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Minutes from the MASCC/ISOO General Assembly
Berlin, Germany - June 20, 2003
>> Dr. Richard Gralla, President, called to order the MASCC/ISOO General Assembly Friday, June 20, 2003 in Berlin Germany in the Intercontinental Hotel at 6:00 p.m. He welcomed those attending.
>> Dr. Gralla announced the election of Dr. Matti Aapro of Switzerland as President-Elect. He noted that Dr. Aapro would hold this position for one year and assume the presidency at the General Assembly in June 2004. The general membership will elect a new board in 2004 for a 2-year term and then the new board will elect new officers at their meeting prior to opening ceremonies. At that time, Dr. Aapro will assume the presidency. Dr. Gralla stated that a nominating committee will be appointed shortly and will consist of people either on the board or study group chairs.
>> Dr. Gralla thanked Dr. Petra Feyer for all her work as Chair of the 15th annual International Symposium. Dr. Feyer then gave a brief report about the meeting: Over 170 abstracts were submitted and 140 were accepted. Of those, 136 registered. There were 18 proffered papers chosen; 4 highlighted abstracts presented (sponsored by OrthoBiotech); 2 Young Investigator Awards (sponsored by Merck & Co.); and 3 top posters. 550 registered from 35 countries. A Nurses' Workshop was held (sponsored by GSK).
>> Dr. Feyer presented the 3 top poster winners with their awards. They were:
- Susan Frisbee Hume, et al "Outpatient therapy for neutropenic fever -Nursing complications" - from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
- Eoin Tiernan, et al "Depression in Advanced Cancer - Decision-Making amongst palliative care and psychiatric professionals" - from St. Vincent's University Hospital et al., Dublin, Ireland
- J Sussman, et al., "Coordination of supportive cancer care by non-oncologist physicians: A prospective study " from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
>> Cynthia Rittenberg presented a brief Executive Directors Report:
Treasury - As of 12/31/02, the net assets of MASCC were $$649,285. The budget for 2003 is estimated as total revenue and support of $651,500 and expenses of $396.881.
>> MASCC activities the last 12 months have been guided by the strategic planning done in February 2002. There are 634 active paid members (dues expiring 3/31/03 or later or scholarship). Each member receives 3 invoices. If they have not paid after the 3rd and by 3 months after they were due, they no longer receive the journal and are not eligible to vote or receive other benefits of membership.
>> The Corporate Advisory Board consists of 5 members for 2002-2003: Aventis & Merck (founding members, 2nd year), Endo, MGI Pharma, and McNeill.
>> A feasibility study was conducted earlier this year with the recommendation that MASCC develop a positioning statement and brand image to further increase its visibility to industry and to professionals. MASCC will pursue this will a public relations firm or specialist.
>> Debbie Kurth has been hired as the MASCC meeting planner. Her first full meeting will be in Geneva 2005.
>> The journal increased to 12 issues this year. There are now "Society Pages" with Rebecca Clark-Snow and Sussanne Borjesson as co-editors.
>> The Web Education and Resource Centers will be live soon. Beth Hollen has been hired as Managing Editor and will be responsible for design and technical issues. Drs. Jorn Herrstedt and Edward Rubenstein are Co Editors in Chief and study group chairs or their appointees are section editors. A mock of the site will be on display immediately after the General Assembly at 7 pm.
Dr. Matti Aapro will be chair of the 2005 meeting in Geneva. Dr. Declan Walsh is chair of the 2004 meeting in Miami Beach June 24-27; he showed slides with meeting plans to those present.
>> Dr. Gralla announced an initiative to assist supportive care societies in meetings in Turkey and in Belgrade in 2004. MASCC will work with the scientific chairs to assist in program planning.
>> Dr. Gralla thanked Beth Hollen and Tamie Weitzman for recording this year's meeting.
Study Group reports:
Patient and Profession Education: Dr. Judi Johnson reported the committee developed an Educational Review Form in response to outside requests for MASCC to review materials. Submitted materials will be reviewed by at least 2 members each from this group and the appropriate study group. The process has been used successfully.
Antiemetic: Dr. Fausto Roila stated there would be a meeting to update the MASCC Antiemetic Guidelines March 29-31, 2004 in Perugia Italy. Writing will occur immediately after so any changes can be published and go on the web. Future updates will be done virtually.
Psychosocial: Dr. Eoin Tiernan spoke on behalf of his co-chairs, Tamie Weitzman and Jackie Brames. Short-term goals include increasing the visibility of the study group and increasing psychosocial oriented abstracts. Medium to long-term goals include broader educational and collaboration with other groups in research and consensus.
Outcomes and Healthcare Economics: Dr. Linda Elting also announced preliminary plans to work with other groups, including a survey of international practice patterns before and after publication of guidelines. Also the group would like to use data from Dr. Elting's presentation at MASCC and apply it internationally.
Mucositis: Dr. Edward Rubenstein stated that 2 manuscripts are ready to go to the printers: one on clinical practice guidelines and one on basic science. New slide educational material was shown first at the Integrated Session at ASCO and will be on the Mucositis Education and Resource Center site.
Infection: Dr. Ron Feld stated that Dr. Ken Ralston suggested looking at new sets of organisms affecting the oncology patient population. He acknowledged the abstracts of Drs. Rappoport and Klastersky validating the MASCC scoring system. Dr. Rappoport identified a relationship between cytokines and outcome in the lower risk group and thought the study group could work with the growth factor group to improve high and low risk selection criteria.
Quality of Life: Dr. David Osoba would like to collaborate with other groups to provide QL outcomes guideline in QL studies.
Hemostasis: Dr. Mario Dicato reported on the group's study of cancer patients with and without DVTs. Last year 80 patients were enrolled; there are now 120. 25 samples are to be evaluated for PT, V Leiden and MTHFR for mutations. He asked for either blood samples or results of these tests.
Palliative Medicine: Dr. Declan Walsh announced that Dr. Stein Kaasa of Norway would be the co-chair. He said the group had priorities for research: Pathophysiology of dyspnea, classification of anorexia. For web content, current recommendations for management of cachexia-syndrome and pain management is suggested. The group wishes to collaborate internationally in defining standards of care of the dying patient and the ethics, practicality and methodology of studies of the terminal patient.
Oral Care: Dr. Deborah McGuire stated that results of an oral care survey were presented and that further refining will be done.
ISOO: Dr. McGuire spoke for the group stating how pleased ISOO was with the relationship with MASCC.
>> Dr. Gralla noted that the board and study group chairs will be meeting either face to face, by phone, or virtually every 3-4 months in the coming year.
>> Dr. Gralla then invited all to the web opening, thanked the founding sponsors Endo, Merck, and MGI Pharma and adjourned the meeting at 6:55 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
C Rittenberg for M Dicato
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