ASCO meeting to convene this week

June 3 – 7  I will be in Chicago with 30,000 oncologists and oncology-related professionals (and 350 patient advocates) for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, easily the largest oncology meeting in the world. Over 4000 abstracts have been accepted and many different types of sessions are presented including Education, Special, Plenary, Oral Abstract, Clinical Science Symposia, Clinical Problems in Oncology, Posters Discussion, and Trials in progress posters. These sessions are described in more detail on the ASCO site:

http://chicago2011.asco.org/AbouttheMeeting/DescriptionsofSessionTypes.aspx

The sessions are grouped into Tracks, which makes planning easier for attendees. My focus will be on pediatric oncology and clinical trial design, along with close attention to promising clinical trial results in adult solid tumors which may signify promising agents in the near future for pediatric solid tumors.

Below is a short list of items of interest, and the full abstract is available by clicking on each title. I will be reporting on the meeting beginning next week.

Abstracts on neuroblastoma

• PARP-1 inhibitor MK-4827 in combination with radiation as a treatment strategy for metastatic neuroblastoma. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Phase I study of vincristine, irinotecan, and 131I-MIBG for patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: A New Approach toNeuroblastoma Therapy (NANT) study. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Toxicity of 131I-MIBG combined with high-dose chemotherapy in children with refractory neuroblastoma. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Can the well-credentialed neuroblastoma tumor antigen GD2 be exploited for T-cell-based immunotherapy of pediatric sarcomas? | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A novel anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), hu14.18K322A, in children with refractory or recurrent neuroblastoma: Early-phase evaluation. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Dosimetry, toxicity, and response in a phase IIa trial of no-carrier added iobenguane I-131 (nca-MIBG): A New Approach to NeuroblastomaTherapy (NANT) study. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Allogeneic transplantation for patients with high-risk or refractory neuroblastoma. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• The prognostic value of semi-quantitative 123I mIBG scintigraphy at diagnosis in high-risk neuroblastoma: Validation of the SIOPEN score method. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Ototoxicity in children with high-risk neuroblastoma: Prevalence, risk factors, and concordance of grading scales—A report from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Association of GSTP1 hypermethylation with reduced protein expression and its correlation with clinical stage in neuroblastoma. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Phase I trial of TPI 287 as a single agent and in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with refractory or recurrent neuroblastoma (NB) or medulloblastoma (MB). | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Busulphan-melphalan as a myeloablative therapy (MAT) for high-risk neuroblastoma: Results from the HR-NBL1/SIOPEN trial. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Stratification of patients with neuroblastoma for targeted ALK inhibitor therapy. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts

Abstracts on pediatric solid tumors

• Cell cycle and apoptotic effects of PM00104 in pediatric cell lines and xenographs. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstract
• Second malignant tumors in childhood cancer survivors. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A phase I study of ifosfamide, oxaliplatin, and etoposide (IOE) in pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Melanoma as a subsequent neoplasm in survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Characterization of novel potent and selective anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A phase I trial of vorinostat and bortezomib in children with refractory or recurrent solid tumors: A Children’s Oncology Group study. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A comparison of safety and efficacy of cytotoxic versus molecularly targeted drugs in pediatric phase I solid tumor oncology trials. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Changes in incidence of infant cancer: Analysis of SEER data 1992-2007. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Randomized double-blind controlled trial (RCT) of pegfilgrastim as prophylactic therapy in pediatric patients with solid tumors during myelosuppressive chemotherapy. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Phase I study of pazopanib in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors (ADVL0815): A Children’s Oncology Group Phase I Consortium Trial. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Phase I study of bevacizumab, sorafenib, and low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYC) in children and young adults with refractory solid tumors. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A phase I trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat (LBH589) and epirubicin in patients with solid tumor malignancies. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A phase I study of temsirolimus and valproic acid for refractory solid tumors in children. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Feasibility and pharmacokinetic study of potential ABCG2 inihibitor, gefitinib (GB), in combination with irinotecan (IRN) for adolescents and young adults (AYA). | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Phase I study of bevacizumab, sorafenib, and low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYC) in children and young adults with refractory solid tumors. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts
• A phase I trial of IMC-A12 and temsirolimus in children with refractory solid tumors: A Children’s Oncology Group Study. | 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts

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An icon in pediatric oncology: Dr Archie Bleyer interviewed on TWiPO

In this sixth episode of TWiPO, Dr Tim Cripe interviews Dr Archie Bleyer about his career and research interest in improving survival rates in adolescents and young adults (AYA) affected by cancer.

Dr Bleyer  is the Medical Director of , Clinical Research at St. Charles Cancer Care in Bend, Oregon and a Clinical Research Professor at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland. He also is a Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Senior Advisor of the Aflac/CureSearch Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research, and founding member of the LiveStrong Young Adult Alliance.

