Prof. dr. Tanja Čufer gave a lecture entitled: Optimizing public health-oriented research in oncology at the World Cancer Congress, August 27-30. Montreal, Canada. Main points for a talk on international research was: • Trends and the globalization of clinical cancer research (CCR) • Importance of international CCR (cancer subtypes, rare cancer, cancer genomics , rapid access to novelties, global health care issues) • Barriers to global CCR and how to overcome them (regulatory issues, TR issues, financial issues, collaboration with industry and patients organizations) • Future police making (staff education, public awareness, health authorities,…)
B.04 Guest lecture
The purpose of this scientific meeting was to present the progress of Slovenian pneumology and allergology in the past few years, and to compare the development and situation in these fields in Slovenia to other countries with similar health care systems. Slovenian speakers and invited speakers from Europe can regularly report about new and proven scientific methods. Further goals are also to transmit experience and knowledge to general practitioners and specialists from Southeastern Europe, to improve their work, accept new organizations, implement and adopt new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in their daily work with patients.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
Background: Multiple drug resistance limits the efficacy of numerous cytotoxic drugs used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The drug efflux protein ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1; also known as P-glycoprotein or MDR1) has an important role in this process, and its gene variability may affect chemotherapy outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between ABCB1 polymorphisms (C-5890T, A-293G, C1236T, G2677T/A, C3435T, A4036G) and their haplotypes with treatment outcomes (toxicity; response rate; progression-free survival, PFS; and overall survival, OS) in SCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Patients and methods: The study included 177 SCLC Caucasian patients, treated with cisplatin – etoposide or cyclophosphamide – epirubicin – vincristine chemotherapy at the University Clinic Golnik. ABCB1 genotype was determined by the use of allelic specific TaqMan® probes in a real time polymerase chain reaction and the programme Thesias was used to determine haplotype structure and in subsequent analyses. Results: The study reports a longer PFS in patients carrying the 2677 TT+TA+AA genotype (Cox regression, p = 0,052 and p = 0,028 for uni- (UV) and multivariate analyses (MV), respectively), the 3435 CT+TT genotype (Cox regression, p = 0,037 for UV and MV), the 1236T – 2677T/A – 3435T haplotype (Cox regression, p = 0,147 and p = 0,029 for UV and MV, respectively) and the 2677T/A – 3435T haplotype (Cox regression, p = 0,037 and p = 0,030 for UV and MV, respectively). A longer OS was described for patients carrying the 3435 CT+TT genotype (Cox regression, p = 0,022 and p = 0,028 for UV and MV, respectively) and the 1236T – 2677T/A – 3435T haplotype (Cox regression, p = 0,144 and p = 0,047 for UV and MV, respectively). A trend towards longer OS was noted for the 2677T/A – 3435T haplotype (Cox regression, P=0.051), but its independent value was not confirmed (Cox regression, P=0.071). No association was noted between the studied polymorphisms and allied haplotypes with toxicity outcomes nor chemotherapy response. Conclusions: Our study reported a possible independent predictive value of ABCB1 polymorphisms and their haplotype for longer PFS and OS in Caucasian SCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. This findings opens the opportunity to use ABCB1 polymorphisms to tailor chemotherapy treatment in SCLC patients. However, to be implemented into routine clinical practice, ABCB1 polymorphisms require further validation.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 265972992Prof Tanja Cufer chaired the program committee at the 8th Central European Oncology Congress - Best of ASCO 2012 (CEOC 2012) in Opatija. The Congress was held in Opatija, from 17 to 20 June, 2012. The congress was co-organized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology – ASCO.
B.02 Presiding over the programming board of a conference
Prof Tanja Čufer gave a lecture entitled: Current Challenges and Barriers to Cancer Research at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago entitled Many authorities, including ASCO, have raised concerns about growing barriers to clinical cancer research.Therefore ASCO International Affairs Committee conducted a global survey of perceived barriers to clinical cancer research among reserchers from all continents. The results of this survey as well as other important topics realted to teh obstacles and barriers to the international reserch have been presented by prof. Tanja Čufer in the frame of her invited lecture at ASCO 2012 meeting. http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=114&abstractID=98524
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 1419131