Astro 2007

[stephew]

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well what did YOU think of the plenary sessions?

 

[mikedc813]

I think the boost or no boost breast trial results are interesting. Even though the extent of positive margins weren't evaluated, the presenter basically said that in some circumstances you don't have to go back and re-excise if giving a boost? Or did I totally hear that wrong.

 

[IndyXRT]

You heard her right, although I'm not sure that's the ultimate conclusion I would draw from their data.

The update on the RT and temozolomide for GBM was also good. The rest were OK for the most part. During the lung talk, I was just sitting there thinking to myself "how many abstracts were there? Is this really one of the six best?" Not that it wasn't good - it just didn't seem to be plenary session material. And two rat studies? To be fair, this is only my second ASTRO, but I was a little dissapointed with the plenary session overall.

 

[stephew]

I think the boost or no boost breast trial results are interesting. Even though the extent of positive margins weren't evaluated, the presenter basically said that in some circumstances you don't have to go back and re-excise if giving a boost? Or did I totally hear that wrong.

the presenter also jumped the gun in coming to that conclusion but was pushed to say so by the question.

 

[stephew]

You heard her right, although I'm not sure that's the ultimate conclusion I would draw from their data.

The update on the RT and temozolomide for GBM was also good. The rest were OK for the most part. During the lung talk, I was just sitting there thinking to myself "how many abstracts were there? Is this really one of the six best?" Not that it wasn't good - it just didn't seem to be plenary session material. And two rat studies? To be fair, this is only my second ASTRO, but I was a little dissapointed with the plenary session overall.

i think that "Ok" is generous in the extreme.

 

[StanGetz]

I think the plenary sessions for the most part sucked. I can't believe that any of those abstracts were selected. The only clinical studies are updates?? Gimme a break! I can't help but think of some of the abstracts that have been presented before as plenaries in past years, and notice how far we've fallen. I think the departure from having discussants was a HUGE mistake.

I also did not pay much attention to the breast paper because the presentation got on my nerves.

Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I suspect others feel similarly but are being polite. That's okay, I'll be the jerk, cause I'm rather disappointed.

 

[neutron reaper]

It was my first ASTRO and I thought I was going to here some groundbreaking studies but instead there were some updates and some studies that I could not believe had been the 'best in show'.

I have to admit I was underwhelmed.

 

[mikedc813]

I also did not pay much attention to the breast paper because the presentation got on my nerves.

Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I suspect others feel similarly but are being polite. That's okay, I'll be the jerk, cause I'm rather disappointed.

Yeah I felt the same way.

 

[radiaterMike]

For the most part I agree with what was said. Ideally, the plenary sessions should present data which should/could change management and/or are ground-breaking. Though a deviation from the norm, the TGFB studies do have the potential to represent a change in our practice at some point, and the results were compelling. I have no idea why the study on lung volumes (retrospective analysis of 40 patients) or pancreatic motion (prospective study of 17 patients!!!) were chosen as talks, and am baffled as to why they were chose for plenary sessions.

 

[Brim]

Ehh.. this year's plenary session didn't pack much of a punch for me. I don't mean to take away anything from any of the researchers or the presenters, but the chosen abstracts just weren't all that earthshaking this year.

For the plenary sessions, which should represent the "best of ASTRO," I expect something new and/or exciting -- such as the results of a major Phase III trial. These are more often than not the papers that induce a major change in the way we practice our field.

This year, however, instead of getting major Hollywood blockbusters, we were left with some re-runs -- the EORTC Boost, No Boost Trial and the EORTC/NCIC GBM trial -- updates of papers which are already well known by now.

I'm also not a fan of the inclusion of biology and physics papers in with the Plenaries. While physics and biology are certainly integral to the success of radiation oncology, the cutting edge research in these fields tends not to be applicable to most rad onc practice and thus is far removed from the "Best of ASTRO".

I don't want to slight the physicists and biologists who come to ASTRO every year. I just think with all the good clinical data being submitted to ASTRO each year, more than these 2 "old" clinical papers should have been given a chance to shine on the big stage.

For what it's worth, I thought the Presidential Lecture Series was great and so was everything else about the conference this year; the convention center, the hotels, transportation, etc. It was just the Plenaries that were a bit of a let down.


I'm already looking forward to Boston 2008. *thanking ASTRO for the complimentary teabagging*

 

[Brim]

Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I suspect others feel similarly but are being polite. That's okay, I'll be the jerk, cause I'm rather disappointed.

hahaha. You're not the only one.

 

[deleted4401]

I guess I can't add much. I, too, thought plenaries should be studies that may change current management. I think everyone I was with felt that way. The GBM update was presented at ASCO recently, too, I think.

I know it's controversial, but the boost-no boost study did make me a feel a little better. If RT can't treat microscopic residual disease at the margins, what good is it anyway 🙂 One of our older attendings, the rad-onc on the NSABP breast trials, would always say that about a positive margin for our BCT cases, and go ahead and treat without re-excision.

Was it just me, or was the president of Uruguayan kind of boring? I about fell asleep. I mean, I get it already - do good things, don't be evil.

-S

 

[PimpMyRad]

The annual ASTRO meeting is like an old girlfriend you keep breaking up with; every time I go I get excited about what I'm going to learn, and all the old friends I'm going to see, but by the time it's over, I can't wait to get the hell outa there. It tends to be rehash and updates, as you have already learned, year after year, the same senior authors but every year a new crop of young enthusiastic residents presenting the data as if for the first time. Sorry if I sound jaded, but I've done it so many times that it's hard to muster any enthusiasm for it anymore; watching the throngs of badged attendings, residents, nurses and physicists trolling through the exhibit hall with their plastic bags in tow, grabbing as much free crap from the exhibitors as their bags will hold, and sucking up to the Varian, Siemens, et al reps in hopes of getting an invite to the big party that night....and on and on.....it makes me nauseous to just think about it. Watching the "rock star" rad oncs that everyone knows getting sucked up to at every break....guys who don't get a second look in the real world....makes me want to punch them out in the bathroom and steal their lunch money. But I digress......

I hope I'm not raining on anyone's parade; I do remember going to my first few ASTRO meetings, and they were fun, but I will say this to you, the new crop coming up, don't expect too much from this meeting. Or as Wesley (aka The Dread Pirate Robin) told Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride, :"Get used to disappointment".

 

[stephew]

oh dear.

 

[StanGetz]

The annual ASTRO meeting is like an old girlfriend you keep breaking up with; every time I go I get excited about what I'm going to learn, and all the old friends I'm going to see, but by the time it's over, I can't wait to get the hell outa there. It tends to be rehash and updates, as you have already learned, year after year, the same senior authors but every year a new crop of young enthusiastic residents presenting the data as if for the first time. Sorry if I sound jaded, but I've done it so many times that it's hard to muster any enthusiasm for it anymore; watching the throngs of badged attendings, residents, nurses and physicists trolling through the exhibit hall with their plastic bags in tow, grabbing as much free crap from the exhibitors as their bags will hold, and sucking up to the Varian, Siemens, et al reps in hopes of getting an invite to the big party that night....and on and on.....it makes me nauseous to just think about it. Watching the "rock star" rad oncs that everyone knows getting sucked up to at every break....guys who don't get a second look in the real world....makes me want to punch them out in the bathroom and steal their lunch money. But I digress......

I hope I'm not raining on anyone's parade; I do remember going to my first few ASTRO meetings, and they were fun, but I will say this to you, the new crop coming up, don't expect too much from this meeting. Or as Wesley (aka The Dread Pirate Robin) told Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride, :"Get used to disappointment".

This is a pretty funny post, and I mostly agree, although not to such an extent. I think the cheesiest thing is that awards ceremony with the people dressing up in that gown. Gimme a break. I guess it just goes to show that every field needs some sort of awards thing like the Oscars for self-congratulation and the feeling of being part of an exclusive club. No one said academics wasn't full of politics.

 

[deleted4401]

I gotta say proudly, I didn't take one thing from a vendor, except coffee from the CyberKnife guy. The number of CK treatments we do at Pittsburgh, well let's just say I think I earned that cup of joe. I did go to a Varian party, and showered immediately afterwards.

S

 

[PimpMyRad]

oh dear.

hey, YOU asked.