AACR-NCI-EORTC to hold molecular targets meeting in San Francisco

Progress in oncology drug development will take center stage Nov. 12-16, 2011, as thousands of scientists and industry experts convene at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco for the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.

"During the last few years, numerous innovative agents have been discovered as a result of tremendous developments in the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer," said program co-chairperson Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D., Kraft Family professor of medicine and program director and chief of the division of hematologic neoplasia at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. "The level of excitement surrounding targeted therapy and the high caliber of the science to be presented fuel the power of this meeting to attract the world's leaders in cancer therapeutics."

Anderson, who is also editor in chief of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, will host a press conference on new research in breast cancer at 7:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 12.

The press conference will feature the following research:

HDAC Inhibitor May Overcome Resistance to Common Breast Cancer Drug

Benefit of Novel Drug in Breast Cancer Seen in Blood Within Weeks

Signaling Pathway Linked to Inflammatory Breast Cancer May Drive Disease Metastasis

On Nov. 12 at 11:00 a.m. PT, program co-chairperson James H. Doroshow, M.D., FACP, deputy director for clinical and translational research at the National Cancer Institute, will host a press conference on progress in angiogenesis.

The press conference will feature the following research:

Researchers Develop More Effective Way to Discover and Test Potential Cancer Drugs

Novel Monoclonal Antibody Offers Potential Treatment for Tumors Resistant to VEGF Therapy

Combination Therapy Shows Potent Tumor Growth Inhibition in Preclinical Studies

Both press conferences will take place in Room 2004 of the Moscone Center. Reporters who cannot attend in person can call in using the following information:

U.S./Canada: 888-647-7462

International: 201-604-0169

In addition to the press conference, the program chairpersons have designated the following research projects as newsworthy:

Antifolates Show Promise Against NSCLC Subtype

New Approaches May Prevent Certain Side Effects in BRAF Mutation-Positive Melanoma

Panel of Melanoma Mutations Opens Door to New Treatment Possibilities

Provided by American Association for Cancer Research