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Moss Creek cancer forum still exploring treatment ideas
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It was 1984 when Billy Guy Forbeck lost his heroic battle against neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, at 11 years of age. His parents, Jennifer and George Forbeck, who live in Moss Creek, determined that his death would not be in vain.
"After Billy died, I asked Arnold Freeman, one of Billy's doctors, to thank all of the physicians involved so impressively in his treatment," Jennifer Forbeck said. "I also asked him what we could do to help shorten the time it takes to get the newest discoveries and developments in research out of the laboratories and into the hands of physicians in a hospital setting."
Billy's courage and his concern for other children battling cancer was an inspiration to the doctors and scientists from various disciplines who joined forces in trying to find his cure. Many joined the Forbecks as they set about to develop a format for studying the treatment of childhood cancer, most especially, and then the treatment of neuroblastoma.
After some time, they decided that, through their William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation, they would stage an annual conference in Moss Creek that would begin with the investigation and development of the newest, cutting-edge discoveries in neuroblastoma. The centerpiece event would be a three-day forum that, while it would include the most respected clinicians, scientists and doctors in the land, would be limited to 13 to 15 participants. The venue would be informal, so the participants could exchange ideas freely, building on each other's concepts, knowledge and experience.
"We wanted to provide these important scientists a casual setting, where they would bring a 20-minute presentation to the group and just five slides," George Forbeck said. "But we also wanted plenty of time for them to talk informally after the presentation ... trade ideas, share opinions, offer suggestions."
Neuroblastoma was a dramatic beginning, and out of that first session came an immediate, needed follow-up session on neuroblastoma staging. Then followed an expansion in the investigation of not only childhood cancer, but in a few years, a wide range of cancer issues with topics such as differentiation, cellular senescence and stem cells.
Now, approaching its 25th year, the project begun by the Forbecks has grown and expanded to the extent that, in addition to the highly acknowledged and respected annual "think tank meetings," a Junior Group has been formed and a special program directed at identifying young scholars from the major medical centers throughout the country has been put in place. These scholars now attend the centerpiece Forbeck Forum and also participate in an annual scholar conference.
THE FORUM
On a recent Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the last day of the three-day scientific sessions of the Forbeck Foundation's centerpiece event, the scientists' meeting room was abuzz with the conversations of the participants. They were energized and edified by their observations and participation of the day before, and further by their discoveries and most especially with their new associations -- the other scientific participants, the members of the Scientific Advisory board and the forum scholars.
The topic this year, "Immunotherapy and Breaking Tolerance," chaired by James Allison, Ph.D. of Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City and Dr. Stanley Riddell from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, captured the interest, enthusiasm and energy of the assembled.
Presentations focused on four major topics: "Local and systemic host response to cancer," "Immunologic checkpoints and cancer vaccines," "Adoptive cellular therapy" and "Genetic modification of immune cells for cancer therapy." Now on its third day together, the group was settling in, getting comfortable with the format and truly looking forward to the outcome of its next event.
"What is so unique about this forum and its participants," said Dr. Bruce Chabner, "is that this group is really focused on their topics and specializations, and they are anxious to share them with other participants. In this unusual format and setting, they can do that."
The scientific participants continued their presentations and conversations through the day and into the evening right through dinner. In a room just next door to the scientific participant room, the forum trustees -- a group of 20 from all around the country, charged with overseeing the administration, programs and activities of the foundation -- were excitedly taking their seats for the annual presentation by Davi Chabner, a scientific writer, a specialist in medical terminology and the wife of Dr. Bruce Chabner. She would bring to the group an understanding of the scientific/medical focus of the forum's scientific participants for this 24th session.
"What the topic of this forum is really about is forwarding our understanding of how to engage the body's immunologic defenses to fight cancer," said Davi Chabner. "It is so important, because it involves breaking the natural tendency of the body to tolerate its tissues and utilize the immune system to attack cancer cells."
The three-day format was packed tightly with opportunities for everyone to learn cutting-edge information about the manipulation of the immune system to assist in the treatment of cancer.
The forum was a new beginning for most. Attendees now will return to their scientific settings and begin work on publications; the design of new protocols; the use of new strategies; building partnerships; exchanging data, cell lines, reagents and other research materials; and participating in professional exchanges and scientific meetings. Through it all, they will build and expand new collaborations, based on their experience at the Forbeck Forum.
Next year's Forbeck Forum will explore "The Biology and Treatment of Primary Brain Tumors," headed by Tracy Batchelor, Master of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Luis Panada, Ph.D., University Texas Southwestern Medical in Dallas. Then, for 2010, the Scientific Advisory Board has begun the development of "Genomics."
Nancy Wellard is the community income manager for the American Cancer Society and an Island Packet features columnist.
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