BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Jan 23, 2014 – With World Cancer Day approaching February 4th, the Angiogenesis Foundation has expanded its global advocacy campaign combating colorectal cancer (CRC), the fourth most common cancer in the world, by convening the “Latin America Expert Summit: Improving Outcomes in the Treatment and Management of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer” on January 17, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recent developments in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in Latin America have made this an opportune time to assemble an interdisciplinary group of regional leaders in mCRC treatment and translational science to review progress in the field and identify critical pathways forward for optimizing patient care.

The advent of antiangiogenic therapies, which target blood vessels supplying tumors with nutrients and oxygen, has revolutionized therapies for mCRC and offer patients greater options—potentially reducing toxicities and prolonging life. Recent approval of antiangiogenic agents for treating mCRC in several Latin American countries has prompted the Foundation to replicate two previously successful mCRC Expert Summits held in Berlin, Germany and Washington D.C., USA in 2013. In each summit, key opinion leaders engage in interactive, professionally moderated discussions to achieve consensus on barriers, solutions and specific actions each stakeholder can take to achieve the desired state of the field, specific to their region.

“Metastatic colorectal cancer is highly complex and new therapies are emerging faster than physicians can fully understand them, so the benefit of these treatments has yet to be maximized,” commented Dr. William Li, President and Medical Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation. “We also need to do a better job of incorporating patient values in their care. Our Expert Summits allow leaders in the field to finally come together and address these critical pain points.”

The Foundation is producing a white paper that will summarize summit discussions and make recommendations on pathways forward for policymakers, advocacy leaders, oncologists and the cancer community as a whole. The white paper will be available at www.scienceofcrc.org/latinamerica-whitepaper.