Press Release
Aug 31, 2018
Giorgio Scagliotti, IASLC President
Dear IASLC Members,
In the last 20 years, the decision-making process of the entire thoracic oncology community has been influenced by several windstorms that profoundly modified our diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Clearly, the first windstorm was represented by the full sequencing of the human genome, and the second one came with the advent of targeted therapies. Every year, at a constant pace, new druggable targets come to stage - usually for a tiny minority of our patients - but they definitively represent new treatment opportunities. New generations of drugs against already well-established targets are quickly entering into clinical practice, and we are eagerly awaiting the presentation by Dr. Ross Camidge at the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer's presidential symposium to learn about brigatinib activity.
More recently, the therapeutic opportunities in thoracic malignancies have been dramatically changed, in a partially unexpected way, by the results of multiple phase III studies testing the role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors. The multiple waves of strong wind coming from the results of multiple phase III studies completely changed our therapeutic approach to the treatment of advanced stage lung cancer. We now have evidence in the first line setting of the superiority of the immunotherapy approach over cytotoxic chemotherapy, at least in a subset of patients, as well as the possibility to combine immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Today, cancer immunotherapy is rapidly advancing and can now be considered to be the “fifth pillar” of cancer therapy, joining the ranks of surgery, cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy.
Immunotherapy has shown promise in specific disease settings where for almost 20 years no new achievements were made. For instance, in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we are waiting for the overall survival data of the PACIFIC study that will be presented by Dr. Scott Antonia. In the same IO space, data about the activity of atezolizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in extensive stage small cell lung cancer will be presented by Dr. Liu. All of us strongly hope that new treatment avenues will be offered to our patients.
The challenges ahead are to discover why immunotherapy treatments work so dramatically well in some cancers and in some patients while not at all in others, and how tumors that were once sensitive to treatment can acquire resistance. A new generation of studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of those clinical phenomena are just at the sunrise but they will generate new insights potentially helping us, in the near future, to tailor treatment strategies at the individual level.
The IASLC, as part of its new strategic plan, is committed to facilitating open discussion among the different players of the thoracic oncology scientific community and the regulatory agencies to explore every possibility to accelerate the process. At the same time, we are always committed to maintaining a high level of statistical and clinical evidence in our quest to get the most active new drugs to every patient as soon as possible.
It is a shared vision that only through early detection of lung cancer will we be able to significantly reduce lung cancer mortality. Consequently, we are very pleased to listen to the plenary presentation from NELSON investigators about the outcome of a quite large screening study.
CT-based lung cancer screening can routinely find earlier stage lung cancers which result in a high cure rate. The development of a thoracic CT imaging registry to collect the image data, along with relevant meta data to enable systematic research for this critical emerging area, represents an area of scientific interest. Lung cancer screening is now being implemented in many nations. Typically, for every hundred people screened, only two-three cancers will be found on the baseline round, and after that, less than one for each annual round.
Thus, even at large screening sites, only a small number of people will be diagnosed annually with lung cancer. In addition, there is growing potential for the development of new clinical tools equipped with artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms, which require extremely large annotated datasets during development and for performance evaluation. Therefore, to accelerate screening research in the developing field of deep-learning and artificial intelligence, it is imperative that we find a global solution to sharing screening results from international sites.
Fred R. Hirsch, IASLC Chief Executive Officer
Dear Colleagues,
The IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2018) is coming up very soon, and at this stage, we are expecting between 7,000-8,000 attendees. This is a record high number, which of course reflects the IASLC’s central role in the progress happening these days in the field of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Several significant clinical trials will be presented at this year’s WCLC - some of them likely TO BE game-changers in terms of standard-of-care. Additionally, promising basic and translational scientific advances will be presented, which hopefully will translate into future developments and give many patients badly-needed encouragement about the future of lung cancer treatment and care.
The IASLC Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer 2018 (LACLC 2018) was just held in Cordoba, Argentina, with approximately 500 participants. We owe great thanks to the program chairs: Drs. Eduardo Richardet, Norma Pilnik, Luis Raez, Edgardo Santos and Christian Rolfo who made this meeting so successful! We also must thank the IASLC staff members, who all worked tirelessly before and during the event to ensure its smooth and meaningful execution.
The main scientific program of the LACLC meeting was preceded by a one-day course entitled the "IASLC School of Thoracic Oncology," which hosted about 100 young investigators. And in keeping with the IASLC's commitment to fostering the next generation of lung cancer researchers, 100 young investigators participated in round-table educational sessions with different key opinion leaders in the field. The IASLC is proud to see successful development in this region, and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with these investigators. The next IASLC Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer will be held in Mexico City in October 2019. This iteration of the conference will feature greater participation by nurses and allied health personnel.
Aside from our many meetings, the IASLC staff is working hard on our new strategic plan, which will be discussed with the IASLC Board of Directors in September at the WCLC. We hope to communicate more details about the plan in upcoming newsletters.
We feel that it is a privilege being part of the “IASLC family” and being able to make a global impact for current and future patients struggling with thoracic cancers!
We hope to see you in Toronto at the WCLC!
Save the Date: IASLC Foundation Road to Hope Gala Fundraising Event
Join us on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, Colorado, to celebrate the first gala in support of the IASLC Foundation's John’s Legacy Fellowship.
The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails, followed by heavy appetizers, live entertainment and a silent auction. Come join us for a night of enjoyment, support our message of HOPE and raise money for the IASLC Foundation.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE | SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES | DONATE SILENT AUCTION ITEM
Boehringer Ingelheim IASLC Foundation Chinese Fellowship Application - Now Open!
The Boehringer Ingelheim IASLC Foundation Chinese Research Fellowship Award is a one-year award of $40,000. Boehringer Ingelheim, in collaboration with the IASLC, has created the Chinese Lung Cancer Fellowship Award to enable a fellow to come to the United States or Europe for a one-year research project. The goal of this fellowship is to reward scientific excellence and encourage innovative and collaborative investigation in the fields of lung cancer prevention, diagnosis and translational research with a potential impact on the management of lung cancer. Apply now!
Meet the JTO Editor at WCLC 2018
All WCLC attendees are invited to attend the "Meet the JTO Editor" session at the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2018). The Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), Dr. Alex Adjei, will be on hand to answer questions on manuscript submission and future plans for the journal. Attendees are also welcome to provide their feedback on the JTO.
The "Meet the JTO Editor" session will take place on Monday, September 24 at 12:00-13:30 in Room 206 BD.
Your Contributions are Needed for the IASLC 9th Edition Lung Cancer Staging Project!
This project is led by the IASLC's Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee to improve the current staging system for lung cancer and to develop new recommendations for the 9th edition.
New data elements: Sex, age and comorbidity, biological parameters and molecular/genetic factors are known to influence prognosis but have never been integrated, along with the TNM classification, into a valid, clinically useful prognostic system. The 9th edition includes centralized collection of these anatomic and non-anatomic parameters. Furthermore, the collection of detailed biomarker information and specific systemic treatments, with emphasis on targeted agents, is a new feature of the revised staging system, which may easily expand to accommodate new biomarkers and drugs.
Why contribute? Contributors are acknowledged in the appendix of every paper published by the committee. This project's success depends on the extent of international participation and the quality of data. The quality of data is more important than its size.
Timeline: The study consists of patients with newly-diagnosed lung cancer between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019. Recruitment of cases is allowed through 2019, with follow-up for survival through 2021.
Find more information on how to participate.
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IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer Official Hashtag: #WCLC2018 |
IASLC Asia Conference on Lung Cancer 2018 Official Hashtag: #ACLC18 |
Upcoming IASLC Webinars
Every month, the IASLC hosts several academic webinars covering the diagnosis, staging and treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.
Be sure to check out our official website for the latest updates, and register for our webinars coming up on September 11, featuring Dr. Nowak, and September 19, featuring Dr. Byers.
Career and Funding Opportunities
Review post-doctoral and other career opportunities submitted to the IASLC. If you have an academic career opportunity, please email it to info@iaslc.org.
We also post opportunities when we receive information from grantors. We currently have one funding opportunity:
These opportunities are available to applicants from all countries. Click here to learn more.
Join the Conversation at #WCLC2018
IASLC Communications Committee
With the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (#WCLC2018) just around the corner, it’s time to limber up and get ready to join in the conversation!
The upcoming meeting will bring together some 7,000 attendees from over 100 countries to discuss the latest developments in thoracic malignancy research. Participants will include patients, advocates and caregivers; alongside specialists associated with all aspects of the cancer care pathway. Feel like traditional communication channels? The daily conference newspaper will be distributed throughout the venue, with a kick off press conference on Sunday, September 23, at 16:00-17:30. For the remainder of the conference, media availability will take place from 09:45-10:30 each day, in addition to press releases. You can review the full program on the conference's official site. Social events include the IASLC Foundation Walk, IASLC Foundation Concert, welcome reception and the conference dinner.
Feel like something a bit different? Whether you are a tweeter, facebooker, YouTuber or Instagrammer, we invite everyone to join us in sharing updates from the meeting across these platforms as well as on LinkedIn. Please be sure to include this year’s official conference hashtag, #WCLC2018, on all social media posts irrespective of the channel used. To increase visibility within the thoracic community, make sure to also include #LCSM (Lung Cancer Social Media) or #Mesothelioma as appropriate. If known, speaker handles may be included on tweets, and if tweeting on specific areas include handles such as @ALKLungCancer, @EGFRResisters, @ros1cancerand so on.
Keep an eye out for our featured Social Media Voices and for our ‘tweet walls’ throughout the venue displaying tweets in real time. Twitter transcripts containing the #WCLC2018 tag can be generated on www.symplur.com.
Bit daunted by the social media space? Come by our IASLC Social Media Hub - located on level 300 at the top of the escalators in the convention center - to get help from IASLC staff and experienced members to set up and get started with your social media accounts.
Engaging in social media not only offers incredible opportunities for networking and collaboration; but it also provides a valuable tool for those in concurrent sessions or for those unable to attend #WCLC2018.
August 2018: The IASLC and the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO) are pleased to present the Editor's Choice each month to highlight certain articles of interest. The articles below from the August 2018 issue of the JTO are free for three months. Please share with your colleagues around the globe!
Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Thoracic Oncology
August 2018:
- Lisberg et al.
Dr. Martin Reck and colleagues write an excellent accompanying editorial, which puts these findings in perspective.
- Dudnik et al.
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Paul Mitchell discusses the implications of these findings for clinical practice.
- Ahmed et al.
Guidance for Nurses or AHP First Time WCLC Attendees
The IASLC Nurses and Allied Health Professionals (N&AHP) Committee is offering informal mentorship and guidance throughout the WCLC to any first time conference attendees who are nurses or allied health professionals. Interested delegates will benefit from personalized guidance covering every aspect of the WCLC. The committee has multiple members that are bilingual and will try to accommodate language requirements whenever possible. To be connected with a mentor at no additional charge or to have any questions answered, please contact membership@iaslc.org.
NEW Membership Lounge at the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2018)
The IASLC Membership Committee is pleased to welcome all IASLC members to visit the first-ever Membership Lounge in the exhibit hall at this year’s WCLC in Toronto. Members will be able to speak to committee representatives about opportunities to get involved with a committee, network with colleagues and utilize a designated working space. Keep an eye out for the committee schedule and additional information as you develop your WCLC calendar!
Invite a Fellow/Resident/Trainee for a Free Membership
The IASLC is pleased to continue to offer a free membership option for fellows, residents and trainees. Fellow memberships are available for a maximum of two years, and members are entitled to most of the regular IASLC benefits, including online access to the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. If you are a member of the IASLC and wish to invite a fellow/student/trainee to join us, please utilize the fellow membership invitation form or have them sign up today.
Member Account Information
It’s important for the IASLC to keep our records up to date so that members can receive important information via email and postal letter. To ensure that our records are current, please sign into your IASLC account to edit your account information. You can also email updates to membership@iaslc.org or call +1 720-598-1949.
Welcome New IASLC Members
Review the list of members who joined the IASLC during the month of August.
IASLC Headquarters Advocacy Breakfast – BJALCF
On Tuesday, August 7, we hosted a Patient Advocacy Breakfast at our Aurora, Colorado, headquarters. Our office welcomed three representatives from the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF):
- Danielle Hicks, Associate Executive Director Patient Services/Programs
- Michele Zeh, Manager Patient Services/Programs
- Kim Parham, Manager Patient Navigation and Clinical Program Development
Together, they have been traveling to host the BJALCF Lung Cancer Living Room series in seven cities across the United States. One of their stops was in Denver, Colorado, on Monday, August 6, where the topic of discussion was, “The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Team.” While visiting with the IASLC staff, the Addario team members expanded on their many activities beyond the Lung Cancer Living Room series. One of the group's other activities is ALCMI. Started in 2008, ALCMI is a patient-centric, international research consortium that directly facilitates research by combining scientific expertise found at leading academic institutions with patient access through their network of community cancer centers.
The BJALCF is a fantastic resource to patients/survivors, caregivers and physicians. To learn more about their organization and activities, please visit the BJALCF website.
The IASLC is grateful for the time and support of the BJALCF, and we look forward to supporting each other’s efforts in the future! If you are interested in learning more about the IASLC advocacy efforts, please contact Kristin.Schultz@iaslc.org
Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM) 2018
The Lung Cancer Awareness Month Coalition (LCAMC) is working on coordinating and maximizing our efforts to reach our goals for this year, which include further developing our campaign's website, building on the success of donated ad space and continuing to leverage support from our partners, sponsors and the IASLC. We are currently working toward the creation of patient/provider cards to help educate and initiate conversations among patients and their physicians.
The LCAM website is a year-round resource to read stories of those affected by lung cancer. The lung cancer community can participate by submitting personal stories to be included in the site. You can also sign up on the site to receive email updates about its continuing development and follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter feeds specifically devoted to the campaign.
If your organization would like to partner with LCAM 2018, please contact Kristin.Schultz@iaslc.org. Thank you to our partners who have recently joined the campaign, including ALK Positive and the Marie Keating Foundation.
We would like to also thank the following 2018 sponsors: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly Oncology, Merck, AMGEN, Genentech, AstraZeneca, Novartis, AbbVie and Takeda.
The Lung Cancer Registry – OPEN for Patient Participation
The Lung Cancer Registry was started by the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and hopes to build a comprehensive data repository to help researchers and clinicians better identify and understand the complexities of this disease. Patients and/or caregivers on behalf of patients can participate. The IASLC is a contributing partner for this initiative. Learn more about how you can help.