PMP PALS AT SSO ADVANCED CANCER THERAPIES 2025

PMP PALS AT SSO ADVANCED CANCER THERAPIES 2025

Each year, PMP Pals sponsors the Society of Surgical Oncology/Advance Cancer Therapies conference (SSO/ACT) where specialists worldwide meet to discuss what’s new in peritoneal surface malignancies and related conditions. 

Find links to the SSO/ACT 2025 powerpoint presentations here:  https://s2.goeshow.com/sso/act/2025/final_program.cfm

Scroll down to Sunday’s Abstract Presentations: PSM Appendix and CRC Translational Science 

Here is a sample of what you will find on that page:

 Cernak_ACT_2025_PowerPoint.pptx
 ACT2025_WAGNER_Fusobacterium nucleatum tissue density.pptx
 ACT2025_WAGNER_Neutrophil Infiltration in the Peritoneal Tissue Microenvironment.pptx
 ACT2025_WAGNER_Neutrophil-related and Other Innate Immune Pathways.pptx
 ACT2025_WAGNER_Tumor-Associated Macrophage Subsets in Appendiceal Cancer.pptx
 Gironda_ACT_PTO_Heterogeneity_Presentation_02062025.pptx
 Apoptosis markers in HIPEC effluent_Nizri.pptx
 ACT PIK3CA.pptx
 ACT Presentation_v5.pptx

Board president Adele Jasion and board treasurer Charmaine Skillman pay their way to attend this event and connect with physicians on Pals’ behalf. Here’s Adele’s recap:  PMP Pals was represented at the Society of Surgical Oncology Advanced Cancer Therapies conference (SSO/ACT) on February 14-17. Charmaine and I had the privilege of connecting with our surgical oncology specialists, other medical professionals, researchers, our Medical Advisory Board, and our friends at the ACPMP Research Foundation. We showcased Pals’ dedication to providing support and resources to patients and caregivers affected by Appendix Cancer and its related conditions like Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP). We raised awareness about the tireless work Pals does day in and day out to provide hope, education, support, fellowship, connections, and tools for building emotional resilience and dealing with the psychological challenges faced by PMP patients. The conference brought together opportunities to learn about clinical outcomes, current treatments, clinical trials, research, and other relevant topics as presented by some of the most brilliant minds in the medical community.

One conference highlight was the presentation of the 2025 Gabriella Graham Patient Advocate Award to Dr. Richard Alexander.Jr. from Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey. We were thrilled to see Dr. Alexander recognized for his pioneering research and clinical work in advancing care and treatment for patients and for his heartfelt compassion and commitment to our patient community. Dr. Alexander truly exemplifies the spirit of the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocate Award and we are honored he accepted this year’s award honoring our beloved founder, Gabriella, a fierce advocate for patients who worked tirelessly to connect and inform patients, caregivers, and physicians. We have HOPE for you!  Adele Jasion, President, PMP Pals

Who’s Manju?

Who’s Manju?

Each year, SSO/ACT extends the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award “to an individual or patient advocacy organization that has provided support and hope to patients and families facing cancers that are often treated with a regional treatment approach.” Pals past-president Chris Piekarski and current president Adele Jasion received the honor in 2022 and 2018, respectively. Not only does this award recognize the important role of patient support, it reminds us of the decades of service by Gabriella and PMP Pals.

SSO/ACT recognized the work of Manju George, MVSc, PhD, and the patient advocacy community, COLONTOWN. Manju knows a thing or two about cancer as she’s a Stage 3b rectal cancer survivor. After her diagnosis in 2017, she joined COLONTOWN and applied her post-doctoral training and research experience in Cell and Cancer Biology to develop “CRC 101,” an introductory educational primer for patients new to the colorectal cancer journey. Much like PMP Pals, COLONTOWN offers patient-centered resources, a vibrant Facebook community, “Doc Talks” with expert & physician presentations, and support through peer exchange. Take a look at their website for interesting information and resources you might find helpful.

Congratulations Manju for emboding the spirit and persistence of our founder and helping patients worldwide live well beyond their diagnosis.

Why We Go to SSO

Why We Go to SSO

Pals President Adele Jasion and Secretary-Treasurer Charmain Skillman attended the Society of Surgical Oncology’s Advanced Cancer Therapies (SSO/ACT) symposium in February 2024. Charmaine shares her perspective here.

PMP Pals recently attended the meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology Advanced Cancer Therapies (SSO/ACT) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.This gathering of 200 surgeons and associated professionals is the most concentrated annual educational event in the U.S. for those treating peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs).

Why do we go to SSO? Adele and I attended and tabled in the exhibit hall to increase exposure of PMP Pals and our programs for individuals affected by PMP and appendix cancer. We spent three days renewing connections with long-time friends of Pals and meeting new physicians just starting their careers. These interactions bring many benefits, such as identifying new speakers and new topics for our HOPE ZOOM meetings and other events. Also, we learn of new research and new treatments in development. And, we continuously rely on these connections for advice, answers, and involvement in new projects, such as our newly-formed Medical Advisory Board (The MAB – more on that in our next enews). We even met three of our MAB Pals – Doctors Dineen, Onchin, and Wiatrek – over breakfast.

Plus, we were very proud to be in the room when SSO/ACT presented the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award, inspired by the work of our founder. This year, Manju George, Scientific Director for Paltown Development Foundation and COLONTOWN, accepted the award for her nonprofit’s work supporting and educating the colorectal cancer (CRC) patient community. We met with and congratulated Manju, too, and learned