2014 ASCO Annual Meeting: Scientific Program Preview and Meeting Resources

Apr 22, 2014

By Virginia Anderson, Senior Writer/Editor

Every year, oncology professionals, patients, patient advocates, industry representatives, and major media outlets worldwide await the science presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting. This much anticipated “Super Bowl” of oncology science represents the best that the field has to offer, as well as an unparalleled opportunity for networking as oncology’s top minds come together from around the globe to advance the care and treatment of patients with cancer.

This year promises to be distinguished as ASCO marks its 50th anniversary of advancing progress against cancer, with this year’s theme—Science and Society—capturing the collaborative nature of the work that we do and the work  that lies ahead in championing evidence-based science at every level and in every sphere of our global society.

“All of us are working to make sure the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting reflects the pride we take in our first 50 years, the confidence we feel in our ability to overcome and even leverage the unique and unprecedented challenges of today to our greatest advantage, and the optimism that will enable us to do all of this while delivering empathic care to our patients and their families,” said ASCO President Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP. (For more Annual Meeting insights from Dr.Hudis, read his Conversation with the President)

Please join us May 30-June 3 in Chicago to be the first to hear presentations of practice-changing research in oncology, join expert faculty for discussions of state-of-the-art science, and network with colleagues from around the world.

Visit am.asco.org to register, reserve hotel accommodations, view preliminary program information, and find the latest information on the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Scientific Program

A record 5,530 abstracts were submitted this year, with more than 2,900 selected for presentation in Oral Abstract Sessions, Clinical Science Symposia, or Poster Sessions—a testament to the robustness of clinical cancer research and the exciting advances occurring in labs and practices across the globe. In addition, more than 2,200 abstracts were selected for online publication.

“The Scientific Program this year is very competitive with a record-breaking number of abstracts submitted, and I was extremely impressed with the overall quality of the abstracts,” said Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, 2013-2014 Chair of ASCO’s Scientific Program Committee. The Committee’s goal in selecting abstracts, he said, “is to make sure we have the most current, cutting-edge science that is also of the highest quality—this is what our members and attendees have come to expect from the ASCO Annual Meeting.”

Dr. Wolchok noted that several themes emerged organically from the selected abstracts, representing the refinement of treatment strategies with currently available medicines and the importance of the newest generations of precision medicine, as well as a focus on value, public health, and prevention—a reflection of the theme “Science and Society” selected by Dr. Hudis.

The Plenary Session, at which the most clinically significant abstracts are presented and discussed, will take place on Sunday, June 1, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in the North Building, Hall B1. The Plenary Session will also be simulcast in the East Building, Hall D1 and broadcast on ASCO Live TV. Four abstracts have been selected for presentation which examine combined treatment strategies across three common disease sites: breast cancer (hormone manipulation and HER2 blockade), colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

“Whether you are a subspecialist or a general oncology practitioner, you are very likely to hear something at the Plenary Session that is going to be important to you and to your patients. These four abstracts are likely to change practice in the immediate future,” Dr. Wolchok said.

Three Post-Plenary Discussion Sessions, one for each disease site, will be held directly following the Plenary Session to allow for more discussion with presenters and speakers on the presented abstracts. For times and locations of specific discussions, visit am.asco.org.

In addition to the Plenary Session, don’t miss the Highlights of the Day Sessions on June 1-3 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, which review key findings from the previous day’s Oral Abstract Sessions and Clinical Science Symposia, led by expert discussants who put the findings into clinical context.

Focus on Value

In today’s climate of escalating health care costs and multiple therapeutic options, it’s more important than ever to focus on providing high-quality, high-value care for all patients with cancer. ASCO’s commitment to helping oncology providers and their patients understand the relative value of treatment options is reflected in this year’s Scientific Program, and attendees can expect to see conversations about value led by discussants in numerous Oral Abstract Sessions. Discussants with expertise in this issue will participate in the Sunday and Monday Highlights of the Day Sessions and the three Post-Plenary Discussion Sessions, where they will provide context for the findings related to cost of treatment, adverse events, and outcomes, as appropriate.

“We’re trying to take a more in-depth view of the advances we see presented and appreciate them for the value they bring to our patients in every way—not just in financial terms, but in quality of life,” Dr. Wolchok said. He and the Scientific Program Committee are working closely with Lowell E. Schnipper, MD, Chair of ASCO’s Value in Cancer Care Task Force, to help prepare discussants to lead conversations about value during their sessions.

The purpose of these value discussions “is not to put a stake in the ground and say what is valuable or what is not,” Dr. Schnipper said. “We recognize that value is a relative concept that varies quite a lot depending on the patient and disease circumstance.” He and other members of the Value in Cancer Care Task Force are providing resources to discussants so that they can speak to “the relationship between the optimal outcome achieved and the resources required to achieve it,” he said.

Oncology professionals cannot afford to ignore the realities of cost and value in the care they prescribe. “We must be mindful of these issues for our patients, who deserve the best care we can give them, but should not be financially disadvantaged in the course of receiving it,” Dr. Schnipper said.

