Date
July 24, 2010

Location
City of Hope, Cooper-Platt Conference Center
Duarte, CA

Given the frequency of occurrence of breast, ovarian and cervical cancers and the high probability of death from breast and ovarian cancers there is a need to develop new treatment paradigms to optimize patient outcomes. Some of the statistics are as follows:

• Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed solid tumor cancer in American women, accounting for 194,280 new cases in 2009. If the current rate stays the same, a female child born today will have about a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer at some point during her life. Although mortality rates have steadily declined since 1990.

• Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women, accounting for 40,610 deaths last year. Though greater public awareness of signs and symptoms of breast cancer has increased early diagnosis, breast cancer treatment is still dependent on clinical factors such as stage, histology, HER -2 and hormonal status.

• It is estimated that 24 million Americans may have the human papillomavirus (HPV). Yet more than 76 percent of women in the U.S. have never heard of this sexually transmitted virus which causes virtually 100 percent of all cervical cancers. HPV DNA has been detected in 93 percent of cervical cancers diagnosed. Women who are not diagnosed with cervical cancer through screening typically present with advanced disease. In 2009, the NCI placed the number of newly diagnosed cases of cervical cancer at 11,270, with related deaths at 4,070.

The scientists and clinicians at City of Hope have a long history of developing and advancing new techniques to screen for, diagnose and treat gynecologic and breast cancers. With the goal of contributing to the improvement of quality of life and overall outcomes for these patient populations, this activity has been designed by these experts, representing multiple disciples, to profile and discuss the current advances and future directions in the treatment of gynecologic and breast cancers, and to engage with the learner in discussion as to their incorporation into current treatment paradigms.

Funding for this conference was made possible in part by Grant # 1R13CA153906-01 from the National Cancer Institute. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government