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As an independent communications agency and publishers, underpinned with academic excellence Cancer Intelligence was responsible for examining all of the scientific abstracts for the conference and identifying those most appropriate for news releases and presentation to the European press.
Cancer Intelligence handled all of the written material for the press packs, media briefed all the news conference speakers and prepared the bespoke guidelines for presentations. Working alongside Tonic Communications, EBCC 5 received top class and wide ranging coverage across Europe.
As the weather fluctuated wildly on the streets of Nice, French students protested for equal employment rights. Meanwhile, within the walls of the Acropolis Convention Centre, the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference also highlighted the need for equity and provided an exciting forum for over 5,000 oncologists, radiotherapists, surgeons, nurses and patient advocacy groups to meet, present and discuss their latest news and key issues.
Delegates witnessed and deplored the inequality of diagnosis and treatment across Europe. Many felt that continuing to lower the breast cancer mortality rate would only be feasible if screening programs, prevention strategies and best treatment were universally offered across Europe. The patient advocacy groups continue their fight for equity of access in all aspects of care, and for accreditation of breast cancer units throughout Europe.
Investigating the bio-mechanics of breast cancer and individualising the disease in certain age groups was a key issue. For instance EBCC-5 reported a large increase in data and effective new strategies for finding new genes, and equally encouraging, the independent validation of the original raft of prognostic gene signatures.
MRI screening for mutation carriers, BRCA1/ 2 is at least ten per cent more effective than mammography and clinical breast examination only. It can also provide valuable additional information which minimises false alarms. Traditional screening programs continue to save around 18,000 lives each year.
The conference added weight to life style advice including cutting down on alcohol intake, not smoking, not becoming obese and having children before 30. Ten minutes exercise per day was said to decrease the risk of getting breast cancer and two hours vigorous exercise a day will help even more to prevent breast cancer for the rest of a woman's life.
The impact of surgical techniques was also a key issue. Quicker, more conservative and more direct surgery is cost effective and has fewer side effects. Breast Conserving Surgery is less invasive, with fewer complications, improving patient quality of life.
Intra-operative radiotherapy was presented to a full auditorium by Professor Veronesi from Milan who brought to light the social context of mastectomy and Breast Conserving Surgery, as well as the opportunities for altering radiotherapy schedules. Women in Italy often "Pay with a mutilation" by having a mastectomy instead of six weeks post-operative radiotherapy. If intra-operative radiotherapy, pioneered by Professor Veronesi's group, proves equivalent to post operative regimes, the social impact will be immense.
A meta-analysis demonstrated that radiotherapy is an important factor in achieving loco-regional control but may also significantly influence long-term survival in certain patient groups. So radiotherapy is important!
Moving on to systemic treatment, an example of a molecule causing much interest is lapatinab, designed to hit a subset of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors, like traztuzamab, cetuximab and gefitinib. The development of lapatinib to block receptors via their tyrosine kinase portions is giving rise to optimism. The Breast International Group (BIG), are planning trials of trastuzamab and lapatinib comparing them as single agents and in combination in neo-adjuvant and adjuvant settings.
With exciting trials and data shared amongst delegates, the conference drew to a close with the first Nice manifesto presented by Dr. Alberto Costa. "The Nice manifesto reflects the fact that breast cancer doctors seem to realise how much an increased collaboration with nurses and patient advocates can empower their work." The manifesto was endorsed by the three organisations which hosted the meeting, EORTC, EUSOMA and Europa Donna.