Attendees who would like to participate in larger discussions of value in cancer care, either generally or in specific disease sites, may be interested in the following sessions:

  • Value Assessment of Therapeutic Options in Head and Neck Cancer Care (May 30, 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM)
  • Can We Find Common Ground? Stakeholder Perspectives on Value in Cancer Care (May 30, 3:45 PM to 6:00 PM)
  • The Value of Cancer Care, and the Professional and Ethical Obligations of the Practicing Oncologist: A Debate (May 31, 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM)
  • Quality and Value in Gynecologic Cancer Care: Do We Get What We Pay For? (June 1, 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM)
  • ASCO/European CanCer Organization (ECCO) Joint Session: Value in Cancer Care (June 2, 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM)

Abstracts

Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I and publish-only abstracts will be available online at abstracts.asco.org on May 14, 2014, at 5:00 PM EDT.

New this year, all abstracts to be released onsite at the 2014 Annual Meeting will be designated as Late-Breaking Abstracts (LBAs), including Plenary abstracts. This improvement will make abstract designations clearer and simpler for attendees. LBAs will remain confidential under ASCO’s confidentiality policy until they are publicly released online at abstracts.asco.org over the course of the Meeting.

Find each day’s Late-Breaking Abstracts in print in Section D of ASCO Daily News, available in bins throughout McCormick Place. After all abstracts have been released, a PDF of the Annual Meeting Proceedings Part II—which contains the complete collection of full-text Late-Breaking Abstracts—will be available for download on the Attendee Resource Center (am.asco.org/arc).

Clinical Science Symposia

Clinical Science Symposia are offered throughout the Annual Meeting and provide a forum for science in oncology, combining the presentation of selected abstracts on a specific topic with didactic lectures by expert faculty. Invited discussants will place the studies in the appropriate context based on the strength of the evidence and critically discuss the conclusions in terms of their applicability to clinical practice.

Check the Annual Meeting Program online for details about this year’s Clinical Science Symposia; as of March 2014, the following have been planned for presentation:

  • Incorporating Advanced MR and PET Imaging in the Clinic: Are We Ready? (Central Nervous System Tumors)
  • Emerging Combination Strategies (Developmental Therapeutics—Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics)
  • Optimizing Access to Clinical Trials in Community Practice (Health Services Research)
  • Targeting EGFR: The Next 10 Years (Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Metastatic)
  • Advances in Tumor Biology (Tumor Biology)
  • Harnessing Biology and Immunology to Develop Novel Biomarkers (Breast Cancer—HER2/ER)
  • Targeted Therapies in Early, Mid, and Late Development (Lymphoma and Plasma Cell Disorders)
  • Unleashing the Immune System in Genitourinary Cancers (Genitourinary [Prostate] Cancer)
  • Outcomes and Interventions in Older Cancer Patients and Survivors: Geriatric Oncology Clinical Science Symposium (Patient and Survivor Care)
  • Finding the Targets in Gynecologic Cancers (Gynecologic Cancers)
  • Novel Combination Therapies for Melanoma (Melanoma/Skin Cancers)
  • Immunobiology and Immunotherapy (Head and Neck Cancer)
  • Next-Generation Sequencing Panels for Cancer Risk Assessment (Cancer Prevention/Epidemiology)
  • Exploring the Spectrum of Sarcoma Genome (Sarcoma)
  • Colorectal Cancer: Not Just One Disease (Gastrointestinal [Colorectal] Cancer)
  • Palliative Care: Interventions That Matter (Patient and Survivor Care)

NEW IN 2014: Poster Highlights Sessions

In addition to General Poster Sessions, during which abstracts are displayed in poster format, attendees will have enhanced opportunities for networking in new Poster Highlights Sessions. These sessions will feature poster display and discussion of the top novel and clinically applicable posters by experts in the field. Networking tables will be available during the display of posters and during the last hour of the session, with faculty on hand for questions and discussion. More than 540 posters will be presented and discussed during these new Poster Highlights Sessions.

General posters, located on the right-hand side of the Oncology Professionals Hall, will feature more than 2,000 total posters throughout the course of the meeting and numerous ePoster stations. General Poster information (times, topics, and authors) are available by track and by day in the Annual Meeting Program and the iPlanner.

Opening Session: Presidential Address, Special Guest Speaker

Mark your calendar to attend the Opening Session, Saturday, May 31, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, at which Dr. Hudis will deliver his address on the theme “Science and Society.” (You can read the entire address online or watch it on video following the presentation, on ASCOconnection.org under Online Exclusives.)

National Medal of Science recipient Leroy Hood, MD, PhD, President of the Institute for Systems Biology, will also speak during the Opening Session. Dr. Hood will discuss systems medicine and the revolution in health care and society, based on his research experience in molecular immunology, biotechnology, and genomics. He and his colleagues developed the DNA gene sequencer and synthesizer and the protein synthesizer and sequencer—four instruments that paved the way for the successful mapping of the human genome. He received the National Medal of Science, the highest honor the President of the United States can award a citizen, in 2011.

The Opening Session will also include recognition of the 2014 Fellows of ASCO, the presentation of the ASCO Humanitarian Award, and the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture (see the 2014 Special Awards Honor Professional Achievements, Outstanding Service article).

50th anniversary-themed sessions

In recognition of the progress against cancer over the past 50 years, the 2014 Annual Meeting program will feature 50th anniversary-themed Education Sessions. These sessions will provide historical perspective and future directions in specific diseases and cancer topics. To locate these sessions, look for the special 50th anniversary icon in the Sessions-at-a-Glance grid.

