Erin Andrews, a cervical cancer survivor who is the host of ABC Television’s “Dancing with the Stars” program, will be a special guest at the Advaxis-sponsored Cervical Cancer Educational Forum in Hollywood, Florida, May 18.
The forum, titled “Latest Advances in Cervical Cancer: Living with the Disease,” will start at 5 p.m. Space at the location of the event, the Diplomat Beach Resort, will be held is limited, so you’ll need to register before May 16 to attend.
The event will be hosted by Gilda’s Club South Florida and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Andrews will share her experience as a cervical cancer survivor, including how it impacted her career, according to a press release. She was diagnosed and treated early in 2016.
Doctors, researchers, and patient advocates will offer lots of information about cervical cancer at the forum. It will include an overview for patients, their families and others about the impact the cancer can have. Speakers will also cover support programs, innovative treatments for the disease and future research strategies.
Advaxis is a biotech company that is using its Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) technology to develop immunotherapies against cervical and other cancers. It bioengineers Listeria monocytogenes bacteria to stimulate the immune system to perceive tumor cells as bacteria-infected, and target them for elimination.
Scientists have linked about 90 percent of cervical cancer cases to strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
The lead drug that Advaxis is developing, Axal (axalimogene filolisbac), targets HPV-associated cancers. It is in clinical trials as a treatment for cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and anal cancer. The Sylvester center is one of the sites for Advaxis’ global Phase 3 AIM2CERV trial (NCT02853604), which is evaluating Axal in patients with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer.
Axal received fast track status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016 as an adjuvant therapy for that type of cancer. An adjuvant therapy is one that increases the impact of another treatment.
The development of Axal and other cervical cancer therapies will be among topics to be discussed during the forum.
Speakers and their topics will include:
- Dr. Erin Kobetz of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, “Impact of Cervical Cancer.”
- Dr. Marilyn Huang of the Sylvester center, “Immunotherapies.”
- Dr. Brian M. Slomovitz of the Sylvester center, “Filling Unmet Need: Advancements in Therapies.”
- Dr. Teresa Neira of the Sylvester center and Stacey Balkanski of Gilda’s Club, “Survivorship & Patient Support.”
- Erin Andrews, “Life Experience with Cervical Cancer.” Her talk will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Laurie Stein.