Track Categories
The track category is the heading under which your abstract will be reviewed and later published in the conference printed matters if accepted. During the submission process, you will be asked to select one track category for your abstract.
Oncology is a branch of medicine which identifies, researches and treats cancer. Cancer is a group of disease, where cells grow beyond the boundaries and invade other organs. It is estimated that 1.7 million new cases of cancer would be diagnosed, and 6 lakh cancer deaths would occur in 2019. Based on the type of cancer, prostate cancer would be the most common type in males and breast cancer in females. Cancer is either caused due to genetic mutations or due to external agents like physical, chemical and biological carcinogens.
Cancer accounts for 1 in every 6 deaths worldwide. Cancer mortality reduces by early diagnosis, where, screening tests generally include lab tests, imaging procedures and biopsy which will help to diagnose cancer. Researchers are currently working on a better approach, where they use a variety of blood tests to detect/ diagnose cancer. Combination of targeted therapies have been introduced to combat many rare tumours and the use of immune-based therapies also continue to grow.
Cancer is the 2nd most leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 14 years in the US. It is estimated that in 2019, 11,060 children in this age group will be diagnosed with cancer and 1,190 will die from it., where, leukemia accounts for 28% of all childhood cancers, followed by brain and other nervous system tumors.
Cancer does not go away sometimes, and it may be a chronic illness, where it can be managed by treatment. Clinical trials are being done, where, advanced cancers whose tumours have particular genetic mutations are being treated with drugs designed to target those mutations. However, cancer can be generally prevented by making certain lifestyle changes.
Although cancer is quite rare in children, it is the most common cause of death among children. It is estimated that each year, about 15,780 children between 0- 19 years are diagnosed with cancer. Every year there are more than 3,00,000 children diagnosed with cancer around the world. Every 3 minutes, a family hears that the child is diagnosed with cancer. The most common types of cancer that a child develops include leukemias, brain and central nervous system tumors, and lymphomas.
Even though the survival rates of childhood cancer have improved greatly, the improvement is for few cancers. Although the causes of childhood cancer remain unknown, it is said that, 10% of cancers are due to hereditary mutations.
In September 2018, WHO announced the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, with the aim of reaching at least 60% survival rate for children with cancer by 2030.
Australia badges first for being the country with highest cancer rates, where cancer diagnosis rate be 468.0 new cases per 1,00,000 residents. There are more than 100 different types of cancer, of which, about 18 million cancer cases were estimated around the world in 2018, where, 9.5 million cases were in men and 8.5 million in women. Among the cancer types, lung and breast cancers were the most common worldwide, each contributing 12.3% of the total new cases diagnosed in 2018. Lung cancer was the most common, contributing 15.5% in men and breast cancer contributing 25.4% in women.
The field of oncology nursing has a tremendous growth now, where these nurses play a key role in getting patients and the caregivers beyond the illness. It is estimated that the employment for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16% by 2024. Oncology nurses are expected to be experts in assessing patient's physical & emotional status, past history, health practices, and both the patient's and the family's knowledge of the disease and its treatment.
Alternative medicines are helpful as adjunctive approaches that can control the symptoms and enhance the quality of life. Studies show that about 87% of cancer patients use one form of complementary/ alternative medicine or therapy during their cancer treatment. WHO is about to implement the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023, where, member states took steps between 2005 and 2018 to promote the safety, quality and effectiveness of T&CM. Currently, 88% (170) Member States have acknowledged their use of T&CM.
Rare cancers occur in fewer than 6 out of every 100,0000 diagnosed cancers, despite which it accounts for 20% of all cancers diagnosed. We have many advances in treating these, where, FDA has approved a targeted-therapy for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in 50 years, 177Lu-Dotatate, which delivers targeted radiation to tumour cells, etc. It is also estimated that the global oncology drugs market would reach $176,509 million by 2025.
Cancer research gets advanced as days pass by. In this modern era, we have research that decodes new tricks to prevent cancer, anti- cancer drugs that can put cancer to sleep permanently, advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapy advancements, other drug targets that lead to precision medicine, liquid biopsy innovation, immunotherapy advancements, etc.
Sipuleucel-T was the 1st therapeutic vaccine approved by the FDA for prostate cancer in 2010. Similarly, ipilimumab was the first agent approved for metastatic melanoma in 2011. Since then, immunotherapies have become standard of care for many cancer types and has also become the front-line treatments for various cancer types. From September 2017 to September 2018, there was 67% increase in the number of active agents in immune- oncology pipeline, where, cell therapies had 113% increase in the number of active agents.
