Preventive Oncology and Diagnostic Cancer

New diagnostic technologies are transforming the ability to detect cancers at earlier stages. This session will highlight innovations that are improving accuracy and accessibility, including:

• Liquid Biopsy Technologies: Non-invasive methods for detecting cancer through blood samples, offering real-time monitoring of tumor progression.
• Advanced Imaging Techniques: Innovations such as 3D mammography, PET-CT, and MRI are offering more detailed views of early tumors.
• Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics: AI-powered tools that enhance early detection by analyzing radiology images and pathology reports with greater accuracy than traditional methods.

Understanding the patterns and causes of cancer is key to prevention and treatment. This session will focus on the role of biomarkers and epidemiological studies in cancer control, including:

• Biomarker Discovery and Application: Identifying molecular signatures for early detection and personalized treatment.
• Epidemiological Trends: Insights into global cancer incidence and survival rates, and how these influence public health policies.
• Infectious Agents and Cancer: The link between viral infections (such as HPV and Hepatitis B) and cancer, and strategies for reducing related cancer burdens.

Personalized medicine is revolutionizing oncology by tailoring treatments to the genetic makeup of each patient’s tumor. This session will cover:

• Targeted Therapies: Drugs designed to target specific mutations in cancer cells, such as HER2-positive breast cancer treatments or PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutated cancers.
• Immunotherapies Tailored to the Individual: Exploring checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies that are personalized to each patient's immune system.
• Precision Medicine in Clinical Trials: Discussing how clinical trials are being designed around specific genetic markers, improving treatment outcomes.

Research into the molecular mechanisms behind cancer is leading to new therapies and diagnostics. This session will highlight:

• Genomic Sequencing in Oncology: How whole-genome sequencing is revealing mutations driving cancer progression.
• Molecular Pathways in Cancer: Understanding key pathways like PI3K/AKT and RAS/RAF and how they are targeted in new therapies.
• Translation from Research to Clinic: How breakthroughs in molecular oncology are moving from lab-based research to real-world clinical applications.

Screening programs are essential in detecting cancers early, when treatment is most effective. This session will explore:

• Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests (MCED): New blood-based screening technologies that can detect multiple cancers at once, before symptoms appear.
• Advances in Imaging for Early Detection: Innovations like high-definition colonoscopy, 3D mammography, and low-dose CT for lung cancer.
• Screening Guidelines and Public Health: How screening protocols are evolving based on new evidence and emerging technologies.

Immunotherapy is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of cancer treatment. This session will delve into the science of harnessing the immune system to fight cancer, covering:

• Checkpoint Inhibitors: Understanding how drugs that block PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 pathways enable immune cells to attack tumors.
• CAR-T Cell Therapy: Modifying a patient’s own T cells to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.
• Vaccine Development in Cancer: Investigating therapeutic vaccines that boost immune responses against cancer cells, including neoantigen-based approaches.

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in cancer care. This session will cover:

• AI in Medical Imaging: How AI is improving diagnostic accuracy by recognizing patterns in radiology and pathology images.
• Predictive Analytics for Treatment Response: Using machine learning models to predict how patients will respond to specific treatments.
• Real-Time Clinical Decision Support: AI-driven systems that assist oncologists in making personalized treatment recommendations based on large datasets.

Cancer prevention faces unique challenges in resource-limited settings. This session will discuss innovative, cost-effective strategies for early detection and prevention, including:

• Affordable Screening Programs: Implementing scalable, cost-effective screening methods such as HPV tests and low-cost imaging in LMICs.
• Global Health Partnerships: The role of international collaborations and NGOs in supporting cancer prevention efforts.
• Mobile Health (mHealth) Solutions: Leveraging mobile technologies to provide remote screening and education in underserved areas.

Cancer is influenced by both genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. This session will explore:

• Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Discussing common syndromes like Lynch syndrome and BRCA mutations, and their implications for family members.
• Environmental Risk Factors: How exposures such as smoking, radiation, and carcinogens contribute to cancer risk.
• Gene-Environment Interactions: Understanding how genes and environmental factors work together to influence cancer risk.

Diet and lifestyle choices have a significant impact on cancer risk. This session will provide insights into:

• Dietary Interventions in Cancer Prevention: The role of plant-based diets, antioxidants, and reduced alcohol consumption in lowering cancer risk.
• Obesity and Cancer: How weight management and exercise can reduce the risk of cancer, particularly breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancers.
• Public Health Approaches: Implementing community-level programs to promote cancer-preventing lifestyle changes.

Imaging is a key component of cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This session will highlight:

• Radiomics and Advanced Imaging: How data from imaging techniques such as MRI, CT, and PET are being combined with AI for precision diagnosis.
• Functional Imaging for Treatment Monitoring: Techniques that assess the biological activity of tumors, allowing for more effective treatment adjustments.
• Molecular Imaging: Visualizing biological processes at the molecular level, improving early detection and personalized treatment.

The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in cancer development and resistance to therapy. This session will discuss:

• Tumor-Immune Interactions: How cancer cells evade immune surveillance by manipulating the microenvironment.
• Targeting the Microenvironment: Exploring therapies that disrupt the supportive environment around tumors, such as anti-angiogenic drugs.
• Role of Inflammation and Hypoxia: How chronic inflammation and oxygen deprivation within tumors contribute to cancer progression.

Advances in cancer genomics are enabling more personalized treatments. This session will cover:

• Large-Scale Genomic Studies: Discovering genetic mutations that drive cancer through projects like The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
• Genomic Profiling for Treatment Selection: How genetic tests guide treatment decisions by identifying actionable mutations.
• Overcoming Tumor Heterogeneity: Addressing the challenge of genetic diversity within tumors and its impact on treatment resistance.

Public health plays a critical role in reducing cancer incidence and mortality. This session will discuss successful strategies for cancer control, including:

• Vaccination Campaigns: The role of HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines in preventing virus-associated cancers.
• Population-Based Screening Programs: Implementing and scaling effective screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
• Tobacco Control and Cancer Prevention: The impact of smoking cessation programs and regulatory measures on reducing lung and other cancers.

This session will examine the pivotal role of PET scanning in cancer prevention among high-risk populations. Focusing on the integration of PET imaging with genetic screening, lifestyle assessments, and tailored prevention plans, this session highlights how PET scans can help detect early cellular changes in individuals predisposed to cancer. Discussion will include:

• Identifying High-Risk Populations for PET Screening: Analyzing criteria that determine who benefits most from PET screening, including individuals with genetic mutations, family history, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

• Early Detection of Precancerous Changes: How PET imaging can detect metabolic activity in cells, identifying precancerous or atypical growths before they develop into malignant tumors.

• PET Imaging as Part of a Comprehensive Risk Reduction Plan: Incorporating PET scans into personalized risk reduction strategies, balancing early intervention with ongoing lifestyle and environmental assessments.

• PET Scans and Screening Frequency in Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Evaluating optimal PET scan intervals for individuals with BRCA mutations, Lynch syndrome, and other genetic markers, to manage cancer risks proactively.

• Case Studies and Outcomes: Reviewing success stories where early detection through PET scanning led to early intervention and improved patient outcomes, highlighting examples in breast, colorectal, and lung cancer prevention.