Descriptions of Session Types

The 2011 Annual Meeting, developed by the ASCO 2010-2011 Cancer Education Committee and Scientific Program Committee, is made up of the following session types:

Education Sessions
Education Sessions offer interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary explorations of focused areas of clinical oncology. ASCO's Cancer Education Committee determines topics and format for these sessions that will best serve the educational needs of Annual Meeting attendees. Particular care is taken to ensure that these sessions address issues including surgical, radiation, and geriatric oncology; symptom management; health services research; international perspectives; and pathology, as appropriate. 

Special Sessions
Special Sessions include the presentation of Awards and Award Lectures as well as symposia recommended by other oncology-related organizations, the Cancer Education Committee, the Scientific Program Committee, and the ASCO Board of Directors as being of particular interest, imporantance, and relevance to Meeting attendees. 

Plenary Session
The Plenary Session includes 15-minute didactic presentations highlighting abstracts of scientific research deemed to have the highest merit and greatest impact on oncology research and practice. Experts in the field will serve as Discussants to place research findings into perspective. The Plenary Session will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2011, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM. 

Oral Abstract Sessions
Oral Abstract Sessions include didactic presentations of abstracts representing important clinical and translational research findings by topic category. Presenting authors may use PowerPoint slides to accompany their oral presentation. Experts in the field (Discussants) are chosen to provide comprehensive themed discussions of the findings from predetermined abstracts. 

Clinical Science Symposia
Clinical Science Symposia provide a forum for science in oncology, combining didactic lectures on a specific topic with the presentation of abstracts. Experts in the field (Discussants) place studies in the appropriate context based on the strength of the evidence and critically discuss the conclusions in terms of their applicability to clinical practice. 

Clinical Problems in Oncology Sessions
Clinical Problems in Oncology Sessions combine the use of case-based panel discussion with interactive keypad technology for audience participation. These sessions are ticketed and require an additional registration fee.

Meet the Professor Sessions
Meet the Professor Sessions enable interactive discussion between attendees and recognized experts in a variety of subspecialty fields. The format is informal with an emphasis on a face-to-face exchange with the expert. These sessions are ticketed and require an additional registration fee.

Poster Discussion Sessions
Posters Discussion Sessions highlight selected abstracts of clinical research in poster format. The posters are grouped by topic and are on display for a specified time, followed by a discussion session in which expert Discussants comment on the research findings.

General Poster Sessions
General Poster Sessions include selected abstracts of clinical research in poster format. The posters are grouped by topic and are on display for a specified time.

Trials in Progress Poster Session
The new Trials in Progress Poster Session will facilitate awareness of and dialogue about open, ongoing clinical trials. It differs from other Poster Sessions in that

• outcomes data or results are not included
• the goal is to promote discussion among trial investigators, to encourage recruitment of new investigators or sites, and to stimulate discussion of successor or confirmatory trials
• the focus is on the background of the science behind the trial, and preclinical or earlier-phase data (preferably with references) is encouraged