BUFFALO, NY - Nationally and internationally recognized experts will present and discuss the impact of cancer treatment on long-term survivors diagnosed during childhood or adolescence at the "9th International Conference on Long-Term Complications of Treatment of Children & Adolescents for Cancer," hosted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), June 9-10, at the Queen's Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Formal sessions will begin Friday, June 9, at 8:15 am.

More than 280 practitioners from the fields of medical and pediatric oncology (fellows, residents and interns), oncology nursing, and other health professionals from Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, Canada and the United States are expected to attend. The symposium is designed to present the latest scientific and clinical advances regarding the relationship between gene polymorphisms and late effects of therapy. Polymorphisms affect gene structure, function and regulation. Invited lectures will be supplemented by a program of oral and poster presentations developed from submitted abstracts.

"While improvements in treatment have resulted in more than 70 percent survival rate, adult survivors of childhood cancer often experience long-term health consequences from their treatments," said Daniel M. Green, MD, Department of Pediatrics, RPCI, and conference chairman. "This program will address medical issues of this special population with a goal to maintain and improve the quality of life for these survivors."

Invited faculty include: Stephen Chanock, MD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; Stella Davies, MD, PhD, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; William Evans, PharmD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Judy Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Martin Mahoney, MD, PhD, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Peter McGuffin, MB, PhD, FRCP, Institute of Psychiatry, London, England; Ann Mertens, PhD, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN; Mary Relling, PharmD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Julie Ross, PhD, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN; Svati Shah, MD, MHS, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Meredith Yeager, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.

"Long-Term Complications of Treatment of Children & Adolescents for Cancer" has been designated by RPCI for a maximum of 13.5 Category 1 credits toward the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award. The program is funded in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. For more information about the program, call (716) 845-2334.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers.

For more information, visit the RPCI website at roswellpark, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpciroswellpark.