Newswise — ARLINGTON, Va., February 16, 2017 — The 2017 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium, co-sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), will feature advances in surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and novel molecular biologic therapies for thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer. The symposium will be held March 16-18, 2017, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Press registration for the meeting is available online. Researchers from across the country will present findings on new combination therapies, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, next-generation sequencing, advanced radiation and surgical techniques, supportive care and guidelines for screening and prevention. Selected top-rated studies will be featured in news briefings held in-person and available online for registered reporters.

Three keynote addresses will examine personalized surgical approaches, clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and immunotherapeutic strategies to manage lung cancer. Keynote speakers include Valerie W. Rusch, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York; Walter J. Curran, Jr., MD, of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta; and Julie R. Brahmer, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore.

Press Registration: Credentialed journalists from accredited news organizations are invited to attend and report on the 2017 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium. Reporters registered by March 7, 2017, will receive the embargoed press kit prior to the meeting. The press policies and registration form are available online.

News Briefings: Two news briefings will highlight top-rated abstracts selected from the general program. Briefings will be available live on-site in San Francisco and via webcast for registered press, with audio recordings and presenter slides posted online after each briefing. The final press program will be announced in late February.

Press Office: Registered reporters are invited to check in at the on-site press office in the Foothill F room of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, open during business hours on Thursday and Friday.

More Information: More information is available at the 2017 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium website, www.thoracicsymposium.org.

ABOUT ASTROThe American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the premier radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (www.redjournal.org), Practical Radiation Oncology (www.practicalradonc.org) and Advances in Radiation Oncology (www.advancesradonc.org); developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers (www.rtanswers.org); and created the Radiation Oncology Institute (www.roinstitute.org), a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.

ABOUT ASCOFounded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is committed to making a world of difference in cancer care. As the world’s leading organization of its kind, ASCO represents more than 40,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of the highest-quality patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. ASCO is supported by its affiliate organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Learn more at www.ASCO.org, explore patient education resources at www.Cancer.Net, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

ABOUT STSFounded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing approximately 7,200 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.

Meeting Link: Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium