The purpose of the 10th International Lung Cancer Congress is to update participants on advances in lung cancer, including biology, pathology, staging, individualized therapy, novel agents, and supportive care. The congress will discuss current trends in surgical, radiotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic approaches to lung cancer and will provide a perspective on clinical data presented at major international oncology meetings. An ongoing focus will be the individualization of therapy based on clinical, histologic, and molecular characteristics. Areas of controversy in lung cancer therapy, including treatment of early-stage and locally advanced disease, testing for molecular markers, and the optimal combination of targeted and cytotoxic agents will be the subject of panel discussions and debates. The congress will also feature presentations on optimizing the application of established targeted agents as well as presentations introducing emerging targeted agents, including mechanisms of action and clinical/preclinical results. A regular feature of the International Lung Cancer Congress is an update of research efforts from major Cooperative Groups in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The format of the meeting will include didactic lectures from internationally renowned leaders, debates and discussions on controversial topics, extensive panel discussions with case scenarios, multidisciplinary tumor boards, and question-and-answer sessions as well as afternoon translational workshops focusing on strategies currently in development for the treatment of lung cancer.
Target Audience
This educational program is directed toward medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, and pulmonologists as well as investigators, practitioners, and fellows in training with research interests in lung cancer. No specific skills or knowledge other than a basic training in oncology is required for successful participation in this activity. Nurses, physician assistants, and other individuals interested in the treatment of lung cancer are also invited to attend.
Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this congress, you should be able to:

* Summarize clinical data on the efficacy of adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with early-stage NSCLC
* Compare the predictive power of tumor stage and molecular profiling in early-stage NSCLC
* Review current issues in the surgical treatment of NSCLC
* Evaluate clinical data on radiation therapy in the treatment of early-stage and locally advanced NSCLC
* Describe combined modality approaches for patients with locally advanced lung cancer
* Assess the feasibility of sublobar resections in early-stage NSCLC
* Summarize the impact of revised staging criteria on lung cancer diagnosis
* Discuss the optimal application of antiangiogenic agents in lung cancer
* Assess approaches to managing toxicities from antiangiogenic agents
* Discuss updates on the use of EGFR TKIs, including the impact of molecular and clinical characteristics and overcoming resistance
* Evaluate clinical data on anti-EGFR antibodies in NSCLC treatment regimens
* Assess clinical data on multikinase inhibitors and epigenetic approaches
* Evaluate approaches to optimize lung cancer therapy based on clinical and molecular characteristics
* Discuss pathologic approaches to categorize lung cancers histologically and molecularly
* Evaluate clinical data on agents used to ameliorate bone health in patients with lung cancer
* Discuss novel cytotoxic and other targeted agents in development for patients with lung cancer
* Evaluate approaches to improve outcomes with frontline and salvage therapy regimens in metastatic NSCLC
* Summarize current research activity in lung cancer from national and regional Cooperative Groups

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(NaturalNews) In a correction and editorial, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has revealed that a study on a new method of diagnosing lung cancer might have been tainted by financial conflicts of interest.

"We and our readers were surprised to learn that the source of the funding of the charitable foundation was, in fact, a large corporation that could have an interest in the study results,'' the editorial read in part. "It is important to ask whether a study on clinical outcomes in lung cancer should be directly underwritten in part by the tobacco industry.''

The study in question concluded that lung cancer deaths could be reduced 80 percent by the use of computed tomopgraphic (CT) scans to detect the cancer earlier. From the beginning, the study attracted controversy, with critics charging that early diagnosis did not prove a decreased death rate, and that the method delivers many false positives that could lead to unnecessary biopsies.

Then in March, the New York Times revealed that the study had in fact been almost entirely funded by a tobacco company.

In the correction, study author Claudia Henschke clarified that $3.6 million, or "virtually all" of the study funding from the Foundation for Lung Cancer had been contributed by Vector Group Ltd., parent company of Liggett Tobacco.

Vector had announced its funding of Henschke's research as early as 2000, but this was not disclosed to the NEJM.

