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Contact:

Tara Withington, CAE (iSBTc Executive Director)
International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer
555 E. Wells St., Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-271-2456 • Fax: 414-276-3349
Email: twithington@isbtc.org
Website: www.isbtc.org

NOTE: Members of the media are encouraged to attend the iSBTc 23rd Annual Meeting free-of-charge by presenting their press credentials at the iSBTc registration desk.

For Immediate Release

ISBTC ANNUAL MEETING TO FEATURE NEWEST DEVELOPMENTS AND RESEARCH IN CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY AND BIOLOGICAL THERAPY

Milwaukee, WI --- The International Society for the Biological Therapy of Cancer (iSBTc) is excited to host several cutting-edge oral, poster and late-breaking abstract presentations during the iSBTc 23rd Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, CA, October 31-November 2, 2008. This year's Annual Meeting continues in iSBTc's tradition of holding high-caliber educational programs with the latest science in the fields of immunotherapy and the biological therapy of cancer.

T CELL THERAPY FOR BRAIN TUMOR STEM CELLS
The "Adoptive Transfer" session, which is scheduled on Friday, October 31, 2008, will feature "Targeting Elimination of Brain Tumor Stem Cells with T Cell Therapies" as an oral abstract presentation by Christine Brown, PhD of City of Hope National Medical Center.

"Cancer stem cells represent a potential paradigm shift on how cancer should be targeted and treated in order to achieve real cures," said Annual Meeting co-chair William J. Murphy, PhD of University of California Davis, School of Medicine. "Dr. Brown and her collaborators from City of Hope and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center demonstrate exciting and provocative data indicating that it may be possible to target brain stem cells using genetically engineered human T-cells."

IPILIMUMAB FOR TREATMENT OF MELANOMA PATIENTS
"Overall Survival and New Patterns of Response in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Treated with Ipilimumab" is an oral abstract presentation scheduled for Friday's session on "Endpoints, Response Criteria for Clinical Trial Design." Presented by Steven O'Day, MD of the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute and co-written by several international colleagues from both industry and academia, the data suggests that while historically, the evaluation of anti-cancer drugs and regimens has largely depended on criteria assessing tumor response or progression, present clinical data suggests that potential beneficial effects could be missed.

"In a trial examining Ipilimumab (anti-CTLA4) in patients with advanced melanoma, they found although little changes were seen with tumor responses when overall survival was assessed, significant effects were seen in the overall survival of patients whose tumors still progressed," noted Dr. Murphy. "This data indicates that even with a progressive disease, the beneficial effects on overall survival can still be seen with drugs and suggests this endpoint should be weighed before considering drug failure."

HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE AFTER CRYOABLATION
On Saturday, November 1, 2008 Archana Thakur MD, MSc will be discussing the research he and his colleagues at Michigan's Karmanos Cancer Institute conducted for their abstract "Induction of Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses to Tumor Cells After Cryoablation." Dr. Murphy noted that "While cryoablation is currently used for the local treatment of cancers, Dr. Thakur and the abstract's coauthors now show that cryoablation can also produce marked effects on immune response in patients affecting both B and T cell responses, suggesting this approach may also provide immune affects as well as tumor ablation and potentially systemic immune effects for fighting disseminated disease."

Details and a complete schedule for iSBTc's 23rd Annual Meeting can be found on the Society's website at www.isbtc.org. Registration will be available on site at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel in San Diego, CA.

Founded in 1984, the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer (iSBTc) is a not-for-profit organization of clinicians, researchers, students, post-doctoral fellows, and allied health professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development and application of biological therapy through interaction, innovation and leadership.

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