Special Events and Opportunities

Annual Business Meeting

ASCO members are invited to attend the 2014 Annual Business Meeting on Monday, June 2, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. The Annual Business Meeting will include a “State of the Society” report by ASCO CEO Allen S. Lichter, MD, FASCO, financial updates from Treasurer Susan L. Cohn, MD, and the opportunity to meet newly elected ASCO officers, including 2014-2015 ASCO President Peter Yu, MD, FASCO (see the Dr. Peter Yu To Assume ASCO Presidency At Annual Business Meeting article).

There is no ticket required to attend the Annual Business Meeting, but members are asked to register in advance at am.asco.org in order to receive a complimentary boxed lunch.

NEW IN 2014: Discuss humanism in medicine at ASCO Book Club

Bring your lunch and join your colleagues on Monday, June 2, from 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM for a thought-provoking discussion of the New York Times bestselling book Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder. This book chronicles the inspiring story of Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, founding director of the nonprofit organization Partners in Health, in his quest to improve health care in developing countries.

Co-Chairs Teresa Gilewski, MD, and Lawrence N. Shulman, MD, will facilitate a discussion of humanism in medicine, with a particular focus on oncology. Join the conversation to remind yourself why you went into medicine and share your thoughts and hopes for the future of the field. All are welcome, even if you have not read the book.

TweetUp and social media opportunities

Connect with ASCO, colleagues, and attendees during the Annual Meeting through social media:

  • Join ASCO’s TweetUp on Saturday, May 31, from 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM in the Plate Room Food Court in McCormick Place’s South Building, Level 2.5. Visit tweetvite.com/event/ASCO14 for details.
  • Follow @ASCO on Twitter and share your own thoughts on the science using the hashtag #ASCO14. Attendees have the option to include their personal Twitter handles on their badges to facilitate connection.
  • Use #ASCO14 to tag your Annual Meeting photos on Instagram.
  • Visit ASCOconnection.org and post your own commentary on the presentations or ask questions in the Forums (an ASCO.org member or guest account is required for login).

Maintenance of Certification information and opportunities

Beginning this year, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) now requires that all diplomates, regardless of certification date, actively participate in MOC to be reported as ”Meeting MOC Requirements.” To help Annual Meeting attendees understand the changes, an Education Session titled “Your Jumpstart to MOC Success: New Requirements and How to Meet Them” will be offered on Monday, June 2, from 4:45 PM to 6:00 PM. ASCO MOC  staff and a representative from ABIM will provide information and take questions.

There is still time to register for ASCO’s Core Sessions MOC Self-Assessment Activity and obtain MOC points—visit am.asco.org and sign up before the May 16 deadline. Participants will take a pre-test to highlight areas of educational need and will receive a customized list of Core Sessions to attend to fill knowledge gaps. After successful completion of a post examination, participants will be eligible to claim 10 MOC points in Self-Assessment of Medical Knowledge.

Ancillary Educational Events

Attendees looking to maximize their Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit have the opportunity to attend Ancillary Educational Events offered in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. These events are organized by accredited CME providers and feature presentations by expert faculty.

The following events are currently planned:

  • May 30, 6:30 PM—Bacterial Infections in Patients with Cancer: New Challenges, New Opportunities (Center for Independent Healthcare Education & Vemco MedEd; vemcomeded.com/livemeetings.asp)
  • May 30, 7:00 PM—Lung Cancer Tumor Board: Clinical Investigators Provide Perspectives on Current Cases and Key Publications in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Research to Practice; researchtopractice.com/Meetings/NSCLC2014)
  • May 31, 6:30 PM—Optimizing Antiangiogenic Strategies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Colorectal Cancer, and Gastric Adenocarcinoma (Educational Concepts Group, LLC; ecgcme.com/gic)
  • May 31, 7:00 PM—Treating Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: One Starting Point, Diverging Paths (Medscape LLC;medscape.org/townhall/mcrc)
  • June 1, 7:00 PM—A Comprehensive Review of Biosimilars and Their Role in Oncology (The France Foundation;events.FranceFoundation.com/ASCO2014)

Ancillary Educational Events will take place at the Hilton Chicago, accessible via Shuttle Route 10. Dinner will be provided.

Trainees and Junior Faculty Member Lounge

ASCO Members In-Training, Full Members within the first three years post-training, Medical Students, Residents, and Oncology Training Program Directors are welcome at the Trainees and Junior Faculty Member Lounge in Room S501, open May 30-June 3. Receive advice on career advancement while participating in small group discussions led by prominent faculty on professional development topics. Attendees can also sign up to participate in a mock job interview or poster walks for the Breast Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancers, Genitourinary Cancers, and Lung Cancer tracks.

Visit asco.org/fellows for an up-to-date schedule of events in the Lounge as the Annual Meeting approaches.

In addition, the Lounge is a quiet place to network with colleagues, check email on available computers, learn more about ASCO membership, and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

Pre-registered fellows or junior faculty members who have already received their badge by mail are welcome to pick up their tote bags and Meeting materials at the Lounge on Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31.

Member Referral Program, prize opportunities

Share the value of ASCO membership with your colleagues by referring them to join at the 2014 Annual Meeting. You will both receive a free gift, and you will both be entered into a daily drawing to win a variety of exclusive prizes, including 2015 Annual Meeting registration and hotel reservations, gift certificates to the ASCO University® Bookstore, and more. Current members will be entered into the drawing for every member they refer, and referral of three members earns an additional gift.

Bring a colleague who is interested in applying for membership to a Member Services area in Registration, Concierge Services, the Grand Concourse, or ASCO Central (Booth 7004) in the Oncology Professionals Hall. Potential new members can fill out and submit an application onsite—once the application is complete, you can begin taking advantage of some of ASCO’s member benefits, such as product discounts, immediately.

