The 20th Aspen Cancer Conference: Mechanisms of Toxicity, Carcinogenesis, Cancer Prevention, and Cancer Therapy 2005

Abstract

The 20th Aspen Cancer Conference on Mechanisms of Toxicity, Carcinogenesis, Cancer Prevention, and Cancer Therapy was held from July 24 to 28, 2005 in Aspen, Colorado. Recognizing the importance of a 20-year history of excellence, the 2005 Aspen Cancer Conference included an extended scientific program as well as several special presentations and events. The scientific program, developed by a Scientific Advisory Committee co-chaired by Benjamin F. Trump (AMC Cancer Center) and Curtis C. Harris (National Cancer Institute, NIH), featured an extra day of seminars by former Aspen Cancer Conference Keynote Speakers. The returning keynote speakers included J. Michael Bishop, Douglas Hanahan, Thea Tlsty, Tony Hunter, and Scott Lowe. In a special public Conference Session held at the Aspen Institute, former NIH director Harold Varmus lectured on Oncogenes and the Future of Cancer Therapy, Ms. Karen Allred presented a piano recital, and former Ambassador to the Netherlands K. Terry Dornbush described A Survivor’s Story, cancer from the perspective of a two-time prostate cancer survivor. Other special programming in acknowledgement of the 20th year of the Aspen Cancer Conference included a whole day devoted to drug discovery with presentations from Cecil Pickett (Schering-Plough Research Institute), James Doroshow (National Cancer Institute), and Carl Barrett (Novartis) a review of the history of the Aspen Cancer Conference in the context of the history of Aspen, Colorado presented by Donald King (National Library of Medicine), and an awards ceremony honoring sustained contribution to the Aspen Cancer Conference by Theodore Puck, Benjamin J. Trump, and Donald King. The goals of the Aspen Cancer Conference are: to understand the mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenesis, to understand and minimize cancer risk, to assess the public-health impact of cancer risk, and to develop the scientific basis for improving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of toxic and neoplastic disease. The Aspen Cancer Conference fosters intense interaction, discussion, and collaboration among key stakeholders in cancer research. One of the strengths of the Conference is the sustained participation in and support of the Conference by leaders in cancer research from government, academic, and industry sectors. Because of its unusual qualities, the Aspen Cancer Conference provides an environment that is uniquely conducive to generating novel insights related to current issues in cancer prevention, intervention, and therapy. The 20th Aspen Cancer Conference included seven Conference Sessions, a Poster Session by Aspen Cancer Conference Fellows and numerous informal discussions. Session topics included Progress in Drug Development, Metastasis, Inflammation and Cancer, Stress and Cancer, Risk Assessment, Technology Innovations and Apoptosis. At the close of the 2005 Conference, the Scientific Advisory Committee met to select topics for the 21st Aspen Cancer Conference which will held from July 16 to 18, 2006. This meeting summary concisely describes the content of each of the Conference Sessions and the scientific portions of the Special Sessions.