Dr. Bleyer chaired the Children’s Cancer Group for 10 years, then the world’s largest pediatric cancer research organization, and the Department and Division of Pediatrics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  He was the American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology and in charge of the cancer curriculum in the University of Washington School of Medicine. During the past three decades, Dr. Bleyer was awarded research grants totaling more than $75 million as a principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and the Leukemia Society of America. His research has been published in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and books.

This is an inspiring and enlightening discussion of the progress and challenges of the past 3 decades of treating children and young adults with cancer, and an optimistic view of future improvements in survival, quality of life, and reducing late effects in survivors. Listeners are welcome to send thoughts and comments to twipo@solvingkidscancer.org

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Discussion of the role of hedgehog signaling and repositioning of drugs for pediatric cancers such as anti-fungal drug itraconazole

In this fifth episode, hosts Dr Tim Cripe and Dr Maureen O’Brien discuss the role of hedgehog signaling in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and the use of drugs designed for other uses — such as itraconazole, an anti-fungal drug found to suppress hedgehog signaling — as a possible treatment for medulloblastoma.

1:20 feedback and comments on previous TWiPO episode

2:58  Hedgehog-responsive candidate cell of origin for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; (fulltext) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 March 15; 108(11): 4453–4458

Personalized medicine has arrived to pediatric cancers: neuroblastoma

This Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC) feasibility trial will accrue 14 patients.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01355679

Inclusion Criteria:

Read more about this trial here:

http://www.nmtrc.org/personalized-medicine/

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Oncolytic virus meeting, conference on DIPG, and promising targeted T-cell immunotherapy against sarcoma

In this fourth episode of TWiPO host Dr Tim Cripe and co-host Dr Jim Geller discuss updates after two recent meetings and then discuss an exciting paper just published on  ”Tumor regression in patients with metastatic synovial cell sarcoma and melanoma using genetically engineered lymphocytes reactive with NY-ESO-1″ J Clin Oncol. 2011 Mar 1;29(7):917-24. Epub 2011 Jan 31. by Paul Robbins and colleagues at the NCI.

1:23 Conference on oncolytic viruses (see recent webinar on pediatric trials).

7:28 Conference on DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) at Cincinnati Children’s; discussion on biology, new tumor models, and genetic profiling.

12:50 Discussion on adoptive immunotherapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with metastatic melanoma and synovial cell sarcoma.

28:28 Listener email questions and answers. Send emails to twipo@solvingkidscancer.org

Podcast is sponsored by Solving Kids’ Cancer. Posted with permission.

Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF) plans 9th annual medical conference for parents

During the past decade, CNCF has succeeded in bringing an ambitious idea to life. Inviting NB experts to Chicago to speak, providing lodging, meals, some travel funds, and activities for children for NB families who could not otherwise afford to attend such a meeting is a remarkable accomplishment. No other foundation has attempted to duplicate this effort for any other rare disease to our knowledge. Funding such a conference is difficult because most donors understandably want to support research, not education for parents. Because of this conference, many hundreds of parents have been able to meet each other, and hear two days of presentations by various medical experts and engage with them about the disease that afflicts their child. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for parents with children with a deadly disease to learn what they need to know. Special sessions are even provided for grieving families who have lost children to NB.

This all obviously comes with a big price tag, however. Grants to fund such educational activities are very difficult to secure, and the support of NB families who have benefited from this conference in the past is needed now more than ever.

To register and learn more about the conference see:

http://www.cncfhope.org/CNCF_Parent_Education_Conference

Neuroblastoma researchers from around the country are developing new treatments and therapies to improve survival rates and reduce the long-term effects of treatment. Meet some of them at the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation’s 9^th annual Parent Education and Medical Conference:

July 29 & 30th

Hyatt Regency Woodfield-Schaumburg

1800 E. Golf Rd.

Schaumburg, Illinois

Neuroblastoma families have many, many questions, and resources aren’t always readily available. The Parent Education and Medical Conference is a chance for them to get the answers that they seek. Attendees will be able to hear directly from the top neuroblastoma researchers, form valuable networks with other families, and learn how they can become involved in – or create their own – fundraising opportunities in their communities.

Each year, families rave that the conference provides them with a chance to get away, relax, and commiserate with other people who can relate to their circumstance. Children ages 12 and younger can enjoy activities in our “Kids’ Room” * while their parents attend the meetings. (Older children and those not participating in the Kids’ Room are the responsibility of the parents).

The conference can accommodate no more than 200 attendees, and space fills up fast. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. CNCF has reserved 50 hotel rooms for a two-night stay. Complimentary rooms will be available for families that qualify. For information, call CNCF at 866-671-2623.