Lung cancer conference leaders honor Paul A. Bunn Jr., M.D.

The American Association for Cancer Research and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) honored Paul A. Bunn Jr., M.D., for his leadership in lung cancer research at the first Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer conference this week. The conference, held from Jan. 11-14, 2010, drew more than 300 people from around the world. Bunn is professor of medicine and the James Dudley chair in cancer research at the University of Colorado, Denver.

"Dr. Bunn has been an inspiration to physicians and scientists working in the field of lung cancer. He deserves this award for everything that he has contributed to this important field past, present and future," said conference co-chairperson Roy Herbst, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the section of thoracic medical oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Conference co-chairperson David Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., Harold L. Moses chair in cancer research and director of the Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Lung Cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, concurred.

"Indeed, Bunn has done much to teach the next generation of scientists and clinicians about excellence in cancer research and treatment," said Carbone.

Bunn, a co-chairperson of the conference, said the combined efforts of the AACR and IASLC have helped to raise awareness of translational research.

"The AACR has been the leader in basic research for many years, and the IASLC has led the way in the clinical arena," said Bunn. "The joining of these two associations for this meeting is a strong indication of how important translational research has become for lung cancer and many other forms of cancer as well."

Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, kidney, colon, liver and skin cancers combined. It is a critical area for future research, according to Bunn.

"Despite its prevalence and the terrible toll that lung cancer takes in terms of human life and suffering, this disease has not been well funded and has not been the focus of as much advocacy as some other cancers," Bunn said. "This is changing. This is a time when there is genuine new hope and optimism for improving the prognosis and quality of life for lung cancer patients."

Provided by American Association for Cancer Research