(Left to right) Vinod Balachandran, MD, Andrea Cercek, MD, Shanu Modi, MD, and Jonathan Yang, MD, PhD
Physicians and scientists from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) will join oncology experts and members of the global cancer research community to present the latest advances in cancer during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 3–7 in Chicago. The event will feature plenary, oral abstract, education, and special sessions in both in-person and online meeting formats.
MSK experts will be available to comment on their high-profile research on topics such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, health equity, and more, including:
- Shanu Modi, MD, medical oncologist, will present results from the phase 3 trial of a HER2-directed therapy in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer during the meeting’s plenary session on Sunday, June 5, at 1 p.m. CDT.
- Andrea Cercek, MD, medical oncologist and Co-Director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer, will present research on single agent PD-1 blockade as curative-intent treatment in mismatch repair-deficient locally advanced rectal cancer during an oral abstract session on Sunday, June 5, at 7:30 a.m. CDT.
- Vinod Balachandran, MD, surgeon, will present an update to the phase 1 trial of adjuvant autogene cevumeran, an individualized mRNA neoantigen vaccine, for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma during a poster discussion session on Sunday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m. CDT.
- Jonathan Yang, MD, PhD, radiation oncologist, will present results from the phase 2 randomized study comparing proton craniospinal irradiation with photon involved-field radiotherapy for patients with solid tumor leptomeningeal metastasis during an oral abstract session on Sunday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m. CDT.
- Members from MSK’s Affordability Working Group will present data from the first patient referral system developed and implemented by the group to improve affordability and reduce cancer-related financial hardship for patients. From March 2021 to February 2022, the electronic medical record-based referral system facilitated financial support for more than 600 patients and resulted in 80% to 90% completed and approved co-pay assistance and social-work fund applications. The poster will be on display on Monday, June 5, from 1:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. CDT.
As part of the 2022 Annual Meeting, several MSK physician-scientists have been honored with prestigious awards by ASCO and Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, including:
- Fumiko Chino, MD, radiation oncologist, received the inaugural Excellence in Equity Award, presented to ASCO members who have made significant and measurable contributions toward increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the field of oncology, or increasing access to equitable care for cancer patients.
- Craig B. Thompson, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, received the Science of Oncology Award, presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to basic or translational research in cancer.
- Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, FASCO, medical oncologist, received the David Karnofsky Award, presented annually in memory of the late David A. Karnofsky, MD, to honor his outstanding contributions to research in the diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer.
- Allison Betof Warner, MD, PhD, medical oncologist; Angela Green, MD, MSc, medical oncologist; Steven Maron, MD, MSc, medical oncologist; and Adam J. Schoenfeld, MD, medical oncologist, received the 2022 Career Development Award (CDA) by Conquer Cancer. The CDA provides three years of research funding to clinical investigators in the first to third year of faculty appointment to establish an independent clinical cancer research program.
- Several MSK researchers received the 2022 Young Investigator Award (YIA) by Conquer Cancer: Alec Boardman, MD, hematology oncology fellow; Carissa Chu, MD, urology fellow; Kelly Fitzgerald, MD, medical oncology fellow; Song Jiang, MD, PhD, fellow; Sari Khaleel, MD, MSc, urology fellow; Melissa Lumish, MD, medical oncology/hematology fellow; Varun Narendra, MD, PhD, medical oncology/hematology fellow; Jaclyn Rosenzweig, MD, clinical fellow; and Sherry Shen, MD, medical oncology/hematology fellow. The YIA provides research funding to promising young physicians during the final years of training to support the transition to a faculty appointment and to encourage quality research in clinical oncology.
- Several MSK researchers received the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Award by Conquer Cancer: Bharat Burman, MD, PhD, medical oncology fellow; Noura Choudhury, MD, medical oncology fellow; Darren Cowzer, MBBCh, fellow; Arielle Elkrief, MD, research fellow; Warren Fingrut, MD, fellow; Kelly Fitzgerald, MD, PhD, medical oncology fellow; Emily Harrold, MBBCh, BAO, MRCP, fellow; Jennifer Ma, MD, radiation oncology resident; Beryl Manning-Geist, MD, GYN oncology fellow; Sherry Shen, MD, medical oncology fellow; Hong Truong, MD, urologic oncology fellow; and Jonathan Yuval, MD, fellow, SKI. The Merit Awards support oncology trainees who are first authors on abstracts selected for presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting.
For more information and to set up interviews, contact Annik Allen, Manager of Media Relations, at [email protected].
Registration is required for all attendees: https://conferences.asco.org/am/registration. Follow the meeting live on Twitter using the hashtag #ASCO22 and follow MSK on Twitter at @MSKCancerCenter.
For more recent MSK news and research, please check out the MSK News Spring 2022 issue here.
CONTACT:
Annik Allen
(347) 843-5245
[email protected]
