NIH Director to deliver keynote address at eighth SIO international conference

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) announced today that National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, will deliver the keynote address at its eighth international conference, which is co‐sponsored by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

As the former head of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Collins has advanced a science that is at the center of many developments in cancer treatment. Dr. Collins will address the group on "Seeking Out the Most Effective Interventions for Cancer Prevention and Treatment."

Integrative oncology facilitates cancer treatment and recovery through using complementary therapeutic options strategically combined with conventional medical care. Such options include natural and botanical products, nutrition, acupuncture, massage, mind‐body therapies, and other complementary modalities.

Multidisciplinary oncology practitioners from around the world, including stakeholders from virtually every major cancer center in the U.S., will convene to discuss the evolution of evidence‐based integrative oncology in practice, the steadily growing science base, and its continued ascent in popularity as patients demand a systematic, whole person approach to cancer care—mind, body and spirit.

The prestigious conference is co‐sponsored by nationally‐ranked Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. It will be held in Cleveland at the InterContinental Hotel, November 10‐12, 2011. Presentation topics include: the future of oncology and necessity of integrative oncology; the science of psycho‐oncology; oxidative stress and antioxidants; the effect of circadian disruption on cancer and whole systems research.

"Integrative cancer treatment combines the best of conventional therapies with a broad set of sound complementary interventions," said Keith Block, MD, chair of the Society for Integrative Oncology's 2011 conference. "Today, what is being called 'personalized care' simply means targeting tumor genomics. But an integrative approach to 'personalized care' in cancer treatment requires identifying and addressing the unique, comprehensive needs of each patient in careful combination with targeting the tumor."

"This emerging science offers patients more hope and more options as well as innovative solutions," according to Dr. Block. "A growing body of research and clinical experience demonstrates integrative cancer treatments can diminish toxicity, improve patients' life quality, enhance the impact of conventional therapies and favorably impact patients' outcomes."

"SIO's mission is to educate oncology professionals, patients, caregivers and others involved in patient care about the scientific validity, clinical benefits, toxicities, and limitations of state‐of¬the‐art integrative therapies. Increasingly, patients are asking 'what can I do' in addition to conventional therapies. Integrative oncology interventions have been shown to decrease some of the side effects of cancer treatment, allowing many patients to tolerate their full, prescriptive course, thereby improving clinical outcomes and quality of life." said Gary Deng, MD, PhD, president of the Society.

This CME conference has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and is open to all oncology and medical professionals, including physicians, scientists and researchers, health and social psychologists, oncology nurses, health care administrators, nutritionists, naturopaths, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other complementary therapy practitioners. Patients and advocates are also welcome.

"The number of people with cancer is increasing and integrative therapeutic treatment options are very often complementary to the clinical care that patients receive," said Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD, dean of Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and honorary conference chair. "Case Western Reserve University and the City of Cleveland are happy to host the Society's eighth conference to help educate professionals about the validity, the benefits and the limitations of integrative therapies."

Source: Society for Integrative Oncology