Advances in Cancer Immunotherapyâ„¢-Augusta, Georgia

Tumor Immunology 101: A Navigation Guide for the Growing Field of Cancer Immunotherapy

Friday, September 18, 2015 • 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Georgia Regents University, Health Sciences Building, Room 1204
Access venue and parking map here.

A SITC CME- and CNE-certified regional program organized by Esteban Celis, MD, PhD (Georgia Regents University Cancer Center), Samir N. Khleif, MD (Georgia Regents University Cancer Center)  and Zihai Li, MD, PhD (Medical University of South Carolina)
     

Program Purpose

Specifically designed for clinical oncologists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and the entire medical team involved in treating cancer patients with immunotherapy, these introductory, CME- and CNE-certified programs provided an understanding of basic immunology principles in the clinical application and management of cancer immunotherapy and discussed emerging drugs and concepts in the cancer immunotherapy field.

Presented by leading authorities in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, the program facilitated understanding of 1) the underlying principles of tumor immunology and immunotherapy, 2) the clinical indications for cancer immunotherapy and appropriate selection of patients, 3) patient management, and 4) the therapeutic effectiveness of immunotherapy to ultimately improve patient outcomes. 

Attendees also took advantage of the opportunity for professional networking that will promote collaboration and scientific exchange with experts, clinical oncologists and other health care providers from the surrounding community.

Intended Audience

The target audience for these programs includes clinical oncologists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, the entire medical team involved in patient care, early career individuals, allied health professionals, and patient advocates who wish to learn principles of tumor immunology and immunotherapy, as well as improve their ability to select patients for immunotherapy and provide state-of-the-art clinical management for their patients.

Session Topics

  • Immunology 101 for the Non-Immunologist
  • Basic Principles of Tumor Immunotherapy
  • Basic Mechanisms of Tumor Immune Suppression
  • Cytokines: Interferons, Interleukins and Beyond
  • Understanding Checkpoint Inhibitors: Approved Agents, Drugs in Development and Combination Strategies
  • Active Immunization Approaches
  • Current Status of Chimeric and Adoptive T Cell Therapy
  • Is There a Role for Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy?
  • Immune-Related Adverse Events
  • Immunotherapy for the Treatment of:
    • Melanoma
    • GU Malignancies
    • Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
    • Hematologic Malignancies
    • Brain Malignancies

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

  • Interpret the key principles of tumor immunology and immunotherapy
  • Analyze recent research and clinical applications of cytokines, cancer vaccines, T cell checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive immunotherapy and biomarkers
  • Participate in scientific exchange with local colleagues, potential collaborators, and subject matter experts on research and clinical application of cancer immunotherapy
  • Implement cancer immunotherapy treatments into clinical practice more effectively through a sound understanding of how they work, the clinical management of patients, and the potential to improve patient outcomes with tumor immunotherapy
  • Provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families.

Planning Committee

Asim Amin, MD, PhD – Levine Cancer Institute Carolinas Medical Center
Matthew M. Burke, MBA, RN, MSN, APRN-B – Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven
Joseph W. Fay, MD – Baylor University Medical Center
Keith L. Knutson, PhD – Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida
Hideho Okada, MD, PhD – University of California San Francisco
John D. Powderly II, MD, CPI – Carolina BioOncology Institute, PLLC
Brian I. Rini, MD – Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
Alexander Spira, MD, PhD – Virginia Cancer Specialists
Laura S. Wood, RN, MSN, OCN – Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center

Jointly provided by the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer in collaboration with Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

The Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy™ series is supported in part by independent medical educational grants from AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Genentech; Merck & Co., Inc.; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Prometheus Laboratories Inc.

Event staff will be glad to assist you with any special needs (i.e., physical, dietary, etc.). Please contact SITC prior to the live event at (414) 271-2456.

View a list of all upcoming Advances in Cancer ImmunotherapyTM 2015 regional programs.