IMMUNOTHERAPY 2008: IMPLEMENTING COMBINATIONS

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1 8 th International Workshop IMMUNOTHERAPY 2008: IMPLEMENTING COMBINATIONS Organized by: International Union Against Cancer (UICC) Center of Molecular Immunology Cuba, November 10-14, 2008 ( ( cu) Sponsored by: Pan-American Health Organization

2 8 th International Workshop IMMUNOTHERAPY 2008: IMPLEMENTING COMBINATIONS Organized by: UICC and Center of Molecular Immunology Cuba, November 10-14, 2008 ( ( Sponsored by: Pan-American Health Organization WHAT IS IMMUNOTHERAPY 2008 (IT-2008)? Immunotherapy 2008: Implementing Combinations is a follow up meeting in a series of biannual international workshops organized, this time, by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM). The main goal of these meetings has been to promote intensive discussions on how to build a bridge between basic science and clinical cancer immunotherapy. Presentations and discussions have covered different topics on tumor immunology, autoimmunity and immune system regulation, seen not as isolated phenomena, but making an effort to integrate them into a systemic vision. WHAT WILL BE THE PARTICULAR FOCUS IN IT-2008? This time we are proposing a step forward, focusing our discussion on the scientific bases for the rational design of therapeutic combinations. The scientific community has faced the dissociation between the accumulation of preclinical results and the capacity to make predictions and to guide interventions in the clinical setting. by attempting the combination of targets and approaches. However, our bet is that only by integrating knowledge from basic immunology and systems biology it is possible to deal with a rational, rather than empirical, design of combinations. In practical terms, combinations of molecular targets, interventions in tumor and host interaction and manipulation to boost effective immune responses, should be implemented. Furthermore, the clinics should move beyond the classical Phase I,II,III paradigm towards novel trial designs which should include direct testing of combined immunotherapies, the use of the omics technologies to define new subrogate markers of effectiveness, and probably also novel statistics designs. Chronic vaccination should be explored, as well as the counterintuitive scenario of vaccination in the context of immunosuppresion.

3 WHAT DISTINGUISHES OUR IMMUNOTHERAPY MEETINGS FROM OTHERS IN THE SAME FIELD? The main distinctive feature of IT workshops is that time for discussion is a priority. This characteristic has, in fact, become the main attractor for frequent attendees. IT2008 has been conceived to create possibilities for an intensive exchange of ideas. There will be specialized workshops with oral presentations of about 30 minutes, followed by a discussion period. In this meeting edition, we will also introduce a special brainstorming session called The perfect combination, to address a main question: Are we ready for the rational design of successful therapeutic combinations? WHO PARTICIPATES IN CIM's IMMUNOTHERAPY MEETINGS? These meetings gather a relatively small group of multidisciplinary scientists who actively work on, or close to, the specific topics that are discussed. Participation in these meetings is based on targeted invitations to selected scientists. As it has already become a tradition, invited participants are welcome and encouraged to send their ideas about the scientific topics to be discussed and the organization of the workshop, and to practically influence on its final structure. MAIN TOPICS FOR PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS IT-2008 will be organized in 4 sessions: 1. Combining mechanisms of immune response regulation a. Regulatory elements in physiological contexts (tolerance vs immunity) b. Regulatory elements in pathological contexts (autoimmune vs cancer diseases) c. Homeostasis and clonal exhaustion at cellular and molecular levels d. Regulatory B cells and natural antibodies e. Immunosenescence f. Structural and dynamical bases of molecular interactions relevant for immune response control. Application of the "omics" technologies and bioinformatics in these studies.

4 2. Facing combinations based on tumor immunology a. Evidences on immune-surveillance evasion in the experimental and clinical settings b. Tumor microenvironment c. Tumor biology at molecular and cellular levels d. Cancer stem cells e. Dynamics of tumor development in its interaction with immune system components. Application of in vivo imaging and computational technologies in these studies. 3. Experimental and clinical cancer immunotherapy a. Update in active immunotherapy clinical trials: cancer vaccines, adoptive transfers and immune-restoration b. Design of therapeutic combinations in pre-clinical models c. Therapeutic combinations on clinical trials: bases of design and recent results d. Engineering of immune system molecules for cancer therapy e. Multi-target approaches for cancer immunotherapy f. Surrogate markers of therapeutic efficacy: patient stratification and feasibility of applying the omics technologies 4. Brainstorming session: The Perfect Combination

5 CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS If you are willing to attend the meeting, we would highly appreciate receiving a confirmation before February 29th, Submission of abstracts for oral presentations should be done before June 30, Abstract should be sent by . REGISTRATION, TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION No fee will be taken from scientists invited to participate in the meeting. The registration fee for other scientists interested in attending the workshop is 200 USD. Travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the participants. The Organizing Committee will arrange a suitable and economical accommodation (details will be given in the second announcement). Lunch, as well as participation in social activities, will be provided free of charge for all the participants. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE President: Agustín Lage, MD, PhD Circe Mesa, PhD Ernesto Moreno, PhD Joel de León, PhD Zaima Mazorra, PhD HOW TO CONTACT US Circe Mesa, PhD Center of Molecular Immunology Tel: P.O.Box Fax: Havana 11600, Cuba circe@cim.sld.cu Please, use preferably the electronic mail