28 September – Targeted treatments for cancers of the digestive system

Monday 28 September 2015, Royal Marsden Hospital

1-day course: Targeted Treatments for Cancers of the Digestive System

Level: Intermediate/advanced (Designed for research nurses, junior doctors and other staff working on cancer trials for cancers of the digestive system; requires some prior understanding of cancer biology)

Audience: Ideal for research nurses, junior doctors and other staff working on cancer trials for cancers of the digestive system; requires some prior understanding of cancer biology.

Description: This course provides a description of the faulty genes and proteins that drive colorectal, pancreatic, oesophageal, gastric and primary liver cancer. It also provides an overview of targeted treatment approaches for these diseases. The relevant science behind each treatment is explained for a non-scientific, non-specialist audience. The course includes a detailed description of the science behind the FOCUS-4 trial, including the reason for treatment combinations and patient selection.

To book, contact: conferenceteam@rmh.nhs.uk Tel. 020 7808 2922

Programme

An introduction to cancer biology and genetics
  • Linking DNA damage to cancer development
  • Epigenetics – altering gene expression without genetic mutation
  • Cancer cells and their microenvironment
  • Genetic instability and intra-tumoural heterogeneity: new enemies
Introducing colorectal cancer
  • The genesis of colorectal cancer
  • Chromosomal instability phenotype
  • Microsatellite instability (MSI) and CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)
Targeted treatments for colorectal cancer
  • EGF-R targeted treatments & the science behind FOCUS-4
  • Angiogenesis inhibitors
  • Novel targets
Introducing pancreatic cancer
  • The genesis of pancreatic cancer
  • Molecular defects & active signalling pathways
  • The tumour microenvironment
Targeted treatments for pancreatic cancer
  • A few dead ends
  • Approaches in UK trials
  • Targeting the stroma
  • Targeted treatments for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETS)
Targeted treatments for oesophageal & gastric cancer
  • Molecular makeup: adenocarcinoma & squamous cell carcinoma
  • Targets: EGFR, angiogenesis, HER2, MET
  • Targeted treatments for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST)
Targeted treatments for primary liver cancer
  • The molecular and cellular makeup of primary liver cancer
  • Current and future approaches to targeted treatment