The IIS Aragón organizes a conference this Tuesday to analyze how immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in the last 10 years

The V International Symposium on Cancer Onco-Immunology and Immunotherapy will take place at CaixaForum with more than 200 attendees and is organized by the IIS Aragón, under the scientific direction of Antonio Antón and Alberto Anel, professors at the University of Zaragoza, and researchers at the IIS Aragón

Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi, from the Weill Cornell Medicine Center in New York, a scientist of great international prestige in the field of cell death and its implications in the treatment of cancer using immunotherapy, will give the opening lecture at 10: 15pm

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in the last 10 years and its contribution is expected to be greater in the future. To analyze the latest most relevant advances and the different lines of work that will mark the development of OncoImmunology in the next decade, Zaragoza will host this Tuesday, March 12 the V International Symposium on Cancer Onco-Immunology and Immunotherapy, organized by the Health Research Institute of Aragon (IIS Aragón), under the scientific direction of Antonio Anton, head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Miguel Servet University Hospital, and Alberto Anel, professor of Biochemistry, both professors at the University of Zaragoza and researchers attached to the IIS Aragón.

Oncoimmunology studies the response of our immune system against cancer while immunotherapy are treatments that activate the patient's immune system against cancer or that use cells or substances, such as antibodies, produced by the immune system, to treat cancer. “These treatments have revolutionized cancer treatment in the last 10 years, that is, they are already there with almost the same importance as chemotherapy., and in the future its contribution to better cancer treatment will increase,” point out the members of the scientific committee, Antonio Antón and Alberto Anel.

The scientific day, which will be held at CaixaForum with more than 200 people in attendance , is aimed at basic and clinical researchers, as well as professionals in the health field such as oncologists and hospital pharmacists. Over the course of a day, morning and afternoon, the basic and clinical aspects of Onco-Immunology will be addressed, and the “Pipeline” of different pharmaceutical industries will be presented through short presentations and subsequent discussion in a round table.  

There will also be participation in the opening plenary conference with Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi, Weill Cornell Medicine Center in New York, a scientist of great international prestige in the field of cell death and its implications in the treatment of cancer using immunotherapy. Specifically, she will give the conference “A new immunological mechanism of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors, activatable by radiotherapy, in HR + breast cancer.”

The closing plenary conference will be given by the Dr. Joaquim Bellmunt, currently coordinator of clinical trials in the Dana Farber Institute of Boston, which will talk about a clinical trial conducted on bladder cancer patients which combines two new immunotherapy treatments for the first time.

"The great development of cancer immunotherapy in recent years makes us predict that the near future is very promising. and at the symposium there will be the opportunity to put on the table the most relevant advances, innovation and the different lines of work that will mark the development of Onco-Immunology in the next decade,” the scientific committee emphasizes.

Part of the day will also be allocated to the presentation of communications and posters by young researchers in training, having also scheduled presentations by prominent national researchers in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. 

The symposium is part of the second edition of the Master's Degree in Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy from the University of Zaragoza, coordinated by Dr. Anel. The excellent memory of previous editions, interrupted by the pandemic, makes us think of this edition as a magnificent forum for practicing health professionals, researchers and students to get to know each other better and exchange experiences, concerns and knowledge, at the same time who know first-hand new solutions already available in the developing market by pharmaceutical companies in the sector.

PROGRAMME

10.00-10:15. Institutional opening. Ms. Ana Castillo, managing director of the Aragonese Health Service

10.15-11.30. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH SESSION (I):

moderators:

Profs. Alberto Anel and Luis Martínez.

– PLENARY CONFERENCE “A novel, radiotherapy actionable immunological mechanism of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in HR⁺ breast cancer.” Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi. Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York.

– Stimulation of anti-tumor immunity against lung tumors through systemic administration of BCG. Dr. Ignacio Aguiló. Zaragoza's University

11:30 –13:30 ROUND TABLE “PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION”

Moderators: Dr. Roberto Pazo and Prof. Julián Pardo

R&D&I pipeline of participating pharmaceutical companies

 BMS: Carlos Chaib. Disease Area Head Oncology

 Pfizer / Seagen: Miriam Bolós Team Lead Early Dev Group (EDG), GU/GI

 Roche: Cristina Sevilla. Therapeutic Area Leader Breast & Gynecological

 MSD: Daniel Castillo. Associate Director Medical Affairs ONCOLOGY – Pipeline

 Astra Zeneca: Juan Ángel Evangelio. Medical Excellence Lead

 Gilead: Cecilia Sgarlata. Senior Medical Project Manager.

 Daiichi-Sankyo: Carolina Jiménez. Medical Manager Breast Cancer

13.30:15.00 p.m.-XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. Lunch and poster visit

15.00-17.00 TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH (II):

Moderators: Drs. Javier Martínez and Diego Sánchez

– New generation adoptive cell therapy against cancer. Dr. Luis Álvarez-Vallina. Hospital 12 de Octubre/CNIO. Madrid.

– Adoptive cellular therapy with TILs selected by PD1 expression. Dr. Azucena González. Hospital Clinic. Barcelona.

– Discussion of selected posters. Presents and comments Prof. Ignacio Ochoa.

17:00 –18:30. ADVANCES OF IMMUNOTHERAPY IN THE CLINIC

moderators:

Prof. Antonio Antón and Dr. Teresa Puértolas.

– Melanoma: adjuvant immunotherapy and developments in advanced disease. Dr. Alfonso Berrocal. University General Hospital. Valencia

– NSCLC: immunotherapy in early disease. Prof. Mariano Provencio. Puerta de Hierro University Hospital. Madrid

– Immunotherapy in early breast cancer. Dr. Mafalda Oliveira. Vall d`Hebron Hospital. Barcelona

18:30 p.m. –19:30 p.m. Closing conference:

Moderators: Drs. Ángel Artal and Carmen Santander. “Double antibody drug conjugate in urothelial carcinoma.” Dr. Joaquim Bellmunt. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston.

Source: University of Zaragoza/ IIS Aragón