February 6-8: Pediatric Cancer Translational Genomics
Scottsdale, Arizona: Join internationally recognized experts in the field of pediatric oncology for a collective conversation on how state-of-the-art genomics research may be applied to the translational oncology of pediatric solid tumors.

February 9-11: 18th Annual Network of Oncology Clinicians and Researchers (NOCR) Meeting
Las Vegas, Nevada: This annual update features clinical case and panel discussions, debates, and Meet the Expert sessions for exchanging the latest information on the diagnosis and management of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. For 2012, we are expanding the agenda to include discussions on sarcoma and GIST, cutting-edge research in melanoma, and a special session on managing women’s issues in oncology.

February 29: Rare Disease Day Lobby Day
Join us for a Rare Disease Day Lobby Day in Washington DC to support ULTRA. The Unlocking Lifesaving Treatments for Rare diseases Act of 2012, or ULTRA, H.R. 3737, will improve access to the FDA's Accelerated Approval process for very rare diseases, provide a more predictable regulatory process, bring down development costs, and spur investment in the development of treatments. Additionally, ULTRA requires the FDA to use the best science available, ensuring treatments are safe and effective and reach patients sooner.

February 29 - March 2: British Sarcoma Group Conference
Oxford, United Kingdom

March 9-10: European Society for Medical Oncology Conference on Sarcoma and GIST
Milan, Italy: The 4th ESMO Conference on Sarcoma and GIST will provide a wide-ranging overview of current medical therapy of soft tissue sarcomas and GIST.

March 15-16: EORTC Group Annual Meeting
Brussels, Belgium: The EORTC Network comprises over 300 hospitals and cancer centers in over 30 countries which include some 2,500 collaborators from all disciplines involved in cancer treatment and research. The conference offers a unique opportunity to gather all the partners (including national research organizations, health authorities, patient advocacy groups, European Commission, cancer leagues, and the pharmaceutical industry) involved in the EORTC mission.

March 30 - April 1: The OMG! Cancer Summit
Las Vegas, California: An oncology conference and social networking event for the young adult cancer movement.

May 15-16: European MusculoSkeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) Annual Meeting
Bologna, Italy

September 20-22: MusculoSkeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) Annual Meeting
Tampa, Florida

September 29 - October 4: Molecular Biology and Innovative Therapies in Sarcomas of Childhood and Adolescence
Polonia Castle in Pultusk, Poland: The conference will bring together biologists and clinicians to implement the interdisciplinary approach that is needed to advance research and therapy of rare childhood sarcomas.

November 14-17: Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) Annual Meeting
Prague, Czech Republic

 

January 10-12, 2011: EuroBoNeT and Conticanet Annual Meeting
Paris, France: This meeting will be organised by EuroBoNeT and Conticanet, both European funded network of Excellences in their last year of European funding. EuroBoNeT is a network focussing on bone tumours (both benign and malignant) and bone formation. Their interests are divided into 4 main subjects: cartilage forming tumours (i.e. osteochondroma, enchondroma, chondrosarcoma), bone forming tumours (osteosarcoma, but also chordomas, angiosarcomas), giant cell tumour and bone formation, and Ewing sarcomas. The research focuses on pathology, biology and genetics of these tumours, in order to better understand how these tumours arise and how we might be able to treat them. Besides research, teaching of clinicians and pathologist is also part of their mission. Recently this resulted in publications on treatment guidelines on bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas. Conticanet is a similar network, but focusing on connective tissue cancers. Together with EuroBoNeT they also were involved in the soft tissue sarcoma treatment guidelines and produced a similar one of GISTs.

February 9-11: The British Sarcoma Group Conference
Gateshead, United Kingdom: Details to be announced.

February 14-16: Practical clinical, radiological and pathological diagnosis of skeletal tumours
Leiden, Netherlands: This course aims at the practical histopathological diagnosis of tumours of bones and joints. It is meant for (trainee) pathologists, orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, clinical oncologists and paediatricians. The course focuses on the use of clinical and radiodiagnostic data and the pathological differential diagnosis.

February 23-25: 18th International Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference
San Francisco, CA

March 1-4, 2011: EORTC Groups Annual Meeting
Brussels, Belgium at the Crowne Plaza City Centre "Le Palace." See Friday's sessions and Saturday's session of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.

March 7-9: 9th International Symposium on Targeted Anticancer Therapies
Paris, France

March 9-13: NCCN 16th Annual Conference
Hollywood, Florida: An NCCN Sarcoma Guidelines Update will take place at this conference on March 12 at 9:20am.

