49th ASH^® Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 8-11, 2007

Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia

Abstracts | Important Dates | Schedule At-a-Glance | Special Lectures | Special Interest Sessions | Education Program | Education Spotlight Sessions | Scientific Program | Meet-the-Expert Sessions | Oral and Poster Sessions | Trainee Activities and Services | ASH Business Meeting | Social Events | Exposition | Registration | Hotel Accommodations | CME Credits | Attendee Services | Travel | Atlanta | ASH Publications and Meeting Materials | Meeting Rules and Regulations | Speaker Preparation and Conflict of Interest | Friday Satellite Symposia

Special Lectures

Saturday

Ham-Wasserman Lecture

Saturday, December 8, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For many decades, myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) were largely neglected orphan diseases. The conceptual work of William Dameshek in 1951 provided the basis for understanding MPDs as a continuum of related syndromes, possibly with a common pathogenetic cause. Recognition of the clonal origin of peripheral blood cells in MPDs by John W. Adamson and Philip J. Fialkow in 1976, and the ability to grow erythroid colonies in vitro in the absence of added growth factors, described by Jaroslav F. Prchal and Arthur A. Axelrad in 1974, initiated the search for genetic alterations that might be responsible for myeloproliferation. Mutations in the genes for the erythropoietin receptor thrombopoietin and the von Hippel Lindau protein were found to cause familial syndromes resembling MPDs, but despite their phenotypic similarities, none of these mutations were later found in patients with the sporadic form of the disease. The observation that chromosomal translocations in chronic myeloid leukemia and, in rare cases, of MPDs invariably involved protein tyrosine kinases led to the hypothesis that activation of a kinase is the common pathogenetic theme in MPDs. The recent discovery of activating mutations in the Janus kinase 2 in the majority of MPD patients has fully transformed and energized the MPD field. Sensitive assays for detecting JAK2 mutations have become an essential part of the diagnostic workup, and JAK2 now constitutes a prime target for developing specific inhibitors that will hopefully become first-line therapy for patients with MPDs. Despite this progress, many questions remain unsolved, including how a single JAK2 mutation can cause three different MPD phenotypes, what other genes are involved in these diseases, and what determines the progression of MPDs to acute leukemia.

Sunday

ASH/ASCO Joint Symposium

Sunday, December 9, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

The connection between infectious agents, inflammation, and certain cancers is increasingly clear. Indeed, vaccines against human papilloma virus and hepatitis B virus have been introduced as interventions to reduce cervical and hepatocellular cancers, respectively. In this session, potential roles for infectious agents and inflammation in the etiology of other common epithelial cancers, including prostate, gastric, and head and neck cancer, will be explored, and clinical implications will be discussed.

ASH/EHA Policy Forum

Sunday, December 9, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

No one knows when the next public health crisis will occur but we do know that natural or manmade disasters will strike again. Hematologists have been integral to addressing past medical emergencies and can play a pivotal role in future challenges. This session on emergency preparedness is designed to be provocative – posing questions hematologists should consider before the next SARS, bird flu, or other disaster strikes. Dr. Low will offer his unique perspective about the challenges faced in Toronto with the SARS epidemic. Dr. Osterhaus, known for his research on the impact of viruses that cross the species barrier, will share his expertise in working with epidemics.

This forum is a joint venture between ASH and the European Hematology Association; for the past several years, ASH and EHA have identified issues that are important to hematologists from countries around the world. Join us to become informed and participate in the question and answer period that will follow the speaker presentations.

Plenary Scientific Session

Sunday, December 9, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

During this prestigious session that is traditionally a highlight of the annual meeting, attendees will hear the presentations of the most groundbreaking abstracts selected by the Program Committee from among the thousands submitted from around the world. The speakers will be announced on the ASH Web site when the abstracts are posted online in early November.

Announcement of Awards

Mentor Awards
In recognition of the value the Society places on mentorship, the ASH Mentor Award was created to reward outstanding role models in the hematology community. Individuals from any branch of hematology who have had a sustained career commitment to mentoring, a significant positive impact on their mentees’ careers, and who, through their mentees, have advanced research and patient care in the field of hematology are eligible for the award.

Outstanding Service Award
The Society presents the Outstanding Service Award each year to an individual in the public or private sector who has displayed effective “behind-the-scenes” leadership in areas relevant to the mission of the Society.

Public Service Award
ASH presents the Public Service Award each year to an elected public official who has demonstrated effective leadership on issues of importance to hematology.

Monday

E. Donnall Thomas Lecture

Monday, December 10, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Cord and placental blood is known to contain lifesaving sources of transplantable hematopoietic stem (HSC) and progenitor (HPC) cells. These cells have been used to successfully treat a large number of malignant and non-malignant disorders, mainly through sibling and unrelated allogeneic cell transplantation. However, until the late 1980s, cord blood was essentially considered as a material for discard, except for blood analysis of the newborn. Basic science studies and the first proof-of-principle cord blood bank in Dr. Broxmeyer’s laboratory led to the first and subsequent cord blood transplants. Since those initial studies, much has been learned about the cell, and intracellular and molecular biology of cord blood HSC/HPC from many laboratories, including that of Dr. Broxmeyer. This information, as well as continued efforts in these areas, will no doubt lead to enhancing the efficacy of cord blood HSC/HPC transplantation.

Tuesday

Presidential Symposium

Tuesday, December 11, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Announcement of Honorific Awards

William Dameshek Prize
The William Dameshek Prize was named for the late Dr. William Dameshek, a past president of the Society and the original editor of Blood, to recognize a recent outstanding contribution to the field of hematology.

Recipient: William Vainchenker, MD, PhD, Institute Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

Henry M. Stratton Medal
The Stratton Medal was named for the late Henry M. Stratton, who made significant contributions to the Society and co-founded the publishing house of Grune and Stratton, to honor an individual whose contributions to hematology are well recognized and have taken place over a period of several years.

Recipient: Carlo M. Croce, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH

Symposium

Originally discovered in leukemias, cancer stem cells have been recently recognized in a variety of other malignancies as small populations of tumor cells with stem cell characteristics and the capacity for self-renewal. The finding that tumors arise from the transformation of rare tissue stem cells or progenitor cells, which then generate the bulk of the cancer through abortive differentiation and proliferation, may be the basis for the common finding of initial responsiveness followed by drug-resistant recurrences with medical treatment. The eradication of cancer stem cells, which are slow-dividing and inherently drug-resistant, may be necessary for long-term success in cancer therapy.

Three pioneering investigators in the field of cancer stem cells will constitute the panel at this year’s Presidential Symposium. Dr. John Dick will provide an overview of the properties of cancer stem cells and how they arise, with a focus on leukemia stem cells, which he and his colleagues first identified. Dr. Hans Clevers will discuss recent work on characterizing colon cancer stem cells as a prototype of solid tumor cancer stem cells. Finally, Dr. Craig Jordan will consider the potential for therapeutic targeting of cancer stem cells.

Business Meeting

Best of ASH (New this year!)

Tuesday, December 12, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

The ASH annual meeting is the premier educational and scientific meeting for hematologists from around the world. However, due to its size, it can sometimes be difficult for meeting-goers to attend every session that interests them. With this limitation in mind, this “Best of ASH” session was developed to provide a broad overview of the key scientific developments and educational highlights presented throughout the meeting.