Legends in the Brain Tumor Field to Headline American Brain Tumor Association Conference Dinner

CHICAGO, June 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Carol Kruchko, the founding president of the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), and internationally recognized Swiss neuro-oncologist Roger Stupp, M.D., will be featured at the American Brain Tumor Association's Annual Patient and Family Conference Dinner on Friday, Aug. 4 at the Westin O'Hare in Chicago.

According to ABTA President and CEO Elizabeth Wilson, "Recent advances in the understanding and treatment of brain tumors are owed in part to the passion, persistence and vision of these two individuals whose work over the past 25 years has changed the landscape for the thousands of patients and families receiving a brain tumor diagnosis today."

The CBTRUS was incorporated in 1992 following a two-year study conducted by the American Brain Tumor Association to determine the feasibility of a central registry for all primary brain tumor cases in the United States. Working with small group of statisticians, and state and government data collection agencies, the CBTRUS gathers, analyzes and distributes population–based reports on the incidence and prevalence of all primary brain tumors by histology, age, gender, race and Hispanic origin. The CBTRUS database contains the largest aggregation of population-based data on the incidence of all primary brain and other CNS tumors in the United States.

"Carol and the CBTRUS have also impacted brain tumor data collection worldwide with several countries adopting the CBTRUS model to quantify the impact of brain tumors on their societies," Wilson said.

Kruchko will be presented with the ABTA's 2017 Joel A. Gingras, Jr. at the annual meeting dinner. The award recognizes individuals, organizations or groups who, through philanthropy, advocacy, discovery, or patient care and support, have had a transformative impact on the ABTA's mission advancement.

Roger Stupp, MD, joined Northwestern Medicine in April 2017 as a professor of Neurological Surgery from the University Hospital Zurich where he was director of the Department of Oncology and of the Zurich Cancer Center.

Stupp led the clinical research demonstrating that chemotherapy with the drug temozolomide in conjunction with radiotherapy increases survival for patients with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type of malignant brain tumor in adults. More recently, Stupp and colleagues showed that electromagnetic waves, called tumor treating fields, can substantially improve outcomes for glioblastoma patients. These breakthrough discoveries led to the last two FDA-approved treatments for the disease and the 'Stupp Protocol' becoming the standard of care for patients with malignant glioma around the world.

"As an international authority on brain cancer, Dr. Stupp sees many patients from around the world and many patients who reach out to the ABTA follow his recommendations," Wilson said. "We are fortunate to be able to benefit from this leader in the field who will bring clinical trials and therapies to patients here in the United States without their having to travel abroad."

Stupp will deliver the evening's keynote presentation entitled "Disappoints, Progress and Promise in the Treatment of GBM."

American Brain Tumor Association's 2017 Patient and Family Conference, Redefining Survivorship Through Science, Technology and Clinical Innovation, is a groundbreaking opportunity for patients, families and caregivers to learn about the latest advances in brain tumor research, treatment and care from leaders in the field. Join more than 250 patients, caregivers, health care providers, researchers and others Friday, August 4th and Saturday, August 5th, 2017

To register visit www.braintumorconference.org or email [email protected] before Friday, July 28, 2017. Walk in registration will be based upon availability.

SOURCE American Brain Tumor Association

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