March 24: Optimal role of patient organisations in drug development
De Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Conference about how partnership with patient organisations can contribute to more efficient drug development

April 16: Meet the Sarcoma Experts - Fifth Annual Forum
Boston, Massachusetts: Fourteen sarcoma experts provide information about sarcoma and its treatment. RSVP by April 8th!

May 4-6: The 35th Meeting of the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group
Malmö Börshus, Malmö, Sweden

May 5: GIST Educational Meeting
Boston, Massachusetts: The GIST Cancer Research Fund is holding a special occasion of discovery and discussion highlighting new GIST research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on Thursday, May 5th: 9:30-1:00PM (lunch provided). Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 27, to Christina Novak at 617. 424.4193. Space is limited. Speakers will be: James E. Butrynski, MD; George D. Demerti, MD; Janathan A. Fletcher, MD; Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH; Suzanne George, MD; Katherine A. Janeway, MD; Adrian Marino-Enriquez, MD; Amy S. Pilotte, NP; Kathleen M. Polson, NP; and Chandrajit P. Raut, MD.

May 7: 7th Annual 12,402 Steps to Cure Sarcoma Walk
Hudson, Massachusetts: This walk will be held at the Hudson High School Football Field. Registration begins at 8:30 A.M (walk-ins welcome), and the walk begins at 10:00 A.M.

June 3-7: ASCO Annual Meeting
Chicago, Illinois - The 2011 SARC Biannual Meeting will be held at ASCO on June 3 at 8am.

September 14-18: Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research
San Francisco, California: This prestigious conference will be the second of its kind focused on the latest advances in basic cancer research. It is a broad-based meeting with the goals of presenting the best in basic cancer research and giving early-career investigators a unique opportunity to interact with luminaries in the field. The goal of the conference is to create a synergy between many subfields of basic cancer research that will encourage and strengthen collaborative efforts.

September 15-18: 16th International Symposium on Limb Salvage
Beijing, China

September 23-27: The European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress
Stockholm, Sweden: The biannual European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congresses have recently undergone a re-brand. Much more than a re-name and new tagline 'Integrating basic & translational science, surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology & care,' the previous Congress has consequently been re-branded to visually encompass the 16th ECCO, the 36th ESMO and the 30th ESTRO Congresses as well as the essential contribution of all ECCO’s other Founding Members in partnership - ESSO, EACR, EONS and SIOPE.

October 15-16: Australian Sarcoma Group 2011 Annual Sarcoma Conference
Melbourne, Australia

October 27-29: Combined MSTS/CTOS Meeting
Chicago, IL: Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers

October 27 at 8am: 2011 SARC Meeting at CTOS
Chicago, IL: Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers

November 12-16: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
San Francisco, California: This major conference brings together over 3,000 academics, scientists, and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry to discuss innovations in drug development, target selection and the impact of new discoveries in molecular biology.

November 17-19: 2nd SPAEN Annual Conference
Berlin, Germany: This will be the 2nd SPAEN Annual Conference for Organizations Representing Patients with Sarcomas, GIST or Desmoid Tumours. The conference aims to provide Sarcoma, GIST and Desmoid patient advocates with an opportunity to share experience and best practice, as well as to learn about advances and challenges in the treatment of rare cancers. The three day conference will focus on research, treatment and advocacy/capacity building. Leading European Sarcoma Experts will join us to present the latest news and answer your questions.

November 23-24: European Cancer Control Summit on the Role of Cancer Registries
Brussels, Belgium: Cancer registry funding organisations, epidemiological and clinical researchers, programme owners and managers will join policy-makers and patient advocates to discuss the value of high-quality information on cancer in Europe, particularly in terms of the development, analysis, optimal use and exchange of European cancer registry data at this high-level meeting.

December 15: CancerCare's Treatment Update on Soft Tissue Sarcoma
A free workshop for people living with soft tissue sarcoma, their families, friends and health care professionals. Pre-registration is required. Registered participants can join the call via a toll-free number and online streaming. Learn more by viewing the brochure.

2010 Events

January 20-23, 2010: AACR Special Conference on Cancer Epigenetics
San Juan, Puerto Rico: This AACR Special Conference on cancer epigenetics will assemble prominent investigators in the field to discuss recent advances in this rapidly moving area. Sessions will review mechanisms and recent advances in whole genome epigenetic analysis of cancer and stem cells. Several sessions will examine specific clinical applications such as diagnostics and therapeutics, and a workshop will be held to discuss the bioinformatic challenges of whole genome epigenetic analyses. Ample time has been reserved for discussion, oral presentation of selected submitted abstracts, and late-breaking research. This conference will provide a unique forum to review the remarkable progress in this area over the past few years, and provide a glimpse of where the field is moving, including a strong emphasis of translational epigenetics research.

