7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

Overview of Adolescent-Young Adult (AYA) Oncology: Strategies to Improve Outcomes, Peter F. Coccia, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Despite cancer survival rates increasing dramatically for children and older adults in the last 20 years, there has been minimal improvement in the survival rates in the AYA population. This session will explore some of the aspects of care of the adolescent and young adult that may contribute to this lack of progress, including lack of participation in clinical trials, biological differences of the disease, limited resources of the age group, and fragmented treatment by pediatric and adult oncologists.

9:15 a.m.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): Disease Overview and Update on Treatment Options, Lori J. Maness-Harris, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

MDS are a group of myeloid hematopoietic stem cell disorders that affect over 300,000 people worldwide with over 10,000 newly diagnosed cases in the United States annually. MDS are most common in older adults. This presentation will review the natural history of MDS and aspects of their diagnosis and staging. Current treatment options will be reviewed and upcoming novel therapies discussed.

10:15 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Post-Stem Cell Transplant, Susanne Liewer, PharmD, BCOP, The Nebraska Medical Center

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors use has become standard in the treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is well defined in patients receiving chemotherapy, their use after stem cell transplant is still being investigated. The focus of this presentation will be to describe the efficacy and safety data of tyrosine kinase inhibitors use post-stem cell transplant in this patient population.  

11:00 a.m.

No Single Right Answer: A Panel Presentation on Prostate Cancer and Treatment Options, Charles A. Enke, MD; Chad A. LaGrange, MD and Jue Wang, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

When diagnosed with prostate cancer, men often have more than one treatment option to consider, depending on the stage of their disease. Several factors need to be taken into account when choosing between these treatment options, including both the potential benefits and risks. When considering therapy, the stage of the cancer, the Gleason score and PSA level all need to be considered. However, experts in prostate cancer treatment recommend that men consider their treatment options in the context of their age and general health, goals for treatment, and views regarding side effects. This panel will demonstrate the point that treating prostate cancer is often a team effort and several different specialists may be involved. Panel members will review the diagnosis, staging and scoring determination for prostate cancer and discuss current treatment options available to patients.

12:00 p.m.

Lunch-Ballroom A

1:00 p.m.

Breast Cancer and Lymphoma: Customized Therapy, Elizabeth Reed, MD and Philip J. Bierman, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

The NCCN guidelines are the most comprehensive and most frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. Based on scientific data coordinated with expert judgment, the guidelines direct the care of many patients. However, no one treatment is right for everyone, and studies have demonstrated that different patients with the same diagnosis may need different treatments. As science advances and previously undetected or unappreciated patient- and/or disease-specific differences are discovered, treatment regimens will need to be increasingly customized. Utilizing breast cancer and lymphoma case studies, this presentation will identify the advancements that are leading to more treatment customization.

2:00 p.m.

Improving Outcomes: Using Radioactive Seed Localization of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions, Edibaldo Silva, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Improved imaging techniques have resulted in a significant increase in the detection of nonpalpable breast lesions. Because of this development, most lumpectomies and operative breast biopsies require radiographic localization. The current standard technique for preoperative localization of these lesions is wire localization; however, there are several disadvantages with this technique. Radioactive Seed Localization (RSL) is an option. This session will review the process for RSL, highlight its advantages over wire localization, and discuss safety and patient care concerns.

2:30 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m.

Innovations in Management of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies: Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC), Jason M. Foster, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Patient Invited

The peritoneal cavity is often the "overlooked" organ of the body yet is the metastatic site for virtually all cancers. By the time disease is detected in the peritoneum, treatment options have historically been mainly palliative. This session will discuss when CRS followed by IPHC can be a treatment option. 

3:45 p.m.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in Liver and Pancreatic Tumors, Chi Lin, MD, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

In conventional fractionated radiation therapy, tumor cells are destroyed over time by irradiating them repeatedly with small amounts of radiation at regular intervals. The fractionation process was needed because of the imprecise targeting of the tumor. To make sure that no part of a tumor was left untreated, the radiation treatment field would include a margin of healthy tissue in the target field. With SBRT higher doses can be safely delivered in fewer sessions with more accurate targeting. This session will review the process for SBRT when treating patients with liver and pancreatic tumors, highlighting the overall improvement in treatment outcomes with SBRT compared to conventional fractionated therapy.

4:15 p.m.

