March 2005
TAT2005 - 3rd International Symposium on Targeted Anticancer Therapies
The 3rd International Symposium on Targeted Anticancer Therapies (TAT 2005) will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 3-5, 2005. This conference will provide an update of recent developments concerning the new generation of rationally designed anticancer agents with well defined molecular targets in the cancer cell or the cancer cell's environment: targeted agents. The first representatives of this new generation of cancer therapies, including bevacizumab (Avastin®), cetuximab (Erbitux®) and bortezomib (Velcade®), have already been approved for the treatment of cancer patients. In addition, dozens of other targeted agents are in various stages of clinical development. It is expected that several of these agents will obtain regulatory approval in the (near) future. Thus, TAT 2005 will provide a view of the future of cancer therapy.
Among the highlights of TAT 2005 will be the Keynote Lectures on March 3. One of these keynotes, the 2005 NDDO Honorary Lecture (Thursday, March 3, 2005; 13:15-13:55 hours), will be presented by Professor Daniel D. Von Hoff of the University of Arizona. He will address the question why certain cancer patients respond well to targeted agents, whereas others do not. Professor Von Hoff is one of the leading pioneers in the development of this new generation of anticancer agents.
Another highlight of the TAT 2005 program will be a Plenary Session on Friday, March 4 (8:30-10:30 hours) on emerging treatment options for renal cell cancer. Remarkably, several new targeted agents show good results in clinical studies in patients with metastasized renal cell cancer, a disease with very few effective treatment options today. The Plenary Session on March 4 will feature six promising new agents, which will be reviewed and discussed by internationally renowned clinical experts who have hands-on experience with these agents in clinical trials.
The meeting program will also cover updates on the continued clinical development of various recently approved targeted agents, including the EGFR inhibitors gefitinib (Iressa®) and erlotinib (Tarceva®) (Professor Giuseppe Giaccone, Amsterdam; Thursday, March 3, 15:50-16:20 hours) and cetuximab (Erbitux®) (Professor José Baselga, Barcelona; Thursday, March 3, 16:20-16:45 hours) and the anti-angiogenic agent, bevacizumab (Avastin®) (Professor Joan Schiller, Madison, Wisconsin; Saturday, March 5, 13:30-13:55 hours).
About 400 delegates, mainly scientists and clinicians from Europe and North America, are expected to attend the conference. The program will last 3 days and will encompass approximately 40 plenary lectures. TAT 2005 is organized by the Amsterdam-based NDDO Research Foundation and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in collaboration with Professor Giuseppe Giaccone, Head, Department of Medical Oncology, VU University medical center, Amsterdam, who will serve as Symposium President.
Notes to Editors
Requests for further information on TAT 2005 and applications for free media registration should be sent to
Dr. Marinus W. Lobbezoo
Congress Director
NDDO Research Foundation, Amsterdam
Tel. 31-35-691-0052
Fax 31-35-691-0036
E-mail [email protected]
Web www.nddo.org (TAT 2005)
About the NDDO Research Foundation (www.nddo.org)
The NDDO Research Foundation is an Amsterdam-based non-profit organization aimed at improving the treatment of cancer by enhancing the development and introduction into daily practice of new cancer therapies. The NDDO Research Foundation organizes scientific meetings, which bring together scientists, clinicians, drug development experts and regulatory affairs specialists to discuss emerging new treatments and issues in the development of new therapies for cancer patients. Building on a long and successful tradition of 'Amsterdam new drug meetings', the NDDO Research Foundation has developed initiatives for several scientific meeting series dedicated to novel approaches in anticancer drug development, including the successful TAT series, which was initiated in 2002 (under a different title).
About the European Society for Medical Oncology (www.esmo.org)
ESMO is Europe's leading professional society providing education and clinical guidelines for medical oncologists and other healthcare professionals, working to ensure optimal care for cancer patients. Currently, with 4,500 members, ESMO is represented in every European country and the six major geographical areas of the world. Since its inception in 1975, ESMO has consistently promoted its belief that every cancer patient is entitled to the best possible treatment available. The use of medicine is now a fundamental aspect of cancer therapy and, consequently, cancer patients need to be treated by qualified medical oncologists. Through its flagship scientific journal, Annals of Oncology, ESMO publishes research results on all aspects of clinical oncology. Donations to the ESMO Foundation support ESMO activities as well as cancer research.
About Professor Giuseppe Giaccone, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam (www.vu-medicaloncology.org)
Professor Giaccone is a medical oncologist and Symposium President of TAT 2005. He is head of the Department of Medical Oncology of the VU University medical center (VUmc), Amsterdam, one of the leading academic cancer research institutes in Europe and a dynamic organization with an outstanding international reputation. The mission of the VUmc Department of Medical Oncology is the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments in order to improve the life expectancy of cancer patients, with the preservation of a good quality of life. Beside all aspects of advanced oncology care, where the patient constitutes the major player, Professor Giaccone's department performs ground breaking research. This entails the implementation of new chemotherapies and new strategies of anticancer treatment, such as immunotherapy, anti-angiogenesis, gene therapy and new medicines that work specifically on cancer cells (targeted therapy).