February 4-5: AACR/JCA Joint Conference: Cancer Genomics, Epigenomics, and the Development of Novel Therapeutics
Waikoloa, Hawaii: More than 20 years ago, the American Association for Cancer Research and the Japanese Cancer Association held their first of seven joint conferences. These meetings have been aimed at bringing outstanding American and Japanese researchers together with two goals. The first is to provide a forum for discussion of the latest advances in the broad field of cancer research, both translational/clinical and basic. The second and equally important goal is to provide a mechanism for the interpersonal interactions which foster international collaborations. These conferences have been extremely successful in both areas and are tangible examples of the close relationship between the AACR and the JCA. There will be a session covering sarcoma at this conference.

February 5-9: The British Sarcoma Group Conference 2010
London, United Kingdom: British Sarcoma Group Conference 2010 will be held at the Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London WC1 starting at 09.30am on Thursday 4th February 2010 and closing at 3.30 pm on Friday 5th February.

February 8 at 12:00pm: Connecting the Dots on Sarcoma Treatments
New York City: A session of the 12th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference at the Waldorf-Astoria. Sarcoma is arguably one of the most overlooked tracks in oncology in the investor’s mind. While surgery is a viable option for some forms, the increased risk of metastasis attributed to high-grade forms requires an aggressive regimen of combination therapy. With a robust pipeline, boasting over a dozen Phase II and III drugs, and no disease-specific therapeutic currently market-approved (except for GIST subtype), the sarcoma space is surely one to watch closely over the coming months.

February 12 at 9:30am: Rarer Cancer Listening Event
Wigan, United Kingdom: The three North West Cancer Networks are holding an event aimed at people who have been affected by a rarer cancer. (By “rarer cancer” we mean any cancer which is not breast, lung, prostate or bowel cancer.) Registration and coffee/tea will be available from 9.00am at DW Stadium (formerly the JJB Stadium). The purpose of the event is for the Networks to hear about and understand the experiences of people who have had a rare cancer and the specific issues and difficulties they encountered to help us understand how we might improve services and the experience for the patient and carer.

March 9-10: ESMO Conference on Sarcoma and GIST
Milan, Italy: The ESMO Conference on Sarcoma and GIST will provide a comprehensive overview of current medical therapy of soft tissue sarcomas and GIST, with a focus on its molecular and pathological bases. The goal is to give a perspective on where we are in medical treatment and where we are about to go, filtered across the most recent advances in molecular biology. A wide international faculty has been selected, representing the main institutions dealing worldwide with these rare cancers.

March 11-12: EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group
Leiden, Netherlands

March 20: Meet the Sarcoma Experts Seminar
Boston, Massachusetts: The 4th Jennifer Hunter Yates Sarcoma Foundation "Meet the Sarcoma Experts Seminar" will be held on Saturday, March 20th from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the O'Keefe Auditorium at Massachusetts General Hospital. Contact Susan Erickson for more information.

March 21-24: Translational Cancer Medicine 2010 - Europe
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Translational cancer medicine happens at the interface between the lab and the clinic. It transitions basic science breakthroughs to the practice of medicine and uses clinical outcome to feed back into basic research. In order to make any advances in translational cancer medicine, there must be open lines of communication between researchers and clinicians.

April 16-18: Hugfest 2010
Branson, MO: The National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation will host this weekend event at the Grand Plaza Hotel. Registration required by March 15.

April 17-21: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010
Washington, DC: The 2010 Annual Meeting, with the theme of "Conquering Cancer Through Discovery Research," will highlight the best cancer science and medicine from institutions all over the world. The complex nature of cancer requires an interdisciplinary approach to research, starting with the cutting-edge basic science that undergirds all that we do in the field to translational, clinical, and population research, and back. Clearly we have come upon an age when large research teams must work together to make further progress. The collaborations that naturally evolve from informal interactions at our Annual Meeting create the scientific synergies that have led to past successes in the field and will drive us faster toward future cures. This meeting represents an opportunity to stretch our boundaries, attend sessions outside of our own areas of expertise, and learn how to apply exciting new concepts, tools, and techniques to our own research.

April 18: The Wendy Walk
Los Angeles, Miami and New York: These walks, to be held in three major cities on the same day, were created and organized by Ali, Matt and Jackie Landes, to support their mom, who has liposarcoma.

