VILLEJUIF, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy (IGR), Villejuif, France, and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, in association with several other leading cancer care institutions in Europe, the United States of America, Canada, and Asia, are organizing an open interactive symposium dedicated exclusively to personalized cancer care. This major event, which has been endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, will be held at the Palais de Congrès, in Paris, on July 9-10^th, 2009.

The symposium, entitled; Worldwide Innovative Networking in Personalized Cancer Medicine (WIN), emphasizes complex interactions between researchers, clinicians, technology developers, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. The symposium program will include sessions dedicated to strategic vision, advanced scientific concepts, and technological developments, as well as major achievements in personalized cancer medicine and associated international networking challenges. The symposium will feature an open interactive forum between attendees and invited speakers: all registered attendees are invited to submit questions relative to unmet needs in personalized cancer care (register online at www.mfcongres.com).

“Early diagnosis and early personalized treatment will be the most efficient approach to modifying the outcome of cancer and significantly decreasing global mortality rates. International cooperation such as those encouraged by this symposium is a crucial factor for achieving these goals within the next 5 years, rather than waiting for 20 more years” said Prof Thomas Tursz, General Director of Institut Gustave Roussy.

“Advancing cancer care towards personalized medicine is a major clinical, scientific, and economic challenge and will require us to decrease the time that it takes from discoveries in cancer cell genetics and biology to real changes in current therapies for cancer patients that offer better outcomes,’’ said John Mendelsohn, M.D., President of M. D. Anderson.

Academic organizers of this scientific symposium, together with their associated technology partners, look forward to welcoming you to this event. For your information, the program of the symposium can be found here http://www.mfcongres.com/congress_program.jsp?congress=49

About Institut Gustave Roussy

The Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR, Villejuif, France), one of Europe’s leading Comprehensive Cancer Centers, is a non-profit academic entity belonging to the French public hospital organization. IGR, located south of Paris is a center wholly patient-oriented with a global expertise and the mission to fight cancer. IGR employs 2,000 professionals working in healthcare, outstanding research, and teaching oncology.

About M. D. Anderson

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. M. D. Anderson is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For four of the past six years, including 2008, M. D. Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in “America's Best Hospitals,” a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report.

About ASCO

As a nonprofit organization, ASCO is dedicated to achieving its charitable mission outlined by the organization’s founders in 1964. ASCO strongly supports all types of cancer research, but in particular, patient-oriented clinical research. Endorsement implies that ASCO has approved in an official capacity the educational program. This program has the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s approval for quality of educational content.