President's Message
Dear Colleagues,
As I am sure many of you have heard, the journal Science named cancer immunotherapy its 2013 Breakthrough of the Year! With increased involvement and profound research, this was undoubtedly a defining year for the field. While this recognition is quite an achievement, 2014 is shaping up as another landmark year in cancer research. Now, we, as a field, have to ask ourselves what’s big in the New Year.
At SITC, we’re hosting many programs to answer just that question.
In this month’s Immune Monitor, I’d like to highlight several upcoming programs. So, if your resolution is to learn more, network more, or just surround yourself with the hottest research—mark your calendar for these exciting programs:
• Updates on Immunotherapy of Cancer and Immunoscore
Joint SITC meeting with Sidra Medical and Research Center
(January 22-23, 2014 / Doha, Qatar)
• ITOC-1 Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference
SITC Session at ITOC's First Cancer Immunotherapy Conference
(March 12-14, 2014 / Munich, Germany)
• Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Dinosaurs or Key Components?
SITC/CIMM Town Hall at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
(April 8, 2014 / San Diego, CA)
• Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy: From Basic Science to Clinical Application
SITC Guest Society Session at American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting
(May 5, 2014 / Pittsburgh, PA)
• Cancer Immunotherapy Primer
Held prior to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
(May 30, 2014 / Chicago, IL)
• Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy (ACI) Programs
Multiple regional locations
(More Info Coming Soon! )
Interested in these programs or connecting with SITC, visit our website or connect with us via Linkedin.
Happy New Year,
.jpg){kind=small}
Francesco M. Marincola, MD, FACS
SITC President
Cancer Immunotherapy Named 2013 Breakthrough of the Year
Cancer Immunotherapy claimed the top spot on the 2013 top 10 list of science breakthroughs released by Science. For the past three decades, SITC's members have been leading the field forward and advancing the science and application of cancer immunotherapy to improve outcomes for cancer patients everywhere. Congratulations to all those working in the field on this accomplishment!
To read the full article in Science, please visit: www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6165/1432.full.
Time is Running Out to Register for SITC Program in Doha
With leading authorities in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, this program will describe the latest research advances, focus on currently approved and emerging tumor immunotherapy approaches, and provide highlights on SITC initiatives and projects including the Immunoscore.
Registration closes Tuesday, January 14, 2014! Click here to register.
SITC Partners in ITOC's 1st Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference
March 12-14, 2014 • Munich, Germany
The ITOC educational program will focus on topics such as immunomodulatory agents, anti-cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibodies with special emphasis on translational research and biomarker development. The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for discussion on early clinical drug development and to address the unique challenges involved. Organized by the Biotherapy Development Association (BDA), partners include SITC, Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen (CCCLMU), Roman-Herzog-Krebszentrum Comprehensive Cancer Center (RHCCC) and Munich Tumor Center (TZM). For more information, visit our website.
SITC Co-Sponsors AACR Cancer Immunology (CIMM) Working Group Town Hall
April 8, 2014 • Omni San Diego Hotel • San Diego, CA
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Dinosaurs or Key Components?
Held during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, SITC is partnering with the Cancer Immunology Working Group (CIMM) on this symposium featuring several expert speakers in the field of cancer immunotherapy including Elizabeth M Jaffee, MD - Johns Hopkins University; Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS - Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; and Francesco M. Marincola, MD - Sidra Medical and Research Center. More information will be announced shortly at: www.sitcancer.org/sitc-meetings/aacrsymposium.
SITC Announces Guest Society Session at AAI 2014 Annual Meeting
May 5, 2014 • David L. Lawrence Convention Center • Pittsburgh, PA
Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy: From Basic Science to Clinical Application
Co-Chairs:
Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD – University of Chicago
Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD – University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Program topics and speakers include:
- Novel Mechanisms of Anti-CD40 Activity
Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil – University of Pennsylvania - Adoptive T cell therapy: from Biology to Practice
Nicholas P. Restifo, MD – National Cancer Institute - Targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 Axis for Cancer Immunotherapy
Suzanne L. Topalian, MD – Johns Hopkins University - Anti-CTLA-4 mAb: New Directions and Combinations
F. Stephen Hodi, Jr., MD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
You can also visit SITC at exhibit booth #202 between Saturday, May 3 and Monday, May 5, 2014.
More information will be announced shortly at www.sitcancer.org/sitc-meetings/aai2014.
SITC Hosts Cancer Immunotherapy Primer Prior to ASCO 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014 • Hyatt Regency McCormick Place • Chicago, IL
Back by popular demand, SITC will host a half-day cancer immunotherapy primer prior to the beginning of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Please stay tuned as more information will be announced shortly at: www.sitcancer.org/sitc-meetings/aciil14.
2014 Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy Programs Coming Soon
In 2013, SITC organized a total of seven regional “Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy” (ACI) programs specifically designed to address the entire unit of care involved in treating cancer patients with immunotherapy. SITC will continue the series in 2014 with new program locations and dates that will be announced soon! The successes of these programs are best described by those below:
“It was a very educational day with updates focusing on cancer immunotherapy. Our entire research lab attended. For some it was nice refresher, and for others it was a great introduction to clinical cancer immunotherapy.”
-Dr. Arta Monjazeb, University of California, Davis, program attendee
“…the smaller venue encouraged interactions among physicians, scientists, nurses and other allied health personnel – all in the interest of bringing effective immunotherapy to our patients.”
-Dr. Walter Urba, Providence Cancer Center, program organizer
"I'm a neonatologist being treated for melanoma and found the program very interesting being there as a physician and patient. All very well done! Speakers were informative and cordial.”
-Dr. Richard Bucciarelli, University of Florida, program attendee
SITC Past President Honored at ACI-PA Program
SITC’s Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Pavilion was especially meaningful as the program’s faculty organized a memorial event for SITC Past President Ronald B. Herberman, MD. Dr. Herberman passed away suddenly in May of 2013. At the conclusion of the Pittsburgh program, Dr. Herberman’s family, colleagues and friends gathered to celebrate his life and acknowledge his immense contribution to the University of Pittsburgh, the Society, and to the field of cancer immunotherapy.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to know Ron on so many levels. Individuals like him are rare and opportunities to associate yourself with them are even rarer. Its physicians and scientists like Ron Herberman who make us all better by setting the bar so high. They make us work harder, think profounder and push farther than any of us could ever do on our own. In the end, that might just be Ron’s most enduring legacy.”
-Dr. Stanley Marks, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
"Ron's dedication and persistent approach to leading the field of cancer immunotherapy and his lasting legacy of ongoing work and involvement in SITC and UPCI continue today."
-Dr. Robert Ferris, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
