San Antonio (Dec. 2, 2003) – At least 300 of the world’s best-known researchers in the field of bone metastasis and myeloma are expected to attend the IVth International Conference on Cancer-Induced Bone Diseases Dec. 7-9 in San Antonio, Texas.
A video welcome from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas will kick off the conference, which is sponsored by The Paget Foundation for Paget’s Disease of Bone and Related Disorders, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the National Cancer Institute. Sen. Hutchison in 2001 spearheaded the passage of the Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act, which authorized $25 million to expand public education, outreach and early detection programs for three deadly blood cancers, leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
“The purpose of the meeting is to present clinicians and basic scientists from all over the world with many of the extremely exciting research discoveries that have occurred since the last symposium was held in 2002,” said Conference Chairman Gregory R. Mundy, M.D., professor of medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. These discoveries include:
• The central role of host cells in the bone microenvironment, their effects on tumor cell phenotype, and their potential as therapeutic targets;
• New pharmacologic and surgical approaches directed specifically to bone metastasis;
• Direct effects of bisphosphonates on tumor cells;
• Pathophysiology of osteoblastic metastasis;
• Bisphosphonates as adjuvant therapy in breast cancer;
• The role of proteasome inhibition in myeloma bone disease; and
• New bone markers and their potential for monitoring cancer-induced bone disease.
The conference also will explore future directions, including new approaches to the treatment of bone cancer pain, the further development and improvement of bone imaging techniques, and developments in orthopedic approaches to bone metastases and their complications. Important issues such as the cost-effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches will be discussed.
Note to media: The following abstracts are deemed particularly newsworthy and are available on request. They are embargoed until the dates and times of their presentation
“Gene Sets Driving Tissue-Specific Breast Cancer Metastasis,” lead author: Joan Massagué, Ph.D., Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center;
“Osteopontin and Bone Metastasis,” lead author: Ann F. Chambers, Ph.D., University of Western Ontario;
“Proteasomes and Host Defense Against Cancer: From New Insights to Novel Therapies,” lead author: Alfred L. Goldberg, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School;
“Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Bone Remodeling and Malignant Progression,” lead author: Zena Werb, Ph.D., University of California at San Francisco;
“Clodronate Adjuvant Therapy for Operable Breast Cancer,” lead author: Trevor J. Powles, M.D., Royal Marsden Hospital, London, England; and
“Detection of Skeletal Metastases in Breast Cancer Using a Novel Biochemical Marker of Bone Resorption (ALPHA CrossLaps),” lead author: Claus Christiansen, M.D., Center for Clinical and Basic Research, Ballerup, Denmark.
A complete listing of conference dates, speakers and topics is available online atwww.paget.org/intl_conference.pdf.