April 22-23: BAPRAS Advanced Educational Course
Manchester, United Kingdom: Day 2 of this course focuses on sarcoma and features internationally renown speakers.

April 22-23: European Sarcoma and GIST Surgery Master Class /
Sarcoma and GIST Live Surgery Theoretical Teaching
Villejuif, France at Institut Gustave Roussy: Sarcomas are rare tumours which can appear everywhere, in all organs. Because of their specificity and complexity, the quality of initial surgery highly determines the free local recurrence and overall survival. However, initial surgery still remains a very critical point in the management of these rare diseases, and secondary surgery after inadequate initial surgical gesture does not always allow patients optimal perspectives.

April 24: A Night to Remember
New York City: The annual fundraiser for the Kristen Ann Carr Fund will be chaired by Steven and Maureen Van Zandt. Steven and Maureen starred together in The Sopranos, and Steve is in the E Street Band.

April 25: Sarcoma Educational Conference
New York, New York: The SFA’s 5th annual Educational Conference, Ask the Experts: Advances in Sarcoma Treatment and Research, will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at the Park Lane Helmsley from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM. One of the best aspects of the conference is that there is an hour question and answer session from the audience. This year we expect the conference to reach new heights and hope you will join us. Confirmed speakers are Dr. Demetri from Dana-Farber Cancer Center speaking on what is targeted therapy and where are we going with it, Dr. Shreyaskumar Patel from M.D. Anderson speaking on Leiomyosarcoma, Dr. Paul Meyers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering speaking on Osteosarcoma, Dr. Jeffery Toretsky from Georgetown University speaking on Ewing’s Sarcoma, Dr. Jean Yves Blay who is the President of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer will be speaking about the European sarcoma drug approval process, and Dr. Jack Brooks from the University of Pennsylvania will discuss sarcoma pathology. Tickets and hotel info will be available soon.

April 29-30: Cancer Trial Accrual Symposium
Bethesda, Maryland: The Symposium, co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), targets building the scientific evidence base and disseminating successful methods to boost cancer trial accrual. NCI and ASCO are seeking participation of key leaders/representatives from sites/organizations who are actively engaged in clinical trial recruitment and conducting interventions that enhance accrual. This Symposium will focus on empirical research that is testing interventions for overcoming barriers and promoting evidence development to enable effective clinical trial accrual.

May 1: 5th Annual Run/Walk for Sarcoma at Duke
Durham, NC: Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Program will host its 5th Annual Run/Walk for Sarcoma on May 1 at 7:45am.

May 8: The 6th Annual 12,402 Steps to Cure Sarcoma Walk
Hudson, Massachusetts: The 12,402 steps represent the days that Jennifer Hunter Yates lived life to the fullest. Jennifer bravely battled sarcoma for 17 months before succumbing to the disease at the age of 33 in April 2004. It is in her memory, to others who have fought sarcoma and others who continue to fight this disease that this walk is dedicated to. 12,402 steps are about 6.1 miles. The walk will be held at the Hudson High School Football Field (Morgan Bowl). Registration begins at 9:00 A.M (walk-ins welcome), the walk begins at 10:00 A.M.

May 17: Charity Buffet Curry Night
Leicester, United Kingdom: East Midlands Sarcoma Support Group will offer a buffet dinner at Dine India in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire on May 17th at 8:00pm. Tickets are £15 per person to benefit the Sarcoma Trust.

June 4-8: 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting
Chicago, Illinois: This year's meeting will focus on Advancing Quality through Innovation and will provide an opportunity to discuss the latest innovations in research, quality, practice, and technology in cancer.

June 12th: Fishin' for the Cure
Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana: Fishin' for the Cure is a fundraising event that will raise public awareness of sarcoma and raise funds to support sarcoma research and clinical trials as a part of the 2010 Team Sarcoma Initiative. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top teams. This is a Walleye and Pike event. Following the benefit, an awards ceremony and BBQ will be held at Rock Creek Marina. There will also be a new event this year, "Be Brave and Shave". Participants will gather donations from sponsors and then shave their heads to help raise funding and awareness for childhood cancer.

June 13: The "Sarcoma Knows No Borders" Race and Walk
Mexico City, Mexico: These events will take place along the circuit of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM). Runners will experience an exciting end to the race by crossing the finish line inside the Olympic Stadium! At the end of both of these races will be the 100 meters running and walking races for sarcoma patients.

