Pictured: The UH Cancer Center in Kakaʻako
Pancreatic cancer incidence in Hawai‘i remains significantly higher than in the U.S. overall. Hawai‘i ranks 6th among U.S. states for incidence of pancreatic cancer. And it is deadly. The five year survival rate for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is only 7.7% (SEER 18 2006-2012).
Because Hawai‘i has a disproportionate amount of hepatobiliary/pancreas cancers, active research is underway to investigate why. The 2018 Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer Conference, April 27 and 18 at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Kakaʻako Sullivan Conference Center, will highlight the research done locally and to exchange ideas with national and international experts.
The conference offers an in-depth look at treating and understanding hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancers (liver, pancreas, gall bladder, ampullary, and bile duct cancers). It will provide a venue for researchers and clinicians to learn about current research and up-to-date treatments.
Hawaiʻi has high rates of these cancers and low survivability
Risk factors for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) include viral hepatitis B, C, alcohol consumption, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The high rates of viral hepatitis infections in Asian and Pacific Islander populations have resulted in Hawai‘i having the second highest incidence of primary liver cancer in the nation (Hawai‘i Cancer at a Glance, 2009-2013, pub. Dec 2016). In addition, Hawai‘i has a high incidence of bile duct cancer. These cancers are often found with advanced disease and five-year survival from these cancers is less than 20%.
Overview:
Friday, April 27 will be dedicated to presentations by UH-affiliated and visiting researchers on current basic and translational research efforts involving genomics, proteomics, tumor immunology, and tumor angiogenesis.
Saturday, April 28 will be dedicated to presentations by community and visiting clinicians on the current methods for diagnosis, detection, and treatments of HPB and Pancreatic cancers including resection, ablation, and systemic therapies.
Approximately 100 physicians and researchers from Hawai‘i, the Asia-Pacific region, and the contiguous United States will attend. Speaker invitations have been extended to NIH and top national and international hospitals and research institutes.
The Conference is sponsored by The UH Cancer Center and The Queen’s Medical Center.
LEARN MORE:
Download the agenda, registration form and more at Hepatobiliary Conference 2018 Information