Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019
1 – 5 p.m. EST
Session Description
In the past decade, the field of cellular therapy has emerged as a powerful treatment modality for advanced cancers refractory to conventional therapy. Genetic engineering of immune cells has evolved from a promising concept to a practical solution for the treatment of a number of previously refractory types of cancer. These exciting new therapies mark a paradigm shift in the treatment of certain hematologic malignancies, and are expected to cause a ripple effect in the field of cellular therapy and gene editing to target other cancers.
As hematologic malignancies have been on the frontline of developing novel cell-based immunotherapies with amongst the best response rates, this workshop will focus on lessons learned from these trials and how they can inform the design of next-generation clinical studies. Presentations by leaders in the field will provide an opportunity for attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the predictors and mechanisms of tumor escape, the contribution of the tumor microenvironment, and how this knowledge can be used for the development of novel immune therapeutic agents for the treatment of all types of cancer.
Intended Audience
The audience includes U.S. and international hematologists, researchers, regulators and healthcare professionals involved in cancer research and clinical care. This includes, but is not limited to basic, translational and clinical researchers; postdoctoral fellows; oncologists; registered nurses; nurse practitioners; pharmacists; payers; and other allied health professionals.
Session Co-Chairs
- Katayoun Rezvani, MD, PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- John M. Timmerman, MD – University of California, Los Angeles
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this meeting, participants will be able to:
- Summarize and integrate the most recent advances in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy into basic, clinical and translational research
- Analyze cutting-edge clinical trials to incorporate new research and techniques into clinical applications for cancer immunotherapy
- Describe immune regulatory pathways that restrict and enhance immunity to tumor antigens, and identify respective targets for therapeutic intervention
Partnering Organizations
- Organized in collaboration with the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
