Overview

The 2008 Best of ASCO Meeting is an educational initiative that condenses highlights from ASCO’s Annual Meeting in to a 2 day program for the first time in India. The Best of ASCO meeting is held for the first time in conjunction with the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology. This initiative is a way for CME Universe and ISMPO to provide wider access to the most cutting-edge science from the world’s premier oncology event.

The abstracts chosen for presentation and discussion at the 2008 Best of ASCO Meeting were selected according to specific criteria and reflect the foremost in research that is the most relevant in oncology today. The research presented at this meeting will focus on those strategies that will impact patient care. The educational program features a variety of session formats that focus on the latest scientific findings in primary disease sites and practice-changing advances in cancer prevention and treatment.

The 2008 Best of ASCO Meeting includes session on breast cancer, lung cancer and other cancers.

Educational Need Statement

Approximately 1 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in India by 2008. Cancer accounts for 2 in 3 deaths in India, which means more than half a million Indians are expected to die of cancer by 2008. Over the last three decades, investment in clinical cancer research, screening, and prevention has reduced cancer incidence and death rates, increased survival rates, and significantly reduced the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment.

The Best of ASCO Meeting seeks to disseminate emerging evidence-based data to oncology specialists. A study done by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) office of Education and Special Initiatives (OESI) in the spring of 2005 found that oncologists most frequently favored research findings as the basis of their clinical decision making. Surveyed practitioners indicated that there is a gap between the cancer care patients received and the care indicated by current evidence. Through this meeting, ASCO looks to narrow this pay gap by providing a forum of review and discussion for oncologists. Of ASCO members, 65% of those who took part in this survey indicated that they frequently rely on professional society meetings and conferences as a resource. In an effort to further support dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices, ASCO is holding the Best of ASCO Meeting. Efforts to have smaller, more focused meetings, which disseminate new treatments based on potential to improve patient outcomes, were positively rated by 77% of respondents as a benefit to their practice implementation needs.

The 2008 Best of ASCO Meeting is designed to educate and update oncologists on the latest research and findings that are presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting. There are now nearly 7.5 million cancer survivors in India, a figure that is expected to increase substantially as the population ages, and progress against cancer continues. Attention needs to be focused on supportive care of these survivors to ensure physicians can best provide for their future needs. The 2008 Best of ASCO Meeting incorporates supportive care because with progress in cancer treatment arrives a new and unique challenge-ensuring the long-term health of the growing number of cancer survivors. This meeting encapsulates key research on various cancer tracks, providing an exceptional educational opportunity for practicing oncologists and others involved in the care of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives:

Upon participation in this activity, attendees will be able to: