World Congress on
Cancer Science and Therapy

Biography:

Sanjay Gupta is Carter Kissell Associate Professor & Research Director in the Department of Urology at the Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He also holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Nutrition and Division of General Medical Sciences at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr Gupta obtained faculty position in 2002 at Case, School of Medicine.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta's research is primarily on prostate cancer and involves both basic and translational areas of focus. In basic research the focus is to develop appropriate biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of prostate cancer. Another focus is to identify novel targets to monitor the efficacy of treatment with chemopreventive or therapeutic agents. His research interests also include translation of bench research to its application in clinics. With this aim he has been working with bioactive dietary agents which could be developed as future chemopreventives.

Dr. Gupta has authored some 80 publications, including book chapters, research articles and reviews, and has spoken at several occasions in cancer prevention symposium, seminars and meetings. He has been serving in various study sections at National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Department of Defense (DOD) and reviewer for several prestigious scientific journals. His research programs have received support from National Cancer Institute, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. His innovative approach to develop these agents in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer has led to publications in several journals including Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, Oncogene, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, Journal of Clinical Oncology, FASEB Journal and has been featured on NBC-5 news and highlighted in the Plain Dealer, and American Association for Cancer Research press release.

Abstract:

Cancer stem cell (CSC) theory has been proposed to elucidate tumor heterogeneity and the process of carcinogenesis. CSCs possess the capacity to self-renew, drive tumor formation, maintain tumor homeostasis, mediate tumor metastasis, and confers resistance to therapy. We sought to investigate the stem-cell-related function and biological features of a subpopulation of CD133+ cells isolated from established primary human prostate cancer cell lines. The CD133+ cells sorted from human prostate cancer 22Rv1 exhibited high clonogenic and tumorigenic capabilities, sphere forming capacity and serially reinitiated transplantable tumors in NOD-SCID mice. Gene profiling analysis of CD133+ cells showed upregulation of markers of stem cell differentiation (CD44, Oct4, SOX9 and Nanog), epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (c-myc and BMI1), osteoblastic differentiation (Runx2), and skeletal morphogenesis (BMP2), compared to side population of CD133- cells. These cells are highly malignant and resistant to γ-radiation and chemotherapeutic drug, docetaxel. Importantly, a docetaxel-resistant subclone was more enriched in CD133+ cells with significant increase in Runx2 expression, compared to CD133- cells. Furthermore, knockdown of Runx2 in these cells resulted in differential response to chemotherapy, sensitizing them to increased cell death. Taken together, our results indicate that therapy-resistant populations with stem-like features are highly malignant subpopulation of cells resides within parental cell lines. The molecular features of CD133+ cells may provide a rationale for precise therapeutic targeting and prognostic predictability in the clinical management of prostate cancer.

Biography:

Alain L Fymat is a medical-physical scientist and an educator. He was educated at the University of Paris-Sorbonne and the University of California at Los Angeles. He is the current President/CEO and Professor at the International Institute of Medicine and Science with a previous appointment as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Professor at the Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine. He was formerly Professor of Radiology, Radiological Sciences, Radiation Medicine (Oncology), Critical Care Medicine, and Physics at several U.S. and European Universities. Previously, he was Deputy Director (Western Region) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (Office of Research Oversight), and Director of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center and for a time Acting Chair of Radiology at its Loma Linda, California Medical Center. He has extensively published (~ 425 publications including patents, books & monographs, book chapters, refereed articles). As invited/keynote speaker and member of organizing committees of international congresses and symposia, he has lectured extensively in the USA, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia. He has been the recipient of numerous research grants from government, academia and private industry, and has consulted extensively with these entities. He is a Board member of several institutions and Health Advisor of the American Heart & Stroke Association (Coachella Valley Division, California). He is Editor-in-Chief, Honorable Editor or Editor of 32 medical-scientific Journals.

Abstract:

Cancer cells are notoriously resistant to drugs intended to kill them by rerouting the signaling networks responsible for cancer cells' growth, proliferation, and survival. A drug may block a particular signaling pathway but within a matter of days (minutes in some cases), cancer cells begin to rely on alternate pathways to promote their survival. The simultaneous use of several drugs (“rational combination therapy”)  is meant to attack both the primary and alternate pathways to preemptively block the cancer cells' escape route. Unfortunately, the efficacy of many combination therapies has been limited because drugs have very different chemical properties, which cause them to travel to different parts of the body and enter cancer cells at different rates. The situation is considerably more complicated for brain cancer (glioblastoma multiform or octopus tumor) because the cancer cells extend their tendrils into the surrounding tissue, which is virtually inoperable, resistant to therapies, and always fatal. A major obstacle to treatment is the blood brain barrier or network of blood vessels that allows essential nutrients to enter the brain but block the passage of other substances. I will describe novel nanotechnology approaches for delivering drugs across and around the brain protective barriers.

Biography:

Dr. Ashok Srivastava is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Cure Pharmaceuticals, and ClinFomatrix Oncology CRO, He was founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of CareBeyond - A Radiation Therapy Cancer Center, New Jersey. USA. He has more than 15 years of experience in drug development, medical affairs and commercialization of cancer drugs including radiopharmaceutical and supportive care; Phase 1 – 4, and marketing commercialization of Hematology, Oncology and radio-immuno-oncology drugs in USA, EU and Japan.  He is leader in Cancer Drug Development Worldwide large and complex Phase 3 Clinical Trials.  He contributed to 21-INDs and 7-NDAs of Cancer Drugs, acquisition /merger of company and drug for more than $900 million. He received his clinical, medical training & worked at renowned medical centers and pharmaceutical institutions worldwide at various executive leadership positions; Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Medical Center, Daiichi Pharmaceuticals, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacia, Pfizer, Eisai Oncology, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and Taiho Oncology. He received his Clinical, Medical & Business educations from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; Academy of Medical Sciences, Czechoslovakia; School of Medicine Nagasaki University, Japan, and Pharmaceutical Business at Rutgers University Business Management, New Jersey, USA. He played key role in dramatic expansion of oncology drug – developed cancer drugs- Sutent (Sunitinib), Evoxac (Cevimeline HCl), and liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet) in combination with Herceptin & Paclitaxel for HER2 positive for metastatic breast cancer patients and Latuda (Lurasidone) for schizophrenia. He has published more than 85 papers in National and International Journals, more than 120 abstracts, 3 book chapters and 2 patents. He is recipient of numerous National & International prestigious medical awards and recognitions from United Nations, Ministry of Health, Japan, and Department of Army, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington DC, USA. He served as medical advisor to Poniard Pharmaceutical for small cell lung cancer and Taiho Oncology in USA, EU and India. Dr. Srivastava is member of numerous prestigious organizations; America’s Top Oncologist of the years 2017, Breast Cancer Foundation, Indian Society of Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology, American Association of Cancer Research, and International Society of Lung Cancer.  Dr. Srivastava is a strategic medical advisor and Board Member to several pharma in USA for clinical, regulatory and supervises cancer drug development. Recently Dr. Srivastava was awarded membership of Japan External Trade Organization, USA. Dr. Srivastava is a Leader in Drug Safety, pharmacovigilance of Oncology, hematology, immuno-oncology and built global drug safety and pharmacovigilance companies in USA, and India. Dr. Srivastava was invited as an honorable speaker at drug safety & Pharmacovigilance congress in London, UK, India and Washington, DC, USA in 2017.  Dr. Srivastava brought 2 cancer drugs & a vaccine in global market for approximately 3 – 3.5 billion $ in global sales.  He serves as board of directors for oncology pharma companies in USA.

Abstract:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is also the principle cause of death from cancer among women globally. Despite the high incidence rates, in Western countries, 89% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis, which is due to detection and treatment.  Breast cancer incidence has been increasing. In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women, along with 60,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.  About 2,350 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2015. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000. Breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. began decreasing.  One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.  About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. On average, women with a BRCA1 mutation have a 55-65% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. For women with a BRCA2 mutation, the risk is 45%. Breast cancer that is positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations tends to develop more often in younger women. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. In men, BRCA2 mutations are associated with a lifetime breast cancer risk of about 6.8%; BRCA1 mutations are a less frequent cause of breast cancer in men.

All drugs for breast cancer treatment developed and in market cause mild to several side effects, and the safety, pharmacovigilance, signal detection and risk management of breast cancer drugs are difficult to manage.  A series of challenges of breast cancer therapy and the drug safety will be discussed at the meeting.

Biography:

Youhe Gao received his M.D. from Peking Union Medical College, his Ph.D. from University of Connecticut and postdoctoral training from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School. He is the professor of Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/ Peking Union Medical College. His research interests include urine proteomics, biomarker discovery, protein interaction and related bioinformatics.

Abstract:

Astrocytoma is the most common aggressive glioma and its early diagnosis remains difficult. Biomarkers are changes associated with the disease. Urine, which is not regulated by homeostatic mechanisms, accumulates changes and therefore is a better source for biomarker discovery. In this study, C6 cells were injected into Wistar rats brain as astrocytoma model. Urine samples were collected at day 2, day 6, day 10 and day 13 after injection, and the urinary proteomes were analyzed. On the 10th day, lesions appeared in magnetic resonance imaging. On the 13th day, clinical symptoms started. But differential urinary proteins were changed with the development of the astrocytoma, and can provide clues even on the 2nd and 6th day. Twenty seven differential proteins with human orthologs had been reported to associate with astrocytoma. A panel of differential urinary proteins may provide sensitive early biomarkers for the early diagnose of astrocytoma.

Biography:

Louis Caze  Professional experience in oncology circles, supported by multiple collaborations with major hospitals, allowed Louis Caze to benefit from a reference fame as an Expert Support Care. First, Specialist lymphatic, muscular and circulatory Louis Cazemakes the total body approach his chosen field. It captures the benefits of physical-mental balance in the treatment of chronic diseases, and specializes in supportive care dedicated to cancer diseases. His collaboration with renowned organizations such as the Institute Gustave Roussy, was punctuated with exceptional professional and human experience. Louis Caze is involved in implementing a comprehensive approach to cancer patient, in a real project of care that optimizes patient's quality of life, ensuring the different key aspects of health: the well physical and psychological, but also the entire social and family interactions. After these experiences, Louis Caze work for the development of Support Care, including the management of pain and psychology.

Abstract:

What is supportive care?

Support care means all care and support that can be offered to a person suffering from cancer, alongside specific treatments to cure his disease such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. They aim to reduce the impact of disease and treatment. For this, a team of professionals specialized in very different fields put their skills available to patients to help them cope with this difficult time.

The support can be offered care during and after treatment of the disease but also when the cancer treatments have no effect. They adapt to the needs of patients and their families.

What needs do they meet?

The disease affects all aspects of daily life.

The needs that may occur are numerous.

support care can meet some of these needs:

• primarily to control the symptoms related to the disease or its treatment

• in case of physical or psychological suffering

• to break isolation

• to learn to live with the physical consequences imposed sometimes disease

• to resume normal course of his life and benefit from the best possible living conditions, and that whatever the chances of recovery

• for many other reasons, each patient with the needs of its own.