It is estimated that, artificial intelligence in the imaging market would rise from $21.48 billion in 2018 to $264.85 billion by 2026. Virtual reality, 3D imaging and augmented reality technologies like EchoPixel True 3D, would aid physicians to take slices of MRI pictures to create a 3D image, so that, they could have a better picture. We also have developments in nuclear imaging, like, EXPLORER human scanner (a total-body PET/CT scanner), which can produce quality images in less time, coupled with lower dose of radiotracer. Wearable medical devices are also revolutionizing the field of digital imaging to improve cancer detection.
More than half of the cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy at same time during their course of treatment. The field of radiation oncology is also constantly growing which benefits with higher cure rates, fewer side effects, better quality and shorter treatment time. New technologies provide 3- D images of tumours that can precisely target radiation beams to the cancer, limiting damage. Many clinical trials are in the process of investigating drugs that can sensitise cancer cells to the effects of radiation, making them easier to destroy. It is estimated that by 2023, the radiation therapy equipment market will reach a CAGR of 7%. Recent research also focusses on the use of AI to deliver radiation therapy.
The global cancer biomarkers market was $12.14 billion in 2018 and it is expected to reach $32.25 billion with a CAGR of 12.75% by 2026. There are numerous biomarkers and among those SCC, CEA, NSE Cyfra 21-1, PSA, TPA, CA15-3, BRCA ½, EGF R, etc. are some of the key biomarkers which are used widely. New technologies like liquid biopsy, biosensors, metabolomic approaches, etc are being developed to detect cancer biomarkers.
Current research focuses on the effectiveness of in-situ vaccines in multiple types of cancer. Recent trial has also confirmed the effectiveness of cancer vaccine VBI-1901 in the treatment of glioblastoma.
In 2019, FDA has approved more than 10 drugs for the treatment of cancers, few of which are:
- Balversa (erdafitinib)- Urothelial carcinoma
- Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq)- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- Xpovio (selinexor)- Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
- Venclexta (venetoclax) plus Gazyva (obinutuzumab)- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Piqray (alpelisib)- HR+, HER2-negative, PIK3CA-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer
Many new cancer drugs like Nivolumab, Bortezomib, Erlotinib, Abiraterone, Arsenic, Pegaspargase, etc and cancer diagnostic tests, where, in 2019, 12 tests which are used to detect a wide range of solid tumors, including colorectal, liver, cervical, prostate, breast, and germ cell cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphomas have been added to the WHO's lists of essential medicines and essential diagnostic tests.
As per the analysis, regenerative medicine market is expected to reach $79.23 billion by 2026. Approximately 53% of all current clinical trials on regenerative medicine are in oncology segment. There are many new breakthroughs that are currently being tested in clinal trials. Non-invasive cancer treatments like the use of radio waves or gold nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes to heat up tiny metals that are implanted into cancerous tissue, tumor treating fields, high-intensity focused ultrasound, etc are in the early developmental stage.
Clinical trials have improved the patients experience providing better outcomes, as many new cancer therapies are being identified offering new options. Case series is a kind of medical research which tracks subjects with a known exposure, treatment, or examines their medical records for exposure and outcomes. Case report contains a detailed report of the signs & symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an patient.
Nanotechnology is being tested to be used in adjuvants, chemotherapy as well as stand-alone therapies. Research also shows that, a nanotech gene therapy has successfully killed ovarian cancer in mice and is being investigated for human trials, which if successful, could save 15000 women lives a year. Many research projects using nanoparticles stimulated by microwaves or infrared are being investigated, to trigger the death of cancer cells without damaging the normal cells around them.
Germline mutations causes inherited cancer which accounts for about 5% to 20% of all cancers. According to studies, it is estimated that 1 in 10 cases of cancer is associated with heredity. About 10% of breast cancer is hereditary, 2-3% of colorectal cancer is hereditary. Tumour suppressor genes, Oncogenes and DNA repair genes contribute to the development of cancer.
It is estimated that 12- 20% cancers are caused by tumour viruses. The following 7 viruses are generally linked to human oncogenesis:
- Epstein-Barr Virus- Burkitt’s lymphoma, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, and some forms of Hodgkin’s disease
- Merkel Cell Polyomavirus- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Human Papillomaviruses- Cervical Cancer, Oral Cancer, Oropharynx Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Penile Cancer, Anal Cancer
- Human Adult T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1- Adult T cell Leukemia/ Lymphoma
- Kaposi’s Sarcoma- Associated Herpesvirus- Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Multicentric Castleman’s Disease, Primary Effusion Lymphoma
- Hepatitis B Virus- Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Hepatitis C Virus- Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Lymphoma, Cryoglobulinemia, Head & Neck Cancer
Current research in the field of pharmacology is focussed on the action of anti-neoplastic agents, molecular carcinogenesis, biochemical pharmacology, signalling mechanisms, etc. The major areas of research in toxicology involves chemical-mediated toxicity and carcinogenicity.