SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer

Staff from the NCI Divisions of Cancer Biology (DCB) and Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) along with the Lance Armstrong Foundation Live Strong Young Adult Alliance Science Task Force sponsored a joint workshop on cancer biology among adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology patients with breast, colon, and ALL. The workshop took place June 9-10, 2009, in Bethesda, MD and was entitled, “Unique Characteristics of AYA Cancers: Focus on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer." It addressed issues of molecular biology, novel targets and therapeutics, and tumor banking. There were a total of 16 presentations by experts in each area including statistical design for trials in AYA. Following the presentations, breakout sessions for each disease type discussed future directions, priorities, and subsequent steps to help us understand the biology of these cancers and to identify new therapeutic targets and treatment approaches for AYA. A publication highlighting the results of this meeting is in preparation for submission to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Albritton K, Blair D, Hayes-Lattin B, Seibel NL, Tricoli JV. Unique characteristics of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers: focus on acute lymphocytic leukemia (all), breast cancer and colon cancer (In preparation).