Approximately 90 percent of all cancer deaths are due to metastasis, which occurs when cancer cells shed from the primary tumor and develop secondary, sometimes microscopic, tumors in the body’s distant organs. Although medicine has made significant strides against the more than 200 diseases collectively known as cancer, metastasis continues to present a daunting challenge.

The American Association for Cancer Research is at the forefront of efforts to control metastasis and will host a scientific press conference on this topic for media professionals on Oct. 8, 2009, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET. The event will take place at the Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research Meeting in the Stuart Room of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

Reporters who cannot attend in person can dial-in using the following information:

U.S. and Canada Dial-in: (888) 282-7404
International Dial-in: (706) 679-5207
Access Code: 27669734
Topic: AACR

The following world-renowned scientists will speak on the biological process of metastasis, recent scientific research and the challenges that lie ahead.

Tyler Jacks, Ph.D.
Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT
President of the American Association for Cancer Research

Joan Massagué, Ph.D.
Program Chairperson, Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Member of the Institute of Medicine

Robert Weinberg, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology at MIT
Author of The Biology of Cancer

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.

Source:  American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)