabine; a phase II study of capecitabine, oxyplating, and fixed-dose rate gemcitabine every two weeks in advanced cholangiocarcinoma, Phase II trail of gemcitabine and S-1 combination for patients with advanced pancreas and bilary tract cancers.
The preliminary data of these studies and many of the others warrant more investigation.
This conference was on a much smaller scale then the upcoming ASCO will be however, Sara and I were able to converse with many physicians (including those from other countries.) We spoke with several representatives of Pharmaceutical Companies who are producing agents for the treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma and we connected with physicians, researchers all of whom welcomed our presence and who showed genuine interest in the mission, goals and value of our Foundation. Many brochures were requested and subsequently handed out. We have befriended Advocates from other organization many of which were present at this conference also. It is always nice to share ideas, to pass on information and have questions answered which benefit our foundation.
We are now looking forward to attending the 2009 SSO Annual Cancer Symposium in Phoenix, AZ. I am looking forward to meeting up with Lainy and her Miracle Man, Teddy, who have generously committed to attending this conference with me.
