35th ESMO Congress: Milan, Italy (FieraMilanoCity), 8-12 October 2010 - Press Programme Curtain Raiser

LUGANO, Switzerland, October 4, 2010 - Press releases will be issued during the Congress, on a daily basis.

Please contact the ESMO Press Office at media@esmo.org if you would like
to receive the full text of the press releases/abstracts in advance,
available as of Wednesday, 6 October 2010

R. Bastian, DE

Surgical technique relieves painful spine fractures in patients with
metastatic cancer (embargo: 9 October, 9:00 Milan time)

Many patients with multiple myeloma, or those whose cancer has spread
beyond the initial tumor site, suffer compression fractures in their spine. A
surgical technique appears to offer quick and effective relief for
debilitating spinal fractures often suffered by these patients.

D. Spigel, DE

New targeted therapy adds benefit to erlotinib in some patients with
advanced lung cancer (embargo: 9 October, 11:00 Milan time)

A subset of lung cancer patients seem to live longer and experience
delays in disease progression when a new drug that targets a
cancer-associated molecule is added to treatment with erlotinib.

C. Zhou, CN

Erlotinib improves progression-free survival as first-line therapy in
advanced lung cancer: Phase-III data (embargo: 9 October, 11:00 Milan time)

For patients with advanced lung cancer whose tumors carry EGFR activating
mutations, first-line treatment with erlotinib nearly tripled
progression-free survival compared to a standard chemotherapy combination.

Y.T. MA, UK

Study reveals cancer-linked epigenetic effects of smoking (embargo: 9
October, 13:00 Milan time)

For the first time, scientists have reported direct evidence that taking
up smoking results in epigenetic changes associated with the development of
cancer.

U. Matulonis, US

Investigational ovarian cancer drug shows promise against
platinum-resistant disease in Phase-II study (embargo: 9 October, 13:00 Milan
time)

A drug being developed as a treatment for ovarian cancer has shown single
agent activity with durable disease control in some patients in a Phase-II
clinical trial.

G. Long, AU

Melanoma drug shrinks brain metastases in Phase-I/II study (embargo: 10
October, 11:00 Milan time)

A new drug being developed to treat potentially deadly melanoma skin
cancers has shown a promising ability to shrink secondary tumors, known as
metastases, in the brain in patients with advanced forms of the disease.

A. Palumbo, IT

High response rate seen in Phase-III trial of chemotherapy, new drug and
stem cells in myeloma (embargo: 10 October, 12:30 Milan time)

The first study of its kind comparing two different approaches to
treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma has found that both treatments
achieved a positive response.

M. Clavarezza, IT

Most Italian breast cancer patients older, and diagnosed very early
(embargo: 10 October, 12:30 Milan time)

A study of breast cancer in Italian women has found that more than 70% of
those affected by the disease are over the age of 50 years, and the disease
is identified before it has spread to the lymph nodes in more than 60% of
cases.

H.A. Azim, BE

Study finds breast-feeding safe for women after breast cancer treatment
(embargo: 10 October, 12:30 Milan time)

Women who have survived breast cancer should not be denied the
opportunity to breast-feed their children. There is no evidence that
breastfeeding is dangerous for mother or child after breast cancer treatment.

K.M. Tveit, NO

Cetuximab adds no benefit to chemotherapy in first-line treatment of
metastatic colorectal cancer - New Phase-III data (embargo: 10 October, 13:30
Milan time)

Adding the targeted drug cetuximab to a three-drug chemotherapy regimen
for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer does not improve
response rate, progression-free survival or overall survival.

A. Gennari, IT

Prolonging first-line chemotherapy improves outcomes for patients with
metastatic breast cancer (embargo: 10 October, 15:30 Milan time)

Patients with metastatic breast cancer live longer on average if their
chemotherapy is continued after their cancer is brought under control, a new
meta-analysis shows.

J. O'Shaughnessy, US

Iniparib extends overall survival in metastatic triple-negative breast
cancer: final Phase-II results (embargo: 10 October, 15:30 Milan time)

Women with an aggressive subtype of metastatic breast cancer appear to
live longer when treated with iniparib plus chemotherapy, compared to
chemotherapy alone, the results of a randomized Phase-II trial show.

M. Pavel, DE

Phase-III study shows everolimus delays tumor progression in
hard-to-treat neuroendocrine tumors (embargo: 11 October, 10:30 Milan time)

The results of a large Phase-III clinical trial have shown that the drug
everolimus delays tumor progression in patients with a hard-to-treat group of
rare cancers that affect particular hormone-producing cells.

B. Koczwara, AU

Fertility concerns of cancer survivors inadequately addressed, study
finds (embargo: 11 October, 12:30 Milan time)

Many cancer survivors experience changes in sexual function that leave
them feeling guilt and a longing for intimacy. The researchers say that these
sexuality and fertility concerns are often not adequately addressed by
doctors.

Y. Loriot, FR

Sexual issues a major concern for cancer patients taking new targeted
drugs (embargo: 11 October, 12:30 Milan time)

New drugs that target specific molecular mechanisms of cancer have
improved the treatment of cancer patients in recent years, but those benefits
may come with a cost to the patient's sex life, researchers have found.

B. You, FR

Early cancer drug trials flawed by inconsistencies in prohibited drug
lists, study finds (embargo: 11 October, 12:30 Milan time)

Substantial inconsistencies in a basic aspect of the way Phase-I and
Phase-II cancer clinical trials are designed. Researchers report finding
unexpectedly large differences in the lists of drugs that trial designers say
participants should not be given to avoid potentially dangerous drug-drug
interactions.