Current Perspectives in Thoracic Surgery, Rudy P. Lackner, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 170,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Surgery as a treatment option for lung cancer has always had limitations. Traditional thoracic surgery often involved a large incision, splitting muscle and spreading ribs. Pain and postoperative complications are common, and many patients with co-morbid lung conditions such as emphysema were considered poor surgical risks. New minimally invasive surgical options are now available to more patients. This session will review the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer and review surgical treatment options.

5:00-7:00 p.m.

GETTING ACQUAINTED RECEPTION

Join us for complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres. This unique evening will provide attendees the opportunity to get further acquainted with the services and staff within this comprehensive medical center. Click here for more information.

7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

Hot Topics in Transplantation: Quality and Health Care Reform, Alan N. Langnas, DO, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Health care reform is one of the hottest topics across the country. Also, what hospitals and transplant centers are doing to measure and improve quality remains at the forefront of many health care discussions. Dr. Langnas will share his insight into and experience with both of these topics, along with a summary of the possible changes that may affect transplantation and how a center can prepare.

9:00 a.m.

Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Cell Autotransplantation, Jean F. Botha, MD, BCh, FCS, University of Nebraska Medical Center

For patients with acute pancreatitis that cannot be controlled with medical management, a pancreatic resection may be the only way to provide pain relief. This was a procedure that many physicians were once hesitant to do because of the risk of brittle diabetes. However, as Dr. Botha will explain, by performing an autologous islet cell transplant, brittle diabetes can be prevented with a reduced need for insulin support and pain management. He will explain patient selection criteria, how the resectioning procedure is performed and the benefits of auto-islet cell transplantation.

10:00 a.m.

Break: Transplant Meet and Greet

Take this opportunity to visit with representatives from transplant services at The Nebraska Medical Center during this extended break.

10:30 a.m.

Long-Term Complications in Liver Transplantation, Timothy McCashland, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

A liver transplant can be a life-saving surgical procedure. But what follows is a lifelong need for specialized medical management to prevent complications. Dr. McCashland will discuss the long-term medical risks post liver transplant and identify the focused surveillance and follow-up care needed by these patients.

11:30 a.m.

Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation: Working Together to Treat Intestinal Failure, Wendy Grant, MD and David Mercer, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), University of Nebraska Medical Center

The diagnosis of intestinal failure is life changing for a patient and their family. If not properly managed and treated, it can also be life threatening for both adults and children. Dr. David Mercer and Dr. Wendy Grant will discuss the comprehensive approach used to treat intestinal failure at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and how intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation can work together to achieve optimal outcomes.

12:30 p.m.

Lunch-Ballroom A

1:30 p.m.

Swaps, Switches and Paired-Donation: Challenges and Trends in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation, Michael C. Morris, MD, FACS, University of Nebraska Medical Center

The first living donor kidney transplant took place in 1954 between a set of identical twins. Today, over half of the kidney transplants performed in the United States are from living donors, and patients now receive kidneys not only from family but also friends or even anonymous donors. However, there are still many patients with a willing living donor that is not the right match to donate to them. To help these patients, transplant centers are now performing swaps, living donor chains and paired donation. The Nebraska Medical Center's Kidney Program is one of these centers, finding the most innovative options for living donation. Dr. Morris will describe the different living donor options, along with the trends across the country and the challenges transplant centers face.

2:30 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m.

Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) and Destination Therapy: Benefits, Challenges and Their Impact on the Aging Population, Ioana Dumitru, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Each year, approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with heart failure. Previously, heart transplantation was the only hope for patients with end-stage heart failure, and for those who were ineligible for transplant due to age or other additional health problems, there was no option. Today, however, transplant centers and heart failure programs are developing MCS or destination therapy programs to help heart-failure patients who are ineligible for transplant or a bridge to transplantation. Dr. Ioana Dumitru will highlight the benefit of having destination therapy as part of a heart-failure and transplant program, along with its impact on the aging population.

3:45 p.m.

Ethical and Legal Considerations in Transplant Candidate Evaluation, Rebecca Anderson, JD, MS, CGC, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Organ transplantation involves ethical dimensions not commonly encountered in other realms of medicine. The provider must consider not only whether a patient would benefit physically from a transplant, but also whether a limited resource should be committed to the patient in question. What criteria should be used for such a determination? What considerations are impermissible? Rebecca Andersen, JD, MS, of the Center for Health, Ethics and Society, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health, will review her role in the patient evaluation process and will discuss some "red flags" in the review of potential recipients and potential living donors to protect the medical interests and decisional autonomy of potential living donors.

4:30 p.m.

Adjourn