Attendee badge materials include a special Badge Ticket which can be entered for an opportunity to win an iPad during the Annual Meeting. Stop by any Member Services location to drop off your Badge Ticket and speak with a Member Services representative. The winning ticket will be drawn Monday, June 2, at 5:00 PM.

Conquer Cancer Foundation

The Conquer Cancer Foundation is challenging attendees to raise $50,000 over the course of the Annual Meeting to support the Foundation’s Mission Endowment, providing lasting support for some of ASCO’s most critical priorities. Donations can be made online at ccf.asco.org and onsite at the Donor Lounge (Room S401, open May 30 to June 2). Donors are welcome to use the Lounge throughout the meeting to relax, recharge and enjoy light refreshments.

Attendees can participate in the Foundation’s Passport to the World of Oncology program for the chance to win prizes, including free registration for the 2015 Annual Meeting. Access your ePassport through the Annual Meeting iPlanner using your smartphone or tablet and collect six text codes from participating exhibitors for a chance to win.

At Your Service

Concierge Services: Technical support, international assistance, and more

Helpful staff in the Concierge Services area in the Grand Concourse Lobby of McCormick Place can assist attendees with Chicago information (including restaurant reservations, tours, and tickets to local events), travel, and hotel accommodations.

The Technology and App Central desk will be located in Concierge Services this year, so that attendees can obtain technical support for their devices throughout the Annual Meeting. Technical staff will be onsite to help you download, install, and access ASCO’s suite of apps (which can help you access vital information on the go), provide device specific support to help you get the most from featured apps (including iPlanner, iMeeting, iDirectory, Cancer.Net, Conquer Cancer Foundation, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Oncology Practice, The ASCO Post, and ASCO Flashcards), and provide general technical support.

The International Assistance Desk, staffed by members of the ASCO International Affairs Department and skilled language interpreters, is open May 30-June 3. Services available at the International Assistance Desk include:

  • Language interpretation (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish)
  • Information about international sessions of interest at the Annual Meeting
  • Information about ASCO International activities (including education programs, grants, and membership information)
  • Information about Chicago, the Annual Meeting, and travel

Oncology Professionals Hall

The Oncology Professionals Hall hosts ASCO resources, exhibits, general posters, the Industry Expert Theater, Internet Stations, ASCO Bistro, and a food court, among other features. The hall is open on Saturday, May 31, through Monday, June 2, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

More than 500 companies will have a presence in the exhibit area, including pharmaceutical companies, scientific publishers, advocacy groups, and technology and practice management vendors. Attendees can review exhibitor information and locate booths with the Online Exhibitor Directory (am.asco.org), the iPlanner (mobile app), Online Exhibitor Director Stations directly outside of the Hall, in Section C of ASCO Daily News, and in the Exhibitor Directory (which can be picked up onsite at Tote Bag Pick-Up locations in North Building, Hall C or at Gate 3 of the South Building, and at the Exhibits Information Desk at the entrance to the Hall).

Reserve a seat at ASCO Bistro

Reserve a seat at ASCO Bistro, a lunchtime food option located in the Food Court at the back of the Oncology Professionals Hall. You can reserve tables in advance so your group can have a designated place and time to eat and meet while enjoying an all-inclusive lunch buffet with healthy options. Make your reservation online at ascobistro.com, onsite at the entrance to the Food Court, or in Concierge Services at the Restaurant Reservations and ASCO Bistro Tickets Desk. Menus are available online to preview ahead of time.

At Internet and Charging Stations, located in the Food Court, attendees can use the Internet, check email, print a boarding pass, access the Attendee Resource Center (see the 2014 Products and Resources article), view the Annual Meeting Program online, read ASCO Daily News, watch Virtual Meeting presentations, search for an Exhibitor, complete the Meeting evaluation, and obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

ASCO Central—Booth #7004

Located at the front of the Oncology Professionals Hall, ASCO Central is designed to highlight all of ASCO’s programs and services, and the benefits of ASCO membership. Visit ASCO Central to speak with staff and learn more about publications and products on ASCO University, resources from Cancer.Net (including promotional items), and to browse CancerProgress.Net (ASCO’s 50th anniversary website).

Visit the ASCO Connection area of ASCO Central for a personalized demo of the Society’s professional networking site, to pick up copies of the member magazine and The Best of ASCO Connection Commentary Special Edition, and to learn about opportunities to contribute articles to our print and online editions; premium gifts are available for visitors while supplies last.

ASCO Institute for Quality—Booth #5005

Next to ASCO Central, attendees will find the ASCO Institute for Quality booth. Learn more about all of the Society’s quality-related programs, including the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) and QOPI Certification Program, Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Quality Improvement Training program. The booth will feature information and live demonstrations of the CancerLinQ™ prototype, ASCO’s rapid learning system for cancer care.

ASCO-Sponsored Patient Advocacy Booth—Booth #3005

The ASCO-Sponsored Patient Advocacy Booth, near the entrance of the exhibits, is designed to give not-for-profit patient advocacy organizations an opportunity to promote their programs, services, and resources to the professional oncology community. Additional patient advocacy organizations are located in the nearby Patient Advocacy Pavilion.

