Dear Readers,
The 5th annual CCA Summit, held October 19-21, 2023, in Scottsdale, AZ, was a very successful meeting by all measures, and the summit has gradually become one of the key scientific meetings in biliary tract cancers (BTCs). This year’s summit was chaired by Flavio Rocha, MD, FACP, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, and the meeting presented key highlights in surgical, medical, and radiation oncology from the leaders in the field.
As always, the meeting included discussions of novel therapies, including targeted agents presented by Vaibhav Sahai, MBBS, MS, Midhun Malla, MD, MS, and Milind Javle, MD; antibody–drug conjugates by Renuka Iyer, MD; novel immunotherapies, including cell-based therapies, by Cassian Yee, MD; HER2/neu-directed therapies by Shubham Pant, MD, MBBS; and vaccines by Nilofer Azad, MD. These presentations set the theme for the meeting.
Multimodal therapies, which are critical for the successful management of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), include radioembolization and stereotactic radiotherapy, and both are now being combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. A key presentation on the surgical management of these tumors, provided by William Jarnagin, MD, FACS, was followed by an insightful session on the pros and cons of neoadjuvant therapy by Cristina Ferrone, MD, FACS. The surgeons participating in the summit highlighted that surgery is potentially curative; however, the addition of multimodal approaches augments the likelihood of long-term disease control.
The annual summit is increasingly focused on translational science, with important presentations on immunotherapy biomarkers by Greg Lesinski, PhD, MPH, and in vivo models by Rory Smoot, MD, and Larry Kwong, PhD.
In the concluding sessions, Bruce Lin, MD, and Kristen Spencer, DO, MPH, underscored the emerging role of biomarkers in CCA management. Novel radiologic methods for the management of locally advanced and surgically resectable CCA were discussed by Eugene Koay, MD, PhD, and Mike Choti, MD, MBA, FACS.
Finally, we all congratulate Paige Griffith, CRNP, for winning the CCA ONE Award as well as the other nominees, Kirsten Hernandez, BSN, RN, and Bobbie Khan, MS, RN, OCN, for their wonderful work.
Congratulations to all participants for a very successful summit. Mark your calendars for the next CCA Summit on October 17-19, 2024, in Lost Pines, TX!
Sincerely,
Milind M. Javle, MD
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