T. Mok, CN

New Phase-II study shows first-line promise of lung cancer drug PF-299
(embargo: 11 October, 13:15 Milan time)

A new-generation lung cancer drug has shown an impressive ability to
prevent disease progression when administered as a first-line treatment in
patients with advanced disease.

A. Necchi, IT

Pazopanib shows promise in Phase-II trial for relapsed/refractory
urothelial cancer (embargo: 11 October, 13:30 Milan time)

An ongoing Phase-II trial investigating a new, targeted therapy for
metastatic urothelial cancer has generated promising early results.

J. Vermorken, NL

Panitumumab fails to add overall survival benefit in recurrent/metastatic
head and neck cancer: full Phase-III results (embargo: 11 October, 13:30
Milan time)

Adding the monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody panitumumab to chemotherapy did
not significantly improve overall survival for patients with recurrent and/or
metastatic head and neck cancer, according to Phase-III trial results.

J. Baselga, US

Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy doubles response rate in hard-to-treat
breast cancer (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan time)

For the first time researchers have proven that targeting the epidermal
growth factor receptor can provide substantial clinical benefit for women
with hard-to-treat "triple negative" breast cancer.

E. Perez, US

New type of targeted therapy shows promise as first-line therapy for
HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan
time)

A new type of breast cancer treatment has shown encouraging activity as a
first-line therapy in HER2-positive metastatic disease.

J. De Bono, UK

Abiraterone acetate improves survival in metastatic castration-resistant
prostate cancer: Phase-III results (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan time)

Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have
progressed after chemotherapy live significantly longer if treated with the
drug abiraterone acetate compared to placebo, the results of a large
Phase-III clinical trial confirm.

C.H. Yang, TW

Final results from landmark trial confirm survival benefits of EGFR
mutations in lung cancer (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan time)

Mature results from a landmark Phase-III trial have confirmed that
patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer have
better overall survival when treated with gefitinib or chemotherapy than
patients whose tumors do not carry such mutations.

V. Miller, US

Afatinib benefits lung cancer patients whose cancer progressed after
treatment with EGFR inhibitors (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan time)

Lung cancer patients who have already been treated with the EGFR
inhibitors erlotinib or gefitinib seem to gain further benefits in terms of
progression-free survival and tumor shrinkage when treated with the new drug
afatinib, the results of a Phase-IIb/III trial show.

T. Perren, UK

Promising early results suggest bevacizumab adds survival benefit in
newly diagnosed ovarian cancer (embargo: 11 October, 15:00 Milan time)

Early results from a large Phase-III trial suggest that adding
bevacizumab to chemotherapy as a treatment for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer
reduces the risk of disease progression during the first year of treatment.

Embargo Policy

All information presented at the 35th ESMO Congress is embargoed until
the start of the session during which the abstract is presented. Journalists
are required to observe embargoes as indicated.

Appointments for media representatives

Full details available at www.esmo.org/newsroom/events

Friday, 8 October 2010, 12:00-13:00

Opening Press Conference

Latest available data on the global cancer burden; main topics to be
presented during the Congress, including the most recent advances in the
treatment of cancer; Congress statistics and highlights for members of the
media will be offered to attending journalists helping them to make their way
through what will be a very exciting meeting, thanks to a top-quality
program.

    - Prof. David J. Kerr, ESMO President

    - Prof. Rolf A. Stahel, ESMO2010 Scientific Chair

    - Prof. Fortunato Ciardiello, ESMO2010 Press Officer

Saturday, 9 October 2010, 8:15-9:00

Press Briefing Day 1

Advanced breast cancer, Chest tumors, Palliative Care

Saturday, 9 October 2010, 12:00-12:45

Press Conference - The battle against rare cancers in Europe

More clinical trials for rare cancers are needed in Europe. Current lack
of information, late diagnosis or misdiagnosis and practical obstacles to
research, treatment and care will be discussed.

Sunday, 10 October 2010, 8:15-9:00

Press Briefing Day 2

Early and advanced breast cancer

Sunday, 10 October 2010, 12:15-13:00

Press Conference - Cancer patient long-term rehabilitation: body and
beyond

Welfare and healthcare, public and private employment, equal treatment,
communications and awareness will be discussed (at national and European
level) to raise interest in cancer patient issues that are too often
underestimated.

Monday, 11 October 2010, 8:15-9:00

Press Briefing Day 3
Advanced breast cancer, Chest tumors, Gynecological cancers, Genitourinary
tumors

Tuesday, 12 October 2010, 8:15-9:00

Wrap-up

Your opportunity to ask any unanswered questions
Closing comments by the President on the most important congress scientific
presentations Updated event figures

General information

    - The full conference program is available at
    www.esmo.org/events/milan-2010-congress/program.html

    - All press events will be held in Room Asia, Press Center, Mezzanine
    Bridge but can be followed also remotely via toll-free dial-in:

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    - Other numbers available upon request
    - Interested journalists are kindly requested to notify us asap
    if they intend to use the remote dial-in

    - You can contact the ESMO Press Office at media@esmo.org to pre-book
    your interviews both in presence and remotely. Experts in various
    oncology fields will be available in the ESMO Media Ambassador Corner
    in the Press Center for interviews every day.

Media registration

On-site registration is possible at the Press Registration Desk. You will
be asked for your press card and a letter of assignment.

    Contact:
    Vanessa Pavinato
    Mobile: +41-79-935-60-73
    E-Mail: media@esmo.org
    Congress Press Office tel.: +39-02-4342-3649 (as of Thursday, 7 October)

Contact: Vanessa Pavinato, Mobile: +41-79-935-60-73, E-Mail: media at esmo.org, Congress Press Office tel.: +39-02-4342-3649 (as of Thursday, 7 October)