Welcome to the third issue of the Young SIOG newsletter!

The Governance of the Young SIOG Interest Group is proud to circulate the third issue of our newsletter.This tool aims at helping young SIOG members stay tuned about relevant research and initiatives in the field of geriatric oncology.
Our newsletter is published quarterly (in December, March, June and September) and includes updates about the Young SIOG Interest Group, a special topic section, a list of recent publications from young researchers in the field, and a profile of a Young SIOG member.

We hope you’ll enjoy our third issue!

The Young SIOG Interest Group has been established as an assembly of young clinicians and researchers that are working in the field of geriatric oncology and are members of SIOG. The aims are to improve education in research and clinical practice in all disciplines related to the management of older patients with cancer, to establish a network of young researchers and clinicians in the field, to create a platform in which international collaborations can be promoted, to facilitate mentorship of young researchers by more experienced investigators, and to advocate for geriatric oncology in our institutions and countries.

The Governance of the Young SIOG Interest group is composed of:

• Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti (United Kingdom) -- Chair
• Melissa Loh (Malaysia & USA)-- Vice-Chair
• Fabio Gomes (United Kingdom) - Member
• Gabor Liposits (Denmark) - Member
• Nina Rosa Neuendorff (Germany) - Member
• Enrique Soto Perez de Celis (Mexico & USA) - Member
• Najia Musolino (Switzerland) -- ex-officio – non-voting - as SIOG Chief Executive Officer

Don’t forget to come and meet us on our brand-new Twitter account, on our LinkedIn page and on our Facebook group.

Writing opportunities

The Young SIOG Interest Group continues to an initiative to help young members of our Society to collaborate on scientific paper writing under the supervision of senior members in the field of geriatric oncology. After the successful delivery of reviews about the role of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in older patients with ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer published in Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology and of PARP inhibitors in older patients with ovarian and breast cancer published in Journal of Geriatric Oncology, more papers are under way...<More>

On the 27th and 28th February 2019 the joint British Geriatrics Society, Macmillan and Royal College of Radiologists 2019 Oncogeriatrics meeting took place in London, UK. Dr Siri Rostoft (University Hospital Oslo) gave a great talk about the need of comprehensive geriatric assessment in cancer care.
Keynote lectures included also the role of cardiovascular assessment in cancer care by Dr Alex Lyon (Royal Brompton Hospital, London), the management of the acutely unwell older cancer patients by Prof Jane Maher (Macmillan Cancer Support), multimorbidity in cancer care by Prof Margot Gosney (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust) and cancer trials for older people by Dr Richard Simcock (Brighton and Sussex Universities NHS Trust). Dr Nicolò Battisti, our Chair, also gave a talk about modifying chemotherapy in older cancer patients (see picture).

Meet and greet our Vice Chair Melissa Loh (Malaysia and USA)

Dr. Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh is originally from Malaysia. She is currently a senior fellow in geriatric hematology/oncology at the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital in the USA. She will join the malignant hematology and geriatric oncology groups as a faculty at the University of Rochester in 2019.

Dr. Loh’s primary interest is the development and evaluation of mobile health behavioral and supportive care interventions for older adults with cancer. Her other interests are 1) decision-making processes in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia; 2) disease understanding in the setting of advanced cancer; and 3) utilization of critical care therapies and palliative care. Dr. Loh is mentored by Dr. Supriya Mohile, Dr. Karen Mustian, Dr. Heidi Klepin, and Dr. Wendy Stock. Dr. Loh graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and completed her internship and residency at Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine. She is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Investigation.

List of publications related to geriatric oncology by Young SIOG members (April 2018 – February 2019)

• Perspectives on geriatric oncology research presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Battisti NML, Magnuson A, Sedrak MS, Soto-Perez-de-Celis E. J Geriatr Oncol. 2019 Jan 16. pii: S1879-4068(18)30526-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2019.01.002. PMID: 30660501.
• Use of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors in older patients with ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer: Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology review paper. Battisti NML, De Glas N, Sedrak MS, Loh KP, Liposits G, Soto-Perez-de-Celis E, Krok-Schoen JL, Menjak IB, Ring A. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2018 Nov 20;10:1758835918809610. doi: 10.1177/1758835918809610. PMID: 30479671
• Targeted agents for HER2-positive breast cancer in older adults: current and future perspectives. Soto-Perez-De-Celis E, Loh KP, Baldini C, Battisti NML, Chavarri-Guerra Y, De Glas NA, Hsu T, Hurria A. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2018 Oct;27(10):787-801. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2018.1520838. PMID: 30196727
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The governance of the Young SIOG Interest Group invites you to submit to Journal of Geriatric Oncology perspective papers on any research relevant to the management of older cancer patients that may be presented at international conferences that young members of our Society may attend. Please contact Melissa Loh and the Editorial Board of JGO in case you are interested!