Upcoming ASTRO Meeting Highlights Advances in Cancer Treatment

7/23/2002

From: Aislinn Raedy or Katherine Bennett, 800-962-7876, aislinnr@astro.org, both of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

FAIRFAX, Va., July 23 -- The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology will hold its 44th Annual Meeting October 6-10, 2002, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. Members of the press are invited to attend the meeting for free to learn about cutting-edge discoveries in cancer treatment.

As the world's largest radiation oncology society, ASTRO estimates that more than 10,000 attendees will be present at this year's meeting to hear the results of the latest research in the battle against cancer. Registered members of the press will have access to an on-site press room, offering computer workstations with well-known software, printers, fax machines, voice and data lines and typewriters. ASTRO staff members will be on hand to facilitate interviews with researchers presenting ground-breaking studies at the meeting. Complimentary refreshments will also be served.

To register for the meeting, visit the Media Corner at http://www.astro.org/meetings. Registered members of the press will receive a comprehensive media kit prior to the meeting.

Guest speakers at this year's event will include: -- Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., director of the National Cancer Institute -- Catherine D. DeAngelis, M.D., the first female editor-in-chief of JAMA in its 116-year history -- Charles S. Cleeland, M.D., American Cancer Society scholar -- Alejandro Jadad, M.D., of the Centre for Global e-Health Innovation

Among the many topics to be addressed at this year's meeting are: -- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) -- Stereotactic radiosurgery -- Intraoperative radiotherapy -- Immunotherapy -- Vascular brachytherapy -- New chemotherapeutic agents and their interaction with radiation therapy -- Treatments that combine biologic and radiation therapies -- Long-term effects of human exposure to radiation -- Pain management -- Quality of life issues -- Cancer care in underserved populations

New this year, ASTRO will be offering a presentation on Nuclear/Radiologic Terrorism in conjunction with the American College of Radiology and the Council of Affiliated Research and Radiation Oncology Societies.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with 7,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society's goals are to advance the scientific base of radiation therapy and to extend the benefits of radiation therapy to those with cancer and other diseases.