State Oncology Societies—Booth #2005

Staff and leadership from participating ASCO State/Regional Affiliates will be at the State Oncology Societies Booth representing their organizations, interacting with attendees, and discussing the importance of local level involvement in issues affecting oncology professionals. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Booth to receive a State Society Member Ribbon. The Booth also hosts Meet the Leader sessions as an opportunity for practicing oncologists to share their concerns, inquiries, and suggestions with ASCO and state-level leadership.

ASCO Journals Booth—Booth #21135

The ASCO Journals booth is located in Publishers Pavilion and offers a wide range of information about the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP). Attendees visiting the Booth can pick up current issues of the journals as well as the Best of JCO: Annual Meeting, a compendium of the most accessed clinical research articles published in JCO during the previous year. Staff will demo JCO and JOP apps and mobile-optimized content for a variety of devices. The nearby Publishers Pavilion is an area highlighting more than 50 publishing organizations who sell oncology-related books and journals.

Oncology Career Fair

ASCO’s annual Oncology Career Fair offers a convenient way for Meeting attendees to explore available career options with representatives from hospitals, academic institutions, private practices, and leading firms in the field of oncology. Job seekers will learn about new job openings, meet face-to-face with recruiters, and schedule personal interviews in the employers’ private interviewing booths. For more information or to submit your curriculum vitae online, visit careers.jco.org. The Career Opportunities and Other Medical Meetings posting boards, located next to the Career Fair, provide information about job openings and medical meetings held throughout the year.

Technology and Practice Management Pavilion

Exhibitors in the Technology and Practice Management Pavilion will highlight the latest in advanced technologies for health care professionals, such as electronic health records, database management, electronic communications, software, and other electronic products and services related to the practice of oncology.

Industry Expert Theater

The Industry Expert Theater brings together industry leaders and attendees interested in the latest drug development research. These one-hour informational presentations will take place in classroom-style theaters. Presentations are not certified for Continuing Medical Education credit. Check the iPlanner oram.asco.org for a schedule of presentations; this schedule will be continually updated as the Meeting approaches.


2014 SPECIAL AWARDS HONOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, OUTSTANDING SERVICE

ASCO confers Special Awards to recognize researchers, physicians, patient advocates, and leaders of the global oncology community who, through their work in clinical oncology, cancer research, or public and government advocacy, have made significant contributions to the field of cancer care.
 

H.M. (Bob) Pinedo, MD, PhD—David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture
Presented during the Opening Session, Saturday, May 31, 9:30 AM

Dr. Pinedo is a Professor Emeritus of the VU University Medical Center (VUmc) and a consultant to the Board of the VUmc Cancer Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a clinical investigator taking new concepts into early clinical trials, he has made seminal observations in cancer biology and treatment-related mechanisms of drug action and resistance in the patient.

Harald zur Hausen, MD—Science of Oncology Award and Lecture
Presented during the Plenary Session, Sunday, June 1, 1:00 PM

Dr. zur Hausen is a virologist and cancer researcher who discovered the important role that human papillomavirus (HPV) plays in cervical cancer. His ground-breaking research in the 1970s and 1980s paved the way for the development of the HPV vaccine in 2006. He was honored with a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for this achievement.

Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH— ASCO–American Cancer Society Award and Lecture
Sunday, June 1, 8:00 AM

Dr. Colditz is the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery and Professor of Medicine; Chief of the Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery; and Deputy Director of the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, and Associate Director of Prevention and Control at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center. He pursues approaches to the translation of epidemiologic data to improve risk stratification and to tailor prevention messages and screening strategies, and researches benign breast disease and other markers for breast cancer risk, among other topics.

Stuart M. Lichtman, MD, FACP—B. J. Kennedy Award and Lecture for Scientific Excellence in Geriatric Oncology
Saturday, May 31, 4:45 PM

Dr. Lichtman is an attending physician at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, a member of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and their 65+ Clinical Geriatric Group, and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He received his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and he has devoted his career to providing quality care to under-served and under-treated older populations with cancer.

Leslie L. Robison, PhD—Pediatric Oncology Award and Lecture
Saturday, May 31, 1:15 PM

Dr. Robison is the Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control at St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is the principal investigator of the groundbreaking Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CSSS), a multi-institutional study begun in 1994 which has yielded significant, practice-changing findings in every aspect of cancer survivorship, including risk of secondary malignancies, treatment-related late effects, genetic polymorphisms, behavioral and psychosocial outcomes, reproductive complications, tobacco use and cessation, and quality of life.

Aron Goldhirsch, MD—Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Award and Lecture
Presented at the 2014 Breast Cancer Symposium, September 4-6, San Francisco, California

Dr. Goldhirsch is Director of the Multidisciplinary Program of Senology and Deputy Scientific Director at the European Institute of Oncology, Italy, and a Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He has served as Chair of the Update Committee of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, which conducts large-scale meta-analyses of breast cancer treatments, and Vice-Chair of the Breast International Group, a consortium of cooperative groups around the world for conducting clinical trials for breast cancer therapies.

Jaime de la Garza, MD—Distinguished Achievement Award
Presented during a private function

Dr. de la Garza is  the Executive Secretary of the Science Advisory Council for the President of the Mexican Republic and a clinical research investigator at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Tlalpan, Mexico. He is a founding member of the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM) and the Mexican Oncology Board, for which he also served as President. He was the first ASCO member from Latin America.

James O. Armitage, MD, FASCO— Special Recognition Award
Presented during a private function

Dr. Armitage is the Joe Shapiro Professor of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Past President of both ASCO and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He developed and directed the bone marrow transplant program at the University of Iowa and later at the University of Nebraska, and has served on a number of advisory boards and committees in both the United States and internationally.

