FINAL PROGRAM - Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Message from the President
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the SITC 26th Annual Meeting & Associated Programs in North Bethesda, Maryland! This
has been an exciting year for the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. New fundamental
mechanisms regarding the host immune response to tumors have been uncovered. In addition, new
clinical successes with adoptive T cell therapy, immune-potentiating monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines
have broken new ground. As the spotlight shines on cancer immunotherapy, I look forward to this week
and the opportunity to share new ideas, discuss recent advancements, and guide progress within our field.
Since its inception in 1986, the SITC Annual Meeting has been the premier destination for scientific
exchange, education and networking among basic researchers, clinicians, students, post-doctoral fellows,
and allied health professionals who are dedicated to increasing our knowledge of cancer immunology
and improving patient outcomes through immunotherapy. This year I am excited about our program that
highlights these areas, through the following formats:
• Timely Educational Sessions – Sessions such as Uncoupling Negative Regulation in the Tumor
Microenvironment and Prostate Cancer as a Learning Model will provide timely information on what’s new and relevant to cancer
immunology and immunotherapy. The prostate cancer session is the first of what we hope will be a regular feature focusing on
immunotherapy of a specific tumor type each year.
• Primer on Tumor Immunology – Our renowned Primer on Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy will provide a foundation
of information for individuals new to the field or for those requiring a refresher, whether from academic, industry, or government
organizations.
• Innovative Workshops – The one day Workshop on Immunotherapy Combinations will feature presentations by leaders in the field
along with interactive panel discussions on how to approach combination treatment strategies with immunotherapeutics, with the
ultimate hope of “raising the tail” on cancer patient survival curves.
• New Initiatives – Incorporated into multiple programs will be scientific perspectives from the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network
(CITN), a new initiative that unites top academic immunologists to conduct prioritized multicenter clinical trials to provide a cohesive
forward advancement of the field.
• Hot Topic Symposium – Leaders in the field will deliver dynamic presentations and engage in interactive Q&A on the topic “Targeting
the Next Generation of Inhibitory Pathways.”
As President of SITC, I encourage everyone to take full advantage of the outstanding educational and networking opportunities this year’s
Annual Meeting has to offer. I would like to thank in advance the faculty who share their knowledge, expertise, and time as well as the
program organizers for their hard work and diligence in putting together an exceptional group of sessions. This will be an exciting week
filled with innovative science, education, and collaboration in our field and I’m so pleased to be a part of it. Welcome to the SITC 26th
Annual Meeting & Associated Programs!
Sincerely,
Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD
SITC President
2
FINAL PROGRAM • SITC 26 TH ANNUAL MEETING
November 4-6, 2011 • North Bethesda, MD • www.sitcancer.org