Program Purpose

November 3, 2011
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
North Bethesda, MD

Combined immunotherapeutic approaches are showing promise to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. This one-day Workshop on Immunotherapy Combinations included dynamic presentations and interactive panel discussions on cancer immunotherapy strategies that combine multiple immunotherapies as well as various conventional cancer treatments. Logistical issues in combination trials were addressed, including from the regulatory, legal, and industry perspectives, and from the perspective of independent academic investigators. Current clinical trial efforts were presented, highlighting key considerations that may be applicable to future combination trials.

Topics Addressed:

• Immunotherapy Combination with Other Immunotherapies
• Immunotherapy Combinations with Conventional Cancer Therapies
• Logistical Issues: Regulatory, Legal, Industry and Academic Perspectives
• Clinical Trial Efforts – What Have We Learned?

Intended Audience
The target audience for this program was basic scientists and clinical investigators from academic institutions, industry and regulatory agencies. The audience included clinicians, translational and basic researchers, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows involved in cancer research.

Program Goals

• Critically evaluate treatment approaches that combine two or more cancer immunotherapies, including blockade of negative regulation, various therapeutic antibodies, cancer vaccines, and T cell-based therapies to identify promising strategies
• Examine modes of action of cancer immunotherapies that point to effective immunotherapeutic combinations
• Explore current data on combining immunotherapies with conventional cancer therapies, including dosing and timing of chemotherapy, targeted therapeutics, radiotherapy and surgery to define optimal strategies for combination therapy
• Identify critical logistical considerations for immunotherapy combinations from a regulatory, legal, industry and academic medicine perspective to advance clinical trials and application of effective immunotherapy combinations
• Examine what has been learned from successful clinical trials on cancer immunotherapies and how to extend these considerations into other combination strategies to improve cancer outcomes

Expected Learner Outcomes

• Upon completion of this meeting, participants will be able to:
• Summarize latest results on combined cancer immunotherapies and describe effective combination strategies
• Define molecular and cellular basis for modes of action and synergism between effective immunotherapy combinations
• Describe current research, rationale and clinical approaches for combining cancer immunotherapy with conventional treatments
• Understand key regulatory, legal and logistical implications for research on immunotherapy combinations conducted within industry and at academic institutions
• Identify and understand key elements of successful immunotherapy clinical trials and incorporate this understanding into design of research and clinical application of combination immunotherapy

The Workshop on Immunotherapy Combinations is a non-accredited continuing medical education event. No credits are offered for physician participation in this educational program.