Just received this news about great opportunities for more advocate work. It would be an honor to attend either of these events. Plus, I've never been to Hawaii!
===
Genetic Alliance invites you and your colleagues to apply for one or both of the upcoming Advocates Partnership Program opportunities at:
American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting
October 20-24, Honolulu, Hawaii
National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference
November 13-15, Atlanta, Georgia
The Advocates Partnership Program provides you with:
* participation in every aspect of the conference
* amazing access to the genetics community
* exclusive daily briefings with professionals
* waived, full registration to the meetings
* up to $250 reimbursement for transportation, hotel room, or airfare
Where do you and your interests fit in the overarching field of human genetics?
ASHG is the premier conference to meet people who work in all areas of human genetics, including research, industry and policy. Come and participate in educational, scientific, and social discussions about the entire translational research pipeline.
Have you ever wondered what genetic counselors do, besides interpret genetic information?
NSGC is the place to learn more about the issues affecting genetic counseling and how strengthening the relationship between genetic counselors and advocacy groups is a win-win for everyone.
To apply, please fill out the application and return it to tmurza@geneticalliance.org no later than Friday, August 28, 2009 for ASHG and Friday, September 11, 2009 for NSGC.
For more information and program requirements please visit:
http://www.geneticalliance.org/advocates.opportunities
If you have any questions, please contact Tetyana Murza at tmurza@geneticalliance.org or (202) 966-5557 ext. 205.
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
LBBC Teleconference Call: Breaking News from 2009 ASCO Meeting
Living Beyond Breast Cancer Teleconference, June 11
Speaker:
Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, of Northwestern University, provided an overview of the latest medical research and quality-of-life news reported at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Kaklamani is an assistant professor of hematology/oncology at Northwestern University. She completed her fellowship in hematology/oncology in 2003 and received a Master of Science in clinical investigation from Northwestern University. Dr. Kaklamani has a certification from the American Board of Medical Oncology and her interests include breast cancer, cancer genetics, studying high risk families and the role of exercise and diet in breast cancer.
Lymph nodes
whether to do therapy directly on the lymph nodes or not
benefit to adding radiation to lymph node region if 1-3 positive nodes?
if larger tumor (2+ cm) and positive nodes, then some benefit to add radiation to axillary, if smaller tumor, not so beneficial.
Tamoxifen
metabolism of tamoxifen. It is the metabolized form that is the active drug. If can metabolize tamoxifen well, then it is very effective.
anti-depressants (Lexepro, Zoloft and commonly used antidepressants) may affect tamoxifen (endoxifene levels). For example, taking Zoloft reduces effectiveness. Lexepro does not interfere, so is fine to use.
Chemotherapy trials
Avastin
inhibits the blood vessels from forming. Avastin is an antibody that goes to the tumors and keeps them from growing. Allowed to use it with Taxol in breast cancer. The Ribbon 1 trial is looking at taxane and zolota to see how effective it is in combo with these. It showed that it is effective, no matter what the treatment using in combo.
Aromatese inhibitors
how they affect brain function - short term memory issues
large adjuvant trial looked at cognitive function between tamoxifen and letrozol. Letrozol did a little bit better than Tam. Study found that all participants had lower cognitive function than women of the same age
Diet, Exercise
Exercise
not a lot of data, not a lot of randomized trials -- but women who exercise do better. IT is a predictor of how women will do.
Diet
There doesn't seem to be a specific diet related to decreased breast cancer recurrence. Weight loss or at least weigh maintenance do better than women who either gain or lose weight. Weight more important than diet.
Supplements
no supplement has been foind to be helpful in protecting against or helping women with breast cancer
Vitamin D -- no difference found -- but when start measuring Vit D levels only 25% of patients are Vit D sufficient. 75% of us are Vit D deficient, therefore, we should encourage women to take supplement to maintain a healthy level of Vit D.
Ask doctor to measure Vit D level!
PARP Inhibitors
Help repair DNA -- if inhibit, it keeps DNA from being repaired -- in cancer cells this is good. For Triple Negative, there already is an issue with the repair mechanism of the cell, so if add a PARP inhibitor, the cell won't be able to survive and will die. Use PARP in Triple Negative and BRCA1/2+ carriers.
-Alaporit (oral PARP Inhibitor) -- gave only PARP Inhibitor (had had chemo before and didn't respond) 41% had response to PARP Inh. -- not much toxicity (fatigue, nausea only), so can be used effectively by itself.
-BSI201 (intravenous) -- looked at chemo with gemcitobine and carboplatin with and without PARP. By adding the PARP Inh. to the chem, respond rate increased hugely. 16% to 48%! Progression free survival increased, and significant improvement in overall survival. It is showing effectiveness in population that hasn't had many alternatives when standard treatment not working.
Speaker:
Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, of Northwestern University, provided an overview of the latest medical research and quality-of-life news reported at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Kaklamani is an assistant professor of hematology/oncology at Northwestern University. She completed her fellowship in hematology/oncology in 2003 and received a Master of Science in clinical investigation from Northwestern University. Dr. Kaklamani has a certification from the American Board of Medical Oncology and her interests include breast cancer, cancer genetics, studying high risk families and the role of exercise and diet in breast cancer.
Lymph nodes
whether to do therapy directly on the lymph nodes or not
benefit to adding radiation to lymph node region if 1-3 positive nodes?
if larger tumor (2+ cm) and positive nodes, then some benefit to add radiation to axillary, if smaller tumor, not so beneficial.
Tamoxifen
metabolism of tamoxifen. It is the metabolized form that is the active drug. If can metabolize tamoxifen well, then it is very effective.
anti-depressants (Lexepro, Zoloft and commonly used antidepressants) may affect tamoxifen (endoxifene levels). For example, taking Zoloft reduces effectiveness. Lexepro does not interfere, so is fine to use.