Michael H. Levy, MD, PhD— Excellence in Teaching Award
Presented during the Training Program Directors’ Special Session, Friday, May 30, 4:00 PM

Dr. Levy is Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Medical Director of Payer Relations at Fox Chase, and a Professor of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine. He developed the Lippincott Family Hospice Program, the Pain and Palliative Care Program, and the Medical Ethics Committee at Fox Chase, serving as Director of the former programs and Chair of the latter. Dr. Levy is the first recipient of this new Special Award.

Surendra S. Shastri, MBBS, MD, DPh, DHA—Humanitarian Award  
Presented during the Opening Session, Saturday, May 31, 9:30 AM

Dr. Shastri is a Professor and Head of the Department of Preventive Oncology at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India, and heads the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection. He co-founded the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control, which was critical in drafting national tobacco control legislation in India; initiated and directs the Smoke-free Mumbai Campaign, which resulted in strict enforcement of a smoking ban in public areas in Mumbai; developed a low-cost cancer control program in rural districts; and led a study that showed a simple vinegar test reduced the rate of cervical cancer death by 31%.

Michael S. Katz, MBA— Partners in Progress Award
Presented during Highlights of the Day II Session, Monday, June 2, 7:30 AM

Mr. Katz is Vice President of the International Myeloma Foundation. A survivor of multiple myeloma and rectal cancer, Mr. Katz has worked as a patient advocate across a broad spectrum of cancers for the past two decades, serving as Chair of the Patient Representatives Committee at the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, on the National Cancer Institute’s Director’s Consumer
Liaison Group, and on the Association of Cancer Online Resources.

Congressman John Carney— Public Service Award
Presented during a private function

Mr. Carney is the Delaware representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, and has contributed to the state’s efforts to improve the quality of life and health of its citizens for more than a decade. During his time as Lieutenant Governor, he worked to pass the Delaware smoking ban and led the passage of the state’s Cancer Right to Know law, which makes cancer data more available to citizens. He is the former Chair of the Disparities Committee of the Delaware Cancer Consortium and helped lead a comprehensive statewide colorectal screening program that resulted in a 41% reduction in colorectal mortality rates of black individuals in the state.

Fellows of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Presented during the Opening Session, Saturday, May 31, 9:30 AM

The Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction recognizes ASCO members for their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO.

  • Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMS
  • Dean E. Brenner, MD
  • Gary I. Cohen, MD
  • Leon H. Dragon, MD, FACP
  • Lee M. Ellis, MD
  • Daniel F. Hayes, MD
  • Michael P. Kosty, MD, FACP
  • Neal J. Meropol, MD
  • Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH
  • Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA
  • Peter Paul Yu, MD
  • Robin T. Zon, MD, FACP
 

DR. PETER YU TO ASSUME ASCO PRESIDENCY AT ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

On June 2, at the Annual Business Meeting held in conjunction with the ASCO Annual Meeting, Peter Yu, MD, FASCO, of Palo Alto Medical Foundation, will succeed Clifford Hudis, MD, FACP, as ASCO President.

AC: What do you remember about your first ASCO Annual Meeting?

Dr. Yu: The first ASCO Annual Meeting I went to was in the second year of my fellowship, and I’ve been to every one since then—for almost 30 years now—so it clearly made a lasting impression. It was in Houston, and I remember the Plenary Session being in an auditorium that, while large, was still small enough that if you stood up and shouted you could ask a question of the speaker without a microphone. There was a strong sense of camaraderie.

AC: Is there a session you’re particularly excited about this year?

Dr. Yu: I’m looking forward to the Education Session that I’m chairing on May 31, “Electronic Health Records and How to Optimize Their Use,” examining how wecan use health information technology and electronic health records in a way that will meet our future needs. What is missing, and what are the big opportunities for oncology? Dr. Jeremy Warner, the current Chair of the ASCO Health Information Technology Work Group, of Vanderbilt University, will speak on some of the technical aspects of data—what makes usable or unusable data. Dr. David Artz, the head of informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will be talking about what his institution has achieved in capturing complex molecular data sets, which we believe will drive cancer research and cancer treatments going forward. I’ll  be taking a look at clinical decision support tools, which aid doctors using electronic health records to take care of their patients, why the current thinking and formulation of those tools really don’t work, and what it will take to produce tools that are useful and welcomed by clinicians.

AC: How have you been preparing for your term as ASCO President?

Dr. Yu: I’ve been traveling to as many ASCO committee meetings as I can fit in. There are more than 20 committees in ASCO, dealing with divergent topics from research to ethics to health care disparities to international issues to community practice, and it’s important that I understand the critical issues that the ASCO members serving on these committees have identified as the biggest challenges facing oncologists and our patients.

I’ve also been going to members’ institutions to visit community and academic practices to hear the concerns of the broader membership. I’ve gone to practices in the United States, China, and Japan, and I’m planning to go to South America as well, to get a sense of what’s happening at the grassroots level. I’m seeing that the problems aren’t that different from practice to practice, but the solutions will need redefining in the context of local resources and political realities.

AC: What will be some of your first priorities when your term begins?