The journal was aware, however, that Henschke and co-author David Yankelevitz were receiving royalties from General Electric, a major manufacturer of CT machines, for their pending patents on ways to manipulate and interpret data from the scans. This conflict of interest was not disclosed when the article was published.

The NEJM announced that it would be implementing stricter requirements for study authors to disclose their funding sources.

"It had not been a practice at the time to ask people about the pedigree of their sources," chief editor Jeffrey Drazen said. "This has been a learning process for us."

[ READ MORE ]

In a correction and editorial, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has revealed that a study on a new method of diagnosing lung cancer might have been tainted by financial conflicts of interest.

"We and our readers were surprised to learn that the source of the funding of the charitable foundation was, in fact, a large corporation that could have an interest in the study results,'' the editorial read in part. "It is important to ask whether a study on clinical outcomes in lung cancer should be directly underwritten in part by the tobacco industry.''

The study in question concluded that lung cancer deaths could be reduced 80 percent by the use of computed tomopgraphic (CT) scans to detect the cancer earlier. From the beginning, the study attracted controversy, with critics charging that early diagnosis did not prove a decreased death rate, and that the method delivers many false positives that could lead to unnecessary biopsies.

Then in March, the New York Times revealed that the study had in fact been almost entirely funded by a tobacco company.

In the correction, study author Claudia Henschke clarified that $3.6 million, or "virtually all" of the study funding from the Foundation for Lung Cancer had been contributed by Vector Group Ltd., parent company of Liggett Tobacco.

Vector had announced its funding of Henschke's research as early as 2000, but this was not disclosed to the NEJM.

The journal was aware, however, that Henschke and co-author David Yankelevitz were receiving royalties from General Electric, a major manufacturer of CT machines, for their pending patents on ways to manipulate and interpret data from the scans. This conflict of interest was not disclosed when the article was published.

The NEJM announced that it would be implementing stricter requirements for study authors to disclose their funding sources.

"It had not been a practice at the time to ask people about the pedigree of their sources," chief editor Jeffrey Drazen said. "This has been a learning process for us."

[ READ MORE ]

Lung cancer
staging refers to a system of classifying where the cancer is in its growth. This allows physicians a guide to help determine what treatments would be most effective and how aggressively those treatments should be administered. It is also a way of determining the potential outcome of a particular case of lung cancer
. The lower the stage, the better the odds of a full recovery.

The process of deciding what stage a lung cancer has reached is called "staging the lung cancer." This is accomplished through a series of tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, bone scans, etc. The goal is to determine the size of the tumor or tumors and if the cancer has spread to other tissues (metastasized). X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans help to determine the size and location of the tumors. Bone scans and blood work can help to determine whether the cancer has spread to other organs or to the bones. PET scans can indicate whether or not a tumor is actively growing.

Lung cancer staging is also dependent on the type of cancer. For instance, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there are four stages, while in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) there are two ... limited stage and extended stage. Here's a quick overview to give you an idea of the differences between the various stages:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage I: The cancer is confined to the lungs. This stage obviously offers the best prognosis. Lung cancer caught in this stage has better than a 49% five year survival rate.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The cancer is confined to lung tissue and the lymph nodes within the lungs, the recovery rate is 40-50%

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The tumors have spread from the lungs, but are confined to the chest area. Larger, more invasive tumors are generally diagnosed as belonging to this stage.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV: The cancer has spread away from the chest and invaded other parts of the body such as the liver, adrenal glands, bone, brain, and/or other sites.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited Stage: The cancer is confined to the chest area, and has not spread outside the point of origin.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Extended Stage: The cancer has spread beyond the chest to other parts of the body.

The treatment recommended by your doctor will take into account the stage of the lung cancer, as well as the size and location of the tumors and your general overall health. Of course, you'll have input into how aggressively the cancer should be pursued and all that entails. More and more oncologists are coming to accept that the prognosis of a patient with lung cancer -- as it is with any cancer patient -- is profoundly affected by the patient's attitude and decision making.

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