ASCO 2023:
Lovisenberg chief physician Katarina Puco kicks off the ASCO congress with her birthday, and Kreftklinikken manager Marius Normann is looking forward to the big highlights this year.
This Norwegian oncologist traveled to ASCO, the world’s largest cancer congress in Chicago
ASCO, CHICAGO (HealthTalk): – Probably goes without saying. ASCO is the world’s largest cancer congress, and this is where the biggest news comes, said Katarina Puco, senior physician at the University Hospital Oslo and Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, when asked why she chose to make the long trip to Chicago and the ASCO congress.
– Huge opportunities in several levels
HealthTalk met with him and oncologist Marius Normann at the private Cancer Clinic in Oslo. The two are in Chicago to catch one of the year’s biggest “events” for oncologists, namely the ASCO congress.
– It’s great to keep up with everything that’s emerging in the world of oncology, both big and small, but in addition to professional updates you also have an amazing opportunity to get in touch with colleagues from the US and other countries, but also Norwegian counterparts. This is a huge opportunity on several levels, said Puco, whose actual birthday is on the first day of ASCO’s congress, in a video interview with HealthTalk (see full interview at top of story).
Puco’s specialty is urological oncology, with a particular focus on kidney cancer, and he has identified a number of studies that could be a highlight for him at this year’s congress.
– “Plenary Sessions” are always on top, where the big news is presented. This year I will be, among other things, monitoring for glioblastoma (an aggressive form of cancer that originates in the glial cells in the brain).
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In uro-oncology and especially kidney cancer, there are some questions that may still remain unanswered, said Puco.
– No primary data are presented here, but more clarification relates to those with kidney cancer that has an indistinct cellular histology, such as sarcomatoid-rhabdoid kidney cancer. Subgroup analysis of additional treatment with Ipi+Nivo (Iplilimumab+nivolumab) is also presented. I hope to follow that, said the oncologist.
– Probably very important to me
HealthTalk also caught up with Marius Normann hours before the congress begins on Friday US time. As a private oncologist, she works extensively with the entire field of cancer, and because of that ASCO is an important place to stay up to date each year.
– This is the world’s largest cancer conference, and a lot of new things are presented here. In addition, it is a unique opportunity to meet colleagues. This is probably especially important to me, who don’t have a big hospital where I see colleagues every day, Normann said in a video interview.
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– How did you choose which studies and presentations were important to you during the congress?
– I’m probably mostly trying to follow the tumor cohort where I think there’s the biggest gap between what’s on the way or what’s available, but not yet available in the big public hospitals. I don’t need to learn everything that is available in Norwegian hospitals. My role is to try to see what’s in these gaps, said Normann.
Check out the full interviews with Puco and Normann at the top of this issue.
Do you have any ASCO tips for us? Email us at tips@healthtalk.no.
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