Chemotherapy trials
Avastin
inhibits the blood vessels from forming. Avastin is an antibody that goes to the tumors and keeps them from growing. Allowed to use it with Taxol in breast cancer. The Ribbon 1 trial is looking at taxane and zolota to see how effective it is in combo with these. It showed that it is effective, no matter what the treatment using in combo.
Aromatese inhibitors
how they affect brain function - short term memory issues
large adjuvant trial looked at cognitive function between tamoxifen and letrozol. Letrozol did a little bit better than Tam. Study found that all participants had lower cognitive function than women of the same age
Diet, Exercise
Exercise
not a lot of data, not a lot of randomized trials -- but women who exercise do better. IT is a predictor of how women will do.
Diet
There doesn't seem to be a specific diet related to decreased breast cancer recurrence. Weight loss or at least weigh maintenance do better than women who either gain or lose weight. Weight more important than diet.
Supplements
no supplement has been foind to be helpful in protecting against or helping women with breast cancer
Vitamin D -- no difference found -- but when start measuring Vit D levels only 25% of patients are Vit D sufficient. 75% of us are Vit D deficient, therefore, we should encourage women to take supplement to maintain a healthy level of Vit D.
Ask doctor to measure Vit D level!
PARP Inhibitors
Help repair DNA -- if inhibit, it keeps DNA from being repaired -- in cancer cells this is good. For Triple Negative, there already is an issue with the repair mechanism of the cell, so if add a PARP inhibitor, the cell won't be able to survive and will die. Use PARP in Triple Negative and BRCA1/2+ carriers.
-Alaporit (oral PARP Inhibitor) -- gave only PARP Inhibitor (had had chemo before and didn't respond) 41% had response to PARP Inh. -- not much toxicity (fatigue, nausea only), so can be used effectively by itself.
-BSI201 (intravenous) -- looked at chemo with gemcitobine and carboplatin with and without PARP. By adding the PARP Inh. to the chem, respond rate increased hugely. 16% to 48%! Progression free survival increased, and significant improvement in overall survival. It is showing effectiveness in population that hasn't had many alternatives when standard treatment not working.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Notes from LBBC Teleconference "Breaking News from 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium"
Speaker: Dr. Kathy Miller
Adjuvant Hormone Therapy
-Increased use of Aromatase Inhibitors -- better survival than Tamoxifen
-Also discussed: OncoDX Score, Big 198 Study
Studies now looking at how women metabolize Tamox and Aromatase inhibitors and seeing if it is possible to choose the therapy based on the enzymes inherited (how well a person metabolizes these). Can hormone therapy be individualized to people?
-Bone health -- aromatase has increased bone loss risk, studies show bisphosphanates are important to administer immediately with aromatase therapy
Adjuvant Chemotherapy (CURE article here)
FinnXx Study -- incorporating Xeloda (capecitabine) -- HER2-, lymph node involvement
NSABP30 Trial & BCROG(?) Trial (gave 6 cycles instead of 4). These trials looked at the TAC (Taxotere, Adriamycin, Cytoxin) regimen and compared dosage, sequence.
Three arms of the trials:
- 4 Adria then 4 tax on 3 week cycle each (sequential arm) -- lower risk of recurrence of all
- 4 A + 4 T
- 4TAC
Summary:
The second trial adminstered 6 doses versus 4. There was no significant difference found between fewer doses, but the sequential arm had the lowest recurrence of all and fewer side effects (probably due to lower dosages of the high toxicity drugs). Conclusion is that the TAC schedule does not offer improved outcome and TAC should be "retired". Recommendations coming out are to make treatment interval every 2 weeks or taxanes weekly and get rid of the TAC regimen.
HER2+ news
Lapatnib -- benefit for metastatic HER2+
TDM1 (Trastuzumab)
Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
approval of drug ixabepilone shows benefit for Triple Negative (in combination with Xeloda)
Again, no studies being reported at San Antonio broke out pre- vs post-menopausal women! Argh!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
FORCE Hereditary Cancer Conference
I will try to attend this conference if finances allow:
Join us May 14 – 16, 2009 in Orlando, Florida for the 4th annual Joining FORCEs Conference! The Joining FORCEs conference is an annual forum on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. We welcome anyone concerned about hereditary cancer: cancer survivors, high-risk individuals, previvors, people with a BRCA mutation or family history of cancer, and health care providers who treat high-risk patients. For more information visit:
http://www.facingourrisk.org/annual_conference/index.htmlSaturday, December 13, 2008
Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation Scholarships
Scholarship applications for the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium will be taken starting April 2009.
News from San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2008
http://media.curetoday.com/htmlemail/sabcs/
(Be sure to check out all 3 Days of updates!)
Something to take note of: Zometa, a bisphosphonate that is used to prevent bone loss, has been found to have positive effects on preventing cancer-recurrence.
Article in the Washington Post (Dec. 11, 2008) also mentions benefit to pre-menopausal women:
"In June, doctors were stunned when a big study found that Zometa _ given to prevent bone loss caused by certain cancer treatments _ also greatly cut the risk that cancer would recur in women who developed the disease before menopause"
(Be sure to check out all 3 Days of updates!)
Something to take note of: Zometa, a bisphosphonate that is used to prevent bone loss, has been found to have positive effects on preventing cancer-recurrence.
Article in the Washington Post (Dec. 11, 2008) also mentions benefit to pre-menopausal women:
"In June, doctors were stunned when a big study found that Zometa _ given to prevent bone loss caused by certain cancer treatments _ also greatly cut the risk that cancer would recur in women who developed the disease before menopause"
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