Highlights from the Fall 2024 SWOG Group Meeting

The Fall 2024 SWOG Group Meeting was held from October 16 to 19, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

This meeting was organized by the SWOG Cancer Research Network, which had been hosting such gatherings since 1978 to facilitate collaboration among members in cancer clinical research.

The focus of the meeting was on sharing ideas, discussing ongoing studies, and exploring new tools and approaches in cancer research. Participants worked on trial concepts and determined future research directions for the group, making it a significant event for advancing cancer research initiatives.

Here are some highlights from the event:

Sumanta Pal:

“Great agenda at the SWOG clinical trials symposium featuring terrific patient advocates Laura Esfeller, experts Neeraj Agarwal, Seth Paul Lerner and high accruing investigators Pedro Barata, Abhishek Tripathi, Ulka Vaishampayan. Was also awesome to have Don Dizon join us as an honorary GU oncologist!”

Ronan Hsieh:

“All 3 of us Iván Lyra González, and Emerson Chen joined SWOG last year. A year later we presented proposals in the meeting. I want to thank my mentors and committee for their guidance and leadership. Let’s work hard to achieve a better outcome for patients!”

Nagla Abdel Karim:

“Arturo LoAIza-Bonilla, congratulations on a phenomenal presentation ⁦at SWOG Fall Meeting 2024 on the important role of AI in advancing cancer research. We need to implement technology while developing novel agents.”

Neeraj Agarwal:

“Packed room SWOG GU committee 2024 fall meeting, with opening remarks by Seth Paul Lerner. Congrats Umang Swami, Huntsman Cancer Institute for receiving the SWOG Dr. Vogelzang scholar award.

Consider supporting The Hope Foundation.”

Thomas Flaig:

“Wonderful and practical discussion at SWOG on the art of patient enrollment in clinical trials.

Neeraj Agarwal, Melissa Plets, plus a great patient advocate panel provided great insights and inspiration.”

Arturo LoAIza-Bonilla:

“Thanks again to SWOG for a fantastic meeting. We are building the future together to advance cancer research at scale, leveraging data and AI technologies and most importantly, collaboration!”

Syed Ahmad:

“Representing UC College of Medicine at SWOG with Davendra Sohal and Sameer Patel at the Indienne Restaurant in Chicago.”

Krishna Soujanya Gunturu:

“Young Kwang Chae presenting update on DART I and upcoming DART II SWOG ETRC committee Razelle Kurzrock, Sandip Patel, Nagla Abdel Karim. Excellent work by patients, DART team, and sites proving that rare cancers are not impossible to enroll into clinical trials.”

Regina Barragan-Carrillo:

“I’m so grateful for being part of my first SWOG and super excited that the National Institute of Cancerology received well deserved recognition for their great work on S1802! It’s a clear example of how global academic partnerships can flourish and hopefully paves the way for more achievements in the future.”

Laura Esfeller:

“Don’t forget: SWOG S2200 is still enrolling patients! Exciting study for a group of us in kidney cancer who don’t have a lot of clinical trial options: metastatic papillary RCC. The amazing Benjamin Maughan is leading PAPMET2..”

Ronan Hsieh:

“One of the best things when you come to SWOG meetings: meet your old friends! Linda Wu and I were fellows in Vail MCCR22 under mentorship of Manish Shah, Manju George, and Manuel Hidalgo. We look for faculty jobs together, discuss research together, and now in SWOG together!”

Erika Ruiz-Garcia:

“Being part of SWOG boosts access to cutting-edge cancer trials, fostering innovation and improving patient outcomes globally!”

Humberto Martinez-Cordero:

“Exciting news! Dr. Alex Herrera just published a groundbreaking paper in NEJM on Hodgkin Lymphoma, comparing Nivolumab AVD vs. Brentuximab AVD, the S 1826. I even got to enjoy a slice of his cake shaped like the paper! Not every day you eat cake ‘by the hands of a legend!”

Anne Chiang:

“Day 1 SWOG: learning about AI in path for early stage breast cancer, mRNA lamellar aggregates and I-Checkit in Immunotherapeutics committee; ctDNA in CRC in translational plenary; stellar accrual to Pragmatica Lung and LungMap V3.0; so fun!”

Allison Rosen:

“Great to hear an in depth presentation from the amazing Cathy Eng on the rise in early age onset colorectal cancer and the need to research more the question of why! She is one of my heroes!”

Salvador Jaime-Casas:

“Attending SWOG GU has been one of the hallmarks of this year. We were able to present past and future projects at the TM session. Hats off to Sumanta Pal who is an incredible mentor and gave us this opportunity to present and connect.”

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