June 26th at Noon: Kenny Allan Memorial Ride for Sarcoma
Mancelona, MI: This Harley ride will beneift the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative in memory of Kenny Allan. Live entertainment, raffles and an auction will follow the ride.

June 29-30 from 9:00am-5:00pm EST: Public Hearing Regarding Food and Drug Administration's Review and Regulation of Articles for the Treatment of Rare Diseases
At the FDA in Silver Springs, MD: Meeting regarding the Agency's regulation of drugs, biological products, and devices for the treatment, diagnosis, and management of rare diseases. The public hearing is intended to gain from health care providers, academia, industry, patients, and other interested persons their perspectives on various aspects of the development of medical products for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of rare diseases. The input from this public hearing will help inform the work of FDA's committee for rare diseases. This committee was created by the Brownback/Brown Amendment for Rare and Neglected Diseases in the FY 2010 FDA appropriations bill (HR 2997 Section 740) and is due to report back to Congress in March of 2011 on the needed changes for rare disease drug development and review.

July 8th at 4:30pm: What is a Sarcoma? A Team Approach to Care
Tampa, Florida: Presentations by Moffitt professionals will include: Douglas Letson, MD (Bone Sarcomas), David Cheong, MD (Soft Tissue Sarcomas) Ricardo J. Gonzalez, MD (Retroperitoneal Sarcomas), Damon Reed, MD (The Medical Oncology of Sarcomas). The event will take place at the Stabile Research Building on the first floor. Call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488) to RSVP.

July 17-25: International Sarcoma Awareness Week
The 2010 Team Sarcoma Initiative is an internationally coordinated set of events to raise awareness of sarcoma and raise funds to support sarcoma research, clinical trials, and patient and family services.

September 15-17: 15th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology
Bordeaux, France: The general theme for the 2010 Congress is "Surgical outcome: can we do better?" The Congress format is designed to promote the highest standards of surgical care in the management of patients with solid tumours. This is the ideal connective platform to exchange and debate the very latest in patient treatment and care as well as novel approaches to surgical care in a rapidly changing health care environment.

September 21: Treatment Update on Soft Tissue Sarcoma (Phone Workshop)
The topics on this phone conference include: overview of soft tissue sarcoma, current standard of care, new treatment approaches, how clinical trials contribute to treatment options pain and symptom management, communicating with your health care team, quality-of-life concerns, questions for our panel of experts.

September 22-25: 10th International Conference on Cancer-Induced Bone Disease
Sheffield, United Kingdom: Despite exciting recent advances there is still much to discover about the effects of cancers and cancer treatments on bone and mineral homeostasis. The Conference will bring together leading clinicians and researchers with expertise in bone metastases and bone and cancer cell biology, and will include presentations by internationally known experts, and oral and poster presentations by authors selected from submitted abstracts.

September 25: GIST Summit
Houston, Texas: GIST Support International, in collaboration with Dr. Jon Trent, would like to extend an open invitation to the 2nd GIST Summit at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to be held on September 25th. It will be a full day, beginning at 8:00am with a GIST 101 pre-session. Talks on all aspects of GIST treatment and disease management follow throughout the day, until the final talk about future treatment directions which ends at 5:00pm. Everyone with an interest in GIST is welcome to come. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and there is no charge to attend. For more information and to pre-register, contact Barbara.

September 29 - October 1: Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Four Seasons Hotel

October 9: Bone Cancer Research Trust Patients' & Supporters' Conference
St. Albans, UK: The 4th annual Patients’ & Supporters’ Conference will be held on Saturday, October 9th, at the Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans (UK). The one-day conference is for bone cancer patients, their families and friends. The conference will include the opportunity to hear the experiences of other patients, talk to the medical professionals working on the latest clinical trials, listen to presentations by international experts, and find out how to get involved with the work of the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

October 16-17: Australian Sarcoma Group 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting
Sydney, Australia: This conference will be held at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

October 16-20: Combined Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Societies
Kyoto, Japan: There will be a special lecture by Dr. Marc Ladanyi from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Using Pan-Genomic Technologies to Understand Sarcomas) as well as a workshop about molecular targeted therapy for sarcomas at this meeting.

November 11-13: 16th Annual CTOS Meeting
Paris, France at Le Meridien Etoile Hotel

November 16-19: Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
Berlin, Germany: Hosted by EORTC, NCI and AACR, the 2010 symposium, ‘Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics’ will bring together academics, scientists and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry to discuss innovation in drug development, target selection and the impact of new discoveries in molecular and cell biology.