Meeting of sub-committee of Retinoblastoma Strategy Group

A subcommittee of the INCTR Retinoblastoma group met on 1-2nd April at the INCTR Offices in Brussels to finalize a treatment protocol for advanced retinoblastoma. The group was joined by an ophthalmologist, Dr. Barnoya, from Guatamala. There was general agreement at the termination of the meeting on the design of the protocol, which will be finalized this year.

Breast Cancer Strategy Group Meeting

A meeting of the INCTR Breast Cancer Strategy Group took place at the INCTR offices in Brussels from 21st-23rd April. Dr. Bhadrasain Vikram, head of the Therapeutic Radiation Department of the International Atomic Energy Agency attended to discuss collaboration between INCTR and IAEA in protocols for early stage and locally advanced breast cancer. It was agreed that centers represented by INCTR’s strategy group would participate in protocols for early stage breast cancer that will be used by centers in collaboration with IAEA, and the latter centers would collaborate in conducting the INCTR protocol for locally advanced breast cancer. Substantial agreement was reached with respect to the protocol design and it is hoped that this joint project will commence in 2006.

Visit to Cameroon

Dr. Ian Magrath INCTR and Sabine Perrier-Bonnet of AMCC visited Cameroon from 4th to 8th April to meet with the Cameroon National Cancer Control Committee as well as the Minister of Public Health in order to discuss a collaboration in which INCTR would work with the committee members in implementing selected cancer control activities in Cameroon. In the course of the visit, various hospitals and an NGO, Sochimio, were visited in order to gain an understanding of the major institutions in Yaoundé that will participate in the cancer control program. The conclusion was to move to develop a memorandum of understanding between INCTR and the Cameroonian Government relating to the collaboration planned.

During a visit at the Solidarity Chemotherapy Association (SOCHIMIO) in Yaoundé, Sabine Perrier - Bonnet of AMCC (front center) and INCTR President Ian Magrath (third from left) met with SOCHIMIO President Paul Ndom (left of SPB) and other members and volunteers of the Cameronian association.

AMCC representative Sabine Perrier-Bonnet (third from right) met with the health team and patients at Dr. Ndom's Oncological Department at the General Hospital in Yaoundé.

International Congress of Chemotherapy

Various INCTR staff members participated in the International Congress of Chemotherapy in Manila, Philippines from 2nd to 7th June. Dr. Magrath spoke in the plenary session on Global Cancer Control, and the INCTR clinical trials office conducted a workshop extending over 3 days on the Value of Clinical Trials which was well attended and greatly appreciated.

Announcement INCTR’s 7th Annual Meeting will take place in São Paulo in the Spring of 2007. Dr Sidnei Epelman, Director of INCTR Brasil, will be the local host. Additional information will be provided on INCTR’s website in the near future.