Highlights from the 25th ASM
The 25th AGITG Annual Scientific Meeting was held for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand and attended by over 350 delegates from oncological practice, community and industry.
Held in Ōtautahi/Christchurch on 13–16 November 2023, this year’s ASM focused on the theme ‘Navigating Pathways to Equity in GI Cancer Research’, intended to address the pressing need to extend access and increase equity to therapeutic options across regional, rural and remote areas, as well as culturally diverse and First Nations populations.
Read on for our overview of the 2023 Meeting – or listen to The Oncology Podcast‘s wrap-up episode, featuring Co-Convenor Dr Ben Lawrence and International Invited Faculty A/Prof Katherine Garman.
Monday 13 November, 2023
Before the Opening Plenary on Tuesday, attendees were invited to join our Monday program: the all-day Community and Study Coordinator Workshop, the Meihana Model Workshop and the CommNETs Workshop.
Community and Study Coordinator Workshop
In this workshop, delegates and speakers focussed on ‘on the ground’ practical approaches to enable and encourage equity and inclusion in clinical trials. The workshop began with mihi whakatau by Professor George Laking, Dr Mark Jeffrey, Jan Mumford and Dr Ben Lawrence, followed by a short workshop led by Community Advisory Panel member Jodie Collins on how to connect to our mihi. Sessions shone a spotlight on decentralised clinical trials, or teletrials, in Australia and New Zealand, engaging rural, regional and remote patients as well as culturally responsive frameworks in GI cancer clinical research.
Meihana Model Workshop
In this workshop, Professor Suzanne Pitama facilitated attendees’ learning of the Meihana Model. Created by Prof Pitama and her team in 2007, the Meihana Model is a groundbreaking clinical assessment framework intended to underpin treatment decisions with culturally appropriate Māori care and can be used by both Māori and non-Māori health practitioners.
“Professor Suzanne Pitama’s excellent hands-on Meihana Model workshop [had] the audience being challenged to demonstrate its translation into practice through pictorial interpretation,” said Libby Rea-Brownlee, recipient of an AGITG education grant.
“Attending the Annual Scientific Meeting 2023 has inspired me to incorporate the Meihana Model into my own research and oncology nursing practice.”
CommNETs and AGITG Trial Pitch and Workshop Session
This combined workshop saw members of AGITG and CommNETs meeting, presenting and workshopping clinical trial proposals. The CommNETs meeting was also held in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time and was attended by over 40 attendees. A more in-depth overview is available from NECA here.
The day concluded with a networking event at the iconic Christchurch Town Hall.
Tuesday 14 November, 2023
Delegates of the ASM were welcomed by senior members of the Kai Tahu Iwi on their whenua by mihi whakatau, as accorded by cultural protocol.
Opening Plenary
Thank you to AstraZeneca for sponsoring this session.
Delegates headed into the Opening Plenary, with Prof Jonathan Koea presenting his keynote presentation, Taiporohenui: Cease the Tide of Wrongdoing, and Prof Lisa Jackson-Pulver presenting hers, Indigenous Equity – This is a Crisis. A panel discussion followed.
Early gastric cancer (adenocarcinoma and NETs)
Thank you to Bristol Myers Squibb for sponsoring this session.
Trials showcased: NEO-CREATE, SSGXXII
Abstract presented: Treatment intensification and outcomes post neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) or perioperative chemotherapy and surgery in patients with early-stage oesophago-gastric cancers (OGC) – clinical audit – Lavanya Lingam
The first focus of the day was gastric cancer. Spotlighting familial gastric cancer and the CDH1 gene were presentations by Prof Parry Guilford and A/Prof Karyn Paringatai, and Erin Gardner and Prof Jeremy Rossaak. A surgical spotlight by Dr Janice Pasieka was followed by A/Prof Katherine Garman’s translational keynote, Diversity and Inclusion in Translational Gastric Cancer Research.
