Coming to VHIO: Barcelona-based debate and exchange of latest insights and advances in GIST

It is thanks to important research centered on the genetic causes and molecular characteristics of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that much progress has been made in more effectively treating these cancer types. While these advancements must rightly be celebrated, much work remains in order to potentiate the current array of targeted therapies against this disease, and better tailor these therapies and treatment strategies to the specificities of individual patients.

Aimed principally at clinical investigators and other oncology professionals focused on the development of anti-cancer treatments and improved care of these patients, VHIO’s César Serrano, Medical Oncologist and Investigator of our Genitourinary, CNS Tumors, Sarcoma & Cancer of Unknown Primary Site Group directed by Joan Carles, has organized this second Barcelona-based meeting to update on all the very latest developments within the field, as well as discuss and debate novel therapies including those that target the KIT or PDGFRA proteins such as avapritinib (BLU-285), whose development to-date has been driven by groups in Catalonia, in collaboration with other clinical investigators across borders.

The half-day program, supported by Blueprint Medicines, has been especially devised to offer speakers and participants up-to-the-minute updates on genotyping in GIST, state-of-the-art approaches in more effectively tackling metastatic/advanced cancers, current projects and clinical studies led by the Spanish Research Group against Sarcoma (GEIS) which is presided by Claudia Valverde who is also a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Investigator of Joan Carles’ Group and co-host of the meeting, as well as others that are currently underway across Spain.

Importantly, this second locally-based GIST gathering, coming to VHIO on Thursday 16 May 2019, 15:55 – 18:00h, will close with a special discussion session on upcoming treatment approaches and novel therapeutics.

Commenting for VHIO Communications César Serrano said, “This meeting represents a most timely must-have conversation within our field and across our respective regional and national networks, particularly those discussions that will focus on agents that are expected to receive approval over the next two years. These include avapritinib and ripretinib. Both these agents have been clinically developed thanks to the collaboration of several Catalonia-based university hospitals and research institutions, including ours, in collaboration with colleagues around the world.”

Half-day program in PDF:

Programa II Workshop in GIST 2019 – Barcelona