Targeting VEGF-mediated Tumor Angiogenesis in Cancer Therapy -
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Anti-angiogenic approaches in cancer therapy show great potential in preclinical mouse models, yet to date this potential has not been fully realized
in human cancer therapy. This 2-day conference titled, "Targeting VEGF- mediated Tumor Angiogenesis in Cancer Therapy," will be presented by the New York Academy of Sciences on June 19-20, 2014, in New York City. The conference will explore our understanding of the mechanisms impacting the efficacy of existing anti-angiogenic cancer therapeutics, including discussions on biomarkers undergoing validation that may predict resistance and overall clinical outcome, with the goals of improving current treatments and developing new anti-angiogenic strategies for cancer. It is anticipated that this event will convene 250 attendees ranging from basic scientists and clinical investigators in academia, industry, and government; oncologists; pharmaceutical strategists; and regulatory experts. The three central aims of this conference are to: (i) provide a neutral forum through lectures, a keynote presentation, interactive debates, and networking activities for discussing current hurdles and emerging innovative approaches to angiogenesis-targeted cancer therapy, such as inherent and acquired resistance, compensatory angiogenic signaling, vascular normalization, immune modulation, tumor-type, -stage and -environment related drug responsiveness, biomarkers to predict responsiveness and resistance, drug safety, and combination therapy approaches for improved efficacy; (ii) showcase and encourage the participation of early career, female, and underrepresented minority investigators via short talks, poster presentations/prizes, travel fellowships, career mentoring activities, and discounted registration; and (iii) foster collaboration among international investigators from all sectors to promote the translation of research into safer and more efficient cancer therapeutics. The conference goals align well with the mission of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support education in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines relating to cancer, champion research projects in cancer control, and encourage cancer research by industry. In addition, the NCI's specific goal of collecting and disseminating information on cancer will be met through the publication of a post-conference, enduring, open-access, Section 508-compliant Meeting Report in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, which will distribute the scientific knowledge and ideas exchanged at the meeting to the global research and medical communities. This conference is especially timely given that a wealth of new data has emerged within distinct research areas (e.g., blood vessel formation and immune response) and from varied scientific approaches (e.g., animal models and human clinical trials). A collaborative examination of this new information among all angiogenesis stakeholders is therefore of significant value for guiding research forward in the field - particularly with respect to potential innovative therapeutic approaches, such as ways to circumvent resistance and the development of biomarkers for identifying responsive patients.