Poster walk
This year, the ASM introduced walking poster viewing and discussion sessions, with one led on Tuesday by Prof David Goldstein.
Pancreatic cancer
Trials showcased: MASTERPLAN (including substudies MASTERPLAN Microbiome and RANDOMS), NEO-IMPACT, DYNAMIC–Pancreas
The second focus of the day was pancreatic cancer, with emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration and platforms. Multidisciplinary cases from the ANZ region were delivered by firstly Meredith Cummins and Dr Michelle Sullivan, then Dr Pranavan Palamuthusingam and Dr Saxon Connor. Prof Diane Simeone delivered the surgical oncology keynote, New Platforms to Improve Survival in Pancreatic Cancer, and introduced the PRECEDE Consortium to attending delegates, followed by an MDT on two curative-intent cases of pancreatic cancer.
Early biliary tract and liver cancer
Thank you to AstraZeneca for sponsoring this session.
Trials showcased: ACME ABC, SOCRATES, ICEMELT
with review by Prof Marc Besselink
Abstract presented: Targeting drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma with microRNA-based therapeutics – Tasnuva Kabir
The final focus of the day was early biliary tract and liver cancer, opening with Dr Kathy Kyung You’s talk on equity in Australian cancer clinical trials. This was followed by a radiation oncology keynote by Prof Laura Dawson titled Rising Role of Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Liver Cancer and an MDT debate comprising of a surgical case and a translational case.
The day ended with the Welcome Reception in the Exhibition Hall.
Wednesday 15 November, 2023
Keynote breakfast
The Wednesday program kicked off with the popular keynote breakfast session, featuring Prof Bishal Gyawali on the role of clinical trials for equity in GI cancer, and Prof Parry Guilford on building equity into the design of GI cancer research.
Advanced upper GI and HPB cancer
Thank you to Bayer for sponsoring this session.
Trials showcased: INTEGRATE IIa/IIb, ASCEND, PALEO, GENESCREEN 5-FU
Abstract presented: Histopathological correlation with Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging from MR-simulator and MR-Linac in oesophageal and gastric cancer – Su Chen Fong
Attendees then entered into a session focussing on advanced upper GI and hepatobiliary cancer. A/Prof Louise Barbier presented lessons in equity from HCC liver transplants, followed by Prof Rob Ramsay’s talk on MDM. Prof Niall Tebbutt presented his medical oncology keynote address, Managing Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer in the Era of Precision Medicine – Current Practice and Future Directions, followed by an MDT on three palliative-intent UGI/HPB cases.
Special interest breakout sessions
After a brief morning tea, delegates had the option of choosing between three special interest breakout sessions.
Management of advanced biliary cancers
Thank you to AstraZeneca for sponsoring this session.
The first breakout session was a spotlight on management of advanced biliary cancers, offering new insights into pathways to improving care.
Treatment of early-stage oesophago–gastric cancers
Thank you to Bristol Myers Squibb for sponsoring this session.
The second breakout session focussed on treatment of early stage oesophago–gastric cancers in the era of immunotherapy, including discussions on current guidelines, individiualising treatments, and a real-world case.
Partnering with patients to impact cancer care
Abstract presented: Using computer adaptive testing to assess quality of life in cancer clinical trials – Brendan Mulhern
The third breakout session focussed on partnership with patients to impact cancer care, with the intent to foster insightful dialogue and patient-centred perspectives on cancer care. Speakers highlighted a screening experience, teletrial programs and drug access.
Following a hearty lunch, Prof Stephen Ackland led another poster viewing and discussion walk.
New Concepts: Looking to our future
Thank you to AstraZeneca for sponsoring this session.