Biography:

After earning his medical degree, Prashanth pursued Medical Oncology training at Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, he furthered his education and completed training with a Fellowship in Medical Oncology at The Austin Hospital in Melbourne. Prashanth has extensive research experience and his other qualifications apart from FRACP & PhD (University of Melbourne) include Masters of Science (Biotechnology) from University of Western Sydney and Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Statistics) from the University of Newcastle. Prashanth has presented at major national and international meetings, and authored publications in prominent cancer related peer reviewed journals. He has a special interest in transitional research and immunotherapy, and is a lead investigator in a number of clinical trials, and also is involved in development and conduct of clinical trials. His research goals are to develop innovative models to establish EMT mechanism as an important biomarker for cancer progression, resistance to therapy and as a biomarker of responsiveness to immune therapy, with the aim of developing/designing EMT-based therapies in cancer.

Abstract:

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a dynamic and reversible process hypothesized to occur in carcinoma during invasion and metastasis. EMT transformed carcinomas carry poor prognosis and are hypothesized to resist therapy. It is becoming increasingly evident that the immune system plays a critical role in cancer progression, resistance to therapy and relapse. The recent discovery of immune checkpoints and the regulatory approval of immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Several recent clinical trials have shown that ICI can induce durable long-term response and prolong overall survival. However, significant number of patients can develop severe dose limiting immune related adverse effects and a large subgroup of patients do not respond to ICI therapy. We hypothesize that EMT is a contributing factor to resistance to ICI, including VEGF inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors, which currently remains standard of care in treatment of patients with mRCC. We propose that EMT plays a role in intrinsic and/or acquired resistance to ICI by modulating sensitivity to immune modulation, as tumors de-differentiate to a mesenchymal phenotype, contributing to development of therapy resistance and early recurrence of tumours. The potential impact of EMT is of limiting Progression Free Survival and Overall Survival in patients with mRCC. Results will be presented to confirm EMT mechanism as an important biomarker for renal cancer progression, and responsiveness to therapy, including immune check point inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors. Our current study also involves determining development of EMT signature in circulating tumour cells of mRCC patients; an approach which would aid in determining development of resistance to therapy prior to clinical progression in patients with mRCC. Also, results of a comprehensive analysis of immune check points, and the predictive power of these new immune modulators compared to the ones currently used in clinical trials will be presented. In addition to predicting worse outcomes, the signature has a potential to act as a biomarker to stratify patient population who will benefit the most with checkpoint inhibition, thus opening new avenues to design clinical trials with aim of individualising treatment for patients with mRCC. The novel strategy of targeting EMT in mRCC has a potential to reinstate host immune response, resulting in enhanced sensitivity to immune modulation and targeted therapy, and EMT, as a mechanism of intrinsic or acquired resistance, has the potential to be a robust predictive and prognostic marker in patients with mRCC.

Biography:

Youhe Gao received his M.D. from Peking Union Medical College, his Ph.D. from University of Connecticut and postdoctoral training from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School. He is the professor of Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/ Peking Union Medical College. His research interests include urine proteomics, biomarker discovery, protein interaction and related bioinformatics.

Abstract:

Without homeostatic control, urine reflects early changes in the body. In this study, the Walker 256 tumor rat model was established by subcutaneous injection. To identify urinary proteome changes during the entire development of cancer, urine samples of walker 256 tumor-bearing rats were collected at five time points corresponding to before cancer cell implant, before tumor mass palpable, tumor mass appearance, tumor rapid growth and cachexia respectively.

The urinary protein patterns on SDS-PAGE changes significantly as tumors progress. Urinary proteins were identified using an Orbitrap-Lumos mass spectrometry by label-free quantitation. Seven differential urinary proteins before tumor mass even palpable could be identified with a fold change >2 and p value <0.05. And these early changes in urine could also be identified at tumor mass appearance, tumor rapid growth and cachexia time points. Twenty-four differential proteins were annotated before as biomarkers of cancer and nine proteins as biomarkers of breast cancer. Additionally, it was found that those differential proteins were involved in several pathways related to cancer, including IL-6 and IL-12 signaling, production of nitric oxide and ROS and apoptosis. Finally, 30 dynamically changed urinary proteins were selected for validation by targeted proteomics. Our study suggested that urine is a sensitive biomarker source for early detection of cancer.