Dr. Yu: There are several. One is to make sure that ASCO is meeting and exceeding the needs of our membership, to ensure that
the Society remains a leader in the oncology community. We’re going to be thinking carefully about what our domestic and international members need, as well as what the medical communities in other countries need and what ASCO can share with them. We need to broaden the participation of domestic and international members in  ASCO committees, to bring their points of view into our work. An area that I expect will take a significant amount of my time as president is aggressively participating in the discourse around health care reform taking place in our country right now. There will be continued emphasis on quality, and the ASCO Board has identified cost of care as an important issue.

I’ll be working with Dr. Jamie Von Roenn, ASCO’s Senior Director of Education, Science, and Professional Development, on our 2015 Annual Meeting. There are some ideas we’d like to incorporate, including more opportunities for active learning. We’d also like to begin to develop the concept of molecular tracks. We’ve been talking for some time now about how the future of cancer care will revolve around panomics and molecular medicine, and move away from thinking about cancer as anatomic diseases. We’ll be thinking about how we might begin to organize abstracts around specific signal transduction pathways or molecules. We’re also very interested in Maintenance of Certification requirements, which are becoming increasingly complex, and ensuring that members fully understand the new requirements and finding ways to meet that member need through ASCO activities.

There is increasing interest in the role of palliative care and the responsibility of oncologists to address palliation of symptoms. Palliative care is developing as a major endeavor within ASCO, and it will be fascinating to see how that evolves within our organization. We’ll be launching a new Palliative Care Symposium in the fall. We have a grant with the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine to develop a virtual learning collaborative on palliative care, which began in March and will run for two years.

Finally, there’s CancerLinQ, which is evolving our existing work on guidelines and quality measures into a digital platform and creating a deep cancer registry of real-life treatment experiences. We’re looking at how to derive products that support clinical care and create a research knowledge base for discovery. We expect that the first phase of CancerLinQ will launch in a small group of practices during my presidency, which will take a lot of my attention.

 

2014 PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES

Online and mobile tools streamline and organize your Meeting experience

During the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting expect rapid access to Meeting information through the channel of your choice. All digital publications and resources link to the most up-to-date online resources and are optimized for viewing on portable electronic  devices.

Attendee Resource Center

am.asco.org/arc
Everything you need before, during, and after the Meeting

Use ASCO’s Attendee Resource Center as a one-stop shop for all of your Annual Meeting materials.

BEFORE on am.asco.org/arc:

  • Search and browse sessions on the web-based iPlanner (available now)—start adding sessions and abstract presentations to your personal schedule.
  • Download and/or print articles from the 2014 ASCO Educational Book (available now)—you can download articles by track or get the complete publication.
  • Download the free iPlanner app, sync it with your web-based schedule, and continue to refine your Meeting itinerary (available in early May).
  • Download and/or print abstracts from Annual Meeting Proceedings, Part I—you can download abstracts by track or get the complete publication (available on May 14 5:00 PM EDT on abstracts.asco.org).
  • Download the ASCO iMeeting app so that you can watch Virtual Meeting presentations directly from your iPad, and save videos for offline viewing.

DURING on am.asco.org/arc:

  • View Virtual Meeting videos and posters.
  • Download from Meeting Slides: 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting (subscription required).
  • Find shuttle routes and schedules and other onsite information.
  • Read ASCO Daily News online-exclusive content and watch video interviews with oncology experts.
  • Claim Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit directly from the iPlanner app during a session, and rate the session with a quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down.
  • Use ASCO Interactive Meeting (AIM) within the iPlanner app to save session presentations into your “queue,” creating a personal playlist of Virtual Meeting videos from sessions you’ve attended.  You can watch these sessions later on your computer, or on your iPad with the iMeeting app.

AFTER on am.asco.org/arc:

  • Use Virtual Meeting to revisit favorite sessions you attended or catch up on ones you missed.
  • Download from Meeting Slides: 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting to prepare your own presentations (subscription required).
  • Request a Certificate of Attendance.
  • Read the ASCO Daily News Wrap-Up Edition.
  • Complete the Annual Meeting evaluation.

Message and Networking Center

Connect with other attendees

Available onsite through the Attendee Resource Center (am.asco.org/arc), the new Message and Networking Center allows you to easily communicate with colleagues and other Annual Meeting attendees. To use:

  • Select “Message and Networking Center.”
  • Sign in with your ASCO.org username and password or with your Annual Meeting badge ID number.
  • Based on information you provided during Registration or to the ASCO Membership Directory, the Message and Networking Center will suggest Annual Meeting attendees from your institution, city, or specialty to connect with. Select a name and send that person a private direct message.
  • Use the “Find Attendees and Send Messages” tab to search for attendees. Search by first name, last name, institution, city, state, country, and/or specialty. You can search for a specific individual or cast a wide net.
  • From your search results, select one  or more names to compose and send a private direct message. Send a greeting to old friends, introduce yourself  to potential collaborators, invite colleagues to watch your presentation or view your poster.
  • Use the “Networking Opportunities” tab to see a list of events and view locations to meet with colleagues for in-person networking and discussions.

Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I and ASCO Educational Book

Attendees have several ways to receive these publications:

  • The Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I and ASCO Educational Book will be available online on the Attendee Resource Center (am.asco. org/arc) in advance of the Meeting (with the ability to download/print).
  • Onsite at the Annual Meeting, attendees can pick up the eTote, a USB flash drive containing the Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I and ASCO Educational Book.
  • Print versions of the Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I and ASCO Educational Book (selected articles) can be purchased online  as part of registration or purchased onsite. If pre-purchased, pick up in Registration areas; to purchase onsite, visit the ASCO University® Bookstore or Registration.