Trials showcased: OXTOX, STOPNET, NABNEC, CONTROL NETS TR
The day progressed into a session on new concepts, opening with Dr Kimi Hēnare’s presentation reflecting on the Meihana Model in clinical trials, followed by the always-popular New Concepts Symposium. International Invited Faculty members were invited to review the following concepts:
- i-BOXOFFICE: Immunotherapy – Biliary neoplasm, OXaliplatin, Fluorouracil, Folinic acid, nal‐Irinotecan ChemothErapy for late / advanced tumours A randomised, phase 1b study – Andrew Dean
- PIPAC: FOLFOX and nivolumab combined with Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy: Phase 2 trial in advanced gastric carcinoma – Tim Price
- Randomised Phase III Trial of personalized versus standard dosing of 5-fluorouracil in first line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer – Alex Flynn
A/Prof Katrin Sjoquist then presented on the Cancer Australia Genomics Cancer Clinical Trials Initiative (GCCTI).
Advanced colorectal cancer
Trials showcased: VADER, RESOLUTE, ALT-TRACC
with review by Prof Leonard Saltz
Abstract presented: GPX2 loss sensitises colorectal cancers to radiotherapy and chemotherapy – Natalia Vukelic
The last session of the day focussed on advanced colorectal cancer saw Dr Hēnare’s talk on Māori involvement in cancer genomics research, followed by Prof Vicki Whitehall delivering her translational research keynote talk, New Approaches to Enhancing Immunotherapy Efficacy for KRAS Mutant Colorectal Cancers.
Gala Dinner
On Wednesday evening, delegates were also invited to attend the ASM Gala Dinner. Highlights from the event included a friendly social debate and a speech from AGITG CEO Russell Conley, who recently returned to work following treatment for anal and rectal cancer. Several awards were also presented on the night.
Thursday 16 November, 2023
Keynote breakfast
The last day of the ASM began with breakfast over keynote talks by Prof Leonard Saltz on counting the lost value and the costs of inequity in clinical care and research, and by Prof Chris Jackson on living fairness, equity and access in cancer.
Early rectal cancer
Trials showcased: SPAR, RENO
Abstract presented: Investigation peripheral CD8+ T cell tolerance in colorectal cancer – Avraham Travers
The first session focussed on the evolving and multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. A/Prof Jason Gurney presented on GI cancer outcomes for Māori and the centralisation problem, followed by Prof Andrew Kneebone’s radiation oncology keynote titled The Evolving Role of Radiation for Rectal Cancer. The talks were rounded out by an MDT and then an MDT debate between a surgical perspective and a medical oncology perspective.
Early colon cancer
Trials showcased: RoLaCaRT-1, DYNAMIC-III, NEO-POLEM, ASCOLT
with review by A/Prof Jonathan Loree
After morning tea, delegates entered a session spotlighting early colon cancer. Melanie Poxton presented Taking the Trial to the Patient: Designing a Decentralised Trial or Translational Project, followed by a surgery keynote address by Prof Andrew Hill titled Principles of Equitable Trial Design from Studying Peri-Operative Care.
The final poster viewing and discussion walk was led by Prof Rob Ramsay.
Closing Plenary: Te Wero (The Challenge) – Solutions to drive equitable outcomes
In the Closing Plenary, attendees and the AGITG were encouraged to reflect on the conference proceedings. A series of talks and subsequent panel discussion by Prof George Laking, Claire Howlett, Dr Kimi Hēnare, Prof Cheri Ostroff and A/Prof Craig Underhill provided a rounded perspective of what equity-focussed cancer care could look like, as well as issued challenges for the AGITG to meet in coming years.
Prof Lorraine Chantrill then addressed the room as Chair of the AGITG, announcing our statement of intention of equity, diversity and inclusion, and accepted the challenges brought by each speaker.
The 25th Annual Scientific Meeting closed with Co-Convenor Dr Ben Lawrence handing over the reins to the Dr Sina Vatandoust, who will be Co-Convenor for the next Meeting, followed by a karakia by Dr Hēnare.
Thank you to all speakers, sponsors and delegates for contributing to a very successful first ASM in Aotearoa New Zealand. We hope to see you next year in Brisbane.