SGO Issues August 22, 2013

Precision Therapeutics supports Research Institute
‘NED’ movie viewings scheduled through social media
AACR Cancer Health Disparities abstracts due Sept. 9
2014 Annual Meeting Request for Abstracts
Register now for SGO State of the Art 2013
Allied Workshop Oct. 12 in Nashville
Women’s Cancer News

Precision Therapeutics supports Research Institute

Precision Therapeutics, Inc. (PTI), has announced its support of the SGO Research Institute Registry in the amount of $500,000 over four years. The Research Institute agreement involves registry sites for Precision’s first commercial test, ChemoFx®, a proprietary drug response marker which measures an individual’s malignant tumor response to a range of standard therapeutic alternatives under consideration by a physician.

“We at Precision are thrilled to partner with the Society of Gynecological Oncology in the development of tools that will support the specialty of gynecological cancer and enhance innovation in the treatment of this class of disease,” said Sean McDonald, CEO/President of PTI. “As medicine moves to a more data-driven paradigm, partnerships like this between providers and innovators are going to be key to ensuring that we continue to make progress in the fight against these terrible diseases.

“We feel confident that this registry, developed by the SGO and supported by Precision, will be a key tool in the continued fight against this awful disease and will also serve as a key asset as innovators and providers are called on increasingly to demonstrate their value to patients and payers in the new health care environment.”

McDonald added that the registry will enable the study of quality of life factors and patient outcomes throughout the continuum of each gynecologic patient’s cancer care.
“Precision has been working with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology to enhance research and development in gynecologic cancers for over a decade,” said McDonald. “Precision is very interested in the idea of comparative effectiveness research evaluating the clinical utility of many different treatments, tests and procedures within this space, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes and quality of life for gynecologic cancer patients.”

‘NED’ movie viewings scheduled through social media

This fall, friends and followers of No Evidence of Disease (N.E.D.) can use social media to arrange for local screenings of a new documentary about the rock band, comprised of SGO members John F. Boggess, MD; Joanie Hope, MD; Nimesh P. Nagarsheth, MD; William R. (Rusty) Robinson, MD; John T. Soper, MD and William E. Winter, MD.

From hospital rooms to concert stages, the movie “No Evidence of Disease” interweaves the experiences of gynecologic cancer patients and their families with the physician members of N.E.D. as they endeavor to get their patients to a point where there is “no evidence of disease.”

Spark Media, an independent production company based in Washington DC, spent more than three years making the documentary. “Our goal is to get this film out there and to get people talking,” said Karen Simon, producer of the film, who noted that anyone interested in bringing “No Evidence of Disease” to their city can host a screening through Tugg.com, a web-platform that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local theaters.

Simon encourages SGO members and other interested individuals to visit www.nedthemovie.com to view a film trailer and sign up to host a screening.  Potential hosts can fill out a short online questionnaire indicating where they want to show the film and when. “Tugg takes care of the logistics and the host takes care of getting people to the film,” she said.

Screenings can be a fundraiser for an organization. Tugg.com creates an individual web page for the event and attendees pay for a movie ticket, but have the option of making a donation, which goes fully to the non-profit selected as the recipient. There is also the option to have a panel discussion or Q and A so that the event becomes both an awareness raiser and a fundraiser.

Screenings are already confirmed in several cities around the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

AACR Cancer Health Disparities abstracts due Sept. 9

Abstract submissions are being accepted through Sept. 9, 2013, for the Sixth American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. The conference will be held Dec. 6-9, 2013, at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA. All submitted abstracts submitted by the Sept. 9 deadline will be considered for poster presentation. Additionally, oral presentations of highly rated abstracts will be integrated within thematic sessions. The online submission form, guidelines and abstract categories are available at AACR.org.

2014 Annual Meeting Request for Abstracts

The Request for Abstracts for the 2014 SGO Annual Meeting in Tampa, FL, closes on Sept. 18, 2013. Submit here.

Register now for SGO State of the Art 2013

State of the Art Conference/International Society for the Study of Trophoblastic Diseases (ISSTD) World Congress XVII: Sept. 20-23, 2013, in Chicago, IL. Register here.

Allied Workshop Oct. 12 in Nashville

SGO’s Allied Health Professionals Workshop: Optimizing Endometrial Cancer Care, will be held Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, in Nashville, TN. This educational workshop is open to advanced practice providers or nurse clinicians who want to learn more about endometrial cancer care.

Women’s Cancer News

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