SUMMARY FROM THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEAD & NECK CANCER

The American Head and Neck Society convened its quadrennial international conference on head and neck cancer at the San Francisco Marriott on July 19-23, 2008.  Nearly 2,000 surgeons, oncologists, scientists and allied health professionals attended the meeting. 

The scientific program had been carefully designed to incorporate a broad spectrum of topics to reflect the conference theme of “Multidisciplinary Care in Head and Neck Cancer.”  Prior to the congress, a full day of 39 one-hour instructional courses included topics on ultrasound, parathyroid, skull base, quality of life issues as well as many others.  Beginning on Sunday, July 20th through Wednesday, July 23rd, the conference presented 9 keynote lectures, 36 panels, 24 professor lunches, over 400 proffered papers and over 800 posters.  Featured talks were the John J. Conley Lecture, “A Global Picture of the Tobacco Epidemic” by Carolyn Dresler, M.D. of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and the Hayes Martin Lecture, “Head and Neck Cancer in the 21st Century: Molecular Targets for Treatment and Prevention" by Wuan Ki Hong, M.D. of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  Additional keynote lectures focused on imaging, systemic therapy, malignant melanomas, nasopharyngeal cancer, radiation and combined therapies, epigenetics and oral cancer, and the management of the N0 neck.  Further topics were addressed by panels, with each day placing emphasis on one of the specialized tracks in medical oncology, radiation oncology and head and neck radiology. 

Congratulations to AHNS 2008 President, Gregory T. Wolf, MD, Conference Chair, Ernest A. Weymuller, MD, Program Chair, Jeffrey Myers and to the entire Program Committee for their work on this outstanding conference.

The 8th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer will be held July 21-25, 2012 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.