Experts Gather for Second Annual Lung Cancer Symposium

By Nate Hinkel

UAMS’ Thaddeus Bartter, M.D., (right) with symposium presenter Wissam Abouzgheib, M.D., of Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.

Oct. 20, 2011 – Lung cancer experts from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), New York City and Dallas gathered Oct. 7 to discuss the latest innovations and controversies in the treatment of lung cancer.

The Second Annual Lung Cancer Symposium brought more than 130 doctors, nurses, advocates, scientists and members of the public together to hear from a multidisciplinary field of professionals who are leaders in cancer treatment and research.

The event was offered by the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in an effort to educate and inform members of the lung cancer community of the ongoing advances and contentions in the field. Thaddeus Bartter, M.D., professor of medicine in UAMS Departments of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine directed the event.

“We are pleased to be able to provide an opportunity for members of the lung cancer community to gather first hand, well-rounded information about the breakthroughs as well as controversies surrounding the way the disease is treated and diagnosed,” said Bartter.

Presenters from UAMS included:

  • Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, on the “Principles of Chemotherapy”
  • Matthew Steliga, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, on the “Staging of Lung Cancer – The New System”

Other presenters shared their expertise on a variety of topics relating to lung cancer:

  • Adi Gadzar, M.B.B.S., from the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas, on “The Revised Pathology of Lung Cancer and How it Impacts Clinical Management”
  • Balzas Halmos, M.D., from Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, on “Systemic Therapy for Lung Cancer Beyond Classic Cytotoxics”
  • Thomas Sneed, M.D., from Arkansas Oncology Associates of Little Rock, on “Clinical Case Principle: Neoadjuvant Therapy”

Debated topics included:

    • “Screening for Lung Cancer-We Should Do it Now – National Lung Cancer Trial Results and Rationale” and “Wrong Tool, Wrong Time – It’s What They Don’t Say That Hurts Us”

Pro: Mazin Khalil, M.D., from the Clopton Clinic in Jonesboro
Con: Thaddeus Bartter, M.D., UAMS Departments of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

  • “Chemotherapy is Better than Best Supportive Care” and “Palliative Management Improves Quality and Length of Life”

Chemo perspective: Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D.

Palliation perspective: Sarah Beth Harrington, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Hematology and Oncology