Annual Meeting Proceedings Part II

Late-breaking abstracts will be available in print on the day of their presentation in ASCO Daily News, Section D, available throughout McCormick Place and online at abstracts.asco.org. After all abstracts have been released, a PDF of the Annual Meeting Proceedings Part II, will be available on the Attendee Resource Center (am.asco.org/arc).

Virtual Meeting

Virtual Meeting and its companion product, the ASCO iMeeting app, provide video and podcast access to completed Meeting presentations; this highly valued resource is included in the Annual Meeting registration fee. Attendees can access presentations via:

  • Personal computer. View via streaming video. Search presentations by session title, author, or track. Search videos and posters by title, presenter, or abstract number.
  • Podcast. Play audio from selected presentations.
  • Mobile devices. A mobile-friendly site is available for accessing Virtual Meeting on smartphones and other web-enabled devices (meetinglibrary.asco.org/vm).
  • ASCO iMeeting app for iPad. Attendees can stream Meeting presentations and save videos for offline viewing on this iPad app (requires iOS 6.0 or higher). The app is free to download, but a subscription to Virtual Meeting is required to see the full content; a subscription is included with Annual Meeting registration. If you do not register for the Meeting, you may purchase a subscription to Virtual Meeting. ASCO iMeeting will be updated with 2014 Annual Meeting information in early May.

iPlanner

Build your Meeting itinerary on your computer or mobile device with the iPlanner, a scheduling tool that allows you to search presentations and add them to your personal calendar. The mobile version of the iPlanner automatically syncs with the online version. Take advantage of a new feature this year: the ability to claim Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit while in a session. The iPlanner website is available now, and the mobile app will be available for Apple and Android devices in early May.
 

CLASSIC CHICAGO: SEVEN CAN’T-MISS EXPERIENCES

Take in the View from Willis Tower
233 S. Wacker Dr.
willistower.com
Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 9:30 PM)

Formerly (and more famously) known as the Sears Tower, Willis Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the United States and offers an unparalleled view of the Chicago skyline. On a clear day, you can see four different states from the vertigo-inducing Skydeck on the 103rd floor.

Snap a Picture with “The Bean” at Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph St.
millenniumpark.org
Open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Formerly covered with railroad tracks and parking lots, the 24.5-acre Millennium Park is now an urban oasis of green space, performance venues, and public art. The best-known attraction is Cloud Gate, a 110-ton stainless steel sculpture—bearing an uncanny resemblance to a lima bean—which reflects back the sky, the city, and the visitors who pause to touch its surface.

Visit Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
fieldmuseum.org
Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM)

Every year, up to 2 million visitors take in the wonders at the Field Museum, whose permanent collection boasts an impressive array of specimens and artifacts, including fossils, gems, meteorites, and animal dioramas. The museum’s most famous resident is Sue, the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered.

Root (Root, Root) for the Cubs at Wrigley Field
1060 W. Addison
chicago.cubs.mlb.com
Tuesday, June 3, at 7:05 PM (vs. New York Mets)

Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is one of America’s classic ballparks (and second oldest, after Fenway Park in Boston). Experience 100 years of baseball history during a daily guided tour, or finish your Annual Meeting experience watching the Chicago Cubs play the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
navypier.com
Open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to midnight Friday and Saturday

A Chicago landmark since 1916 (when it originally served as a Navy training center for pilots), Navy Pier extends nearly one mile into Lake Michigan. In addition to the 15-story Ferris wheel, visitors will find rides, shopping, theaters, museums, and restaurants, including a beer garden. To make your visit even more special, catch the fireworks on Saturday, May 31, at 10:15 PM.

See Nighthawks at the Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
artic.edu
Open daily 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Thursday 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM

Guarded by two bronze lions, the Art Institute’s permanent collection bears witness to more than 5,000 years of human expression. Visitors will find a number of well-known Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, as well as a fine exhibition of American painters, including Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Mary Cassatt’s The Child’s Bath, and Edward Hopper’s iconic Nighthawks.

Indulge in Retail Therapy on the Magnificent Mile
N. Michigan Ave
themagnificentmile.com

The 13-block stretch of N. Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile, bounded by the Chicago River at the south end and Oak Street at the north, features more than 460 stores and 275 restaurants. The area is also home to iconic Chicago buildings, including the historic Water Tower, Wrigley Building, Drake Hotel, and Tribune Tower, whose unique facade is studded with fragments from nearly 150 culturally significant sites around the world.

Classic Chicago Cuisine

Sightseeing is hungry work, ideally followed by Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza. It’s baked in a round steel pan around three inches deep, layered with cheese, chunky tomato sauce, and other fillings. While there is no consensus on where to find the best deep-dish pizza, Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, and Gino’s East frequently vie for the crown.

If you stop by a hot-dog cart as you sightsee, remember that a classic Chicago-style hot dog is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy-seed bun topped with yellow mustard, diced white onion, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato wedges, pickled sport peppers, and celery salt—no ketchup allowed.

Comments

Shyam Agrawal, MD, DM

May, 05 2014 11:50 AM

Excellent recipe with all kinds of academic flavors. Keep it up and all the best. Dr. Shyam Agrawal

Rakesh Chopra, MD

May, 05 2014 1:02 PM

interesting topics of clinical and practical relevance, ASCOalways comes up with the best Dr Prof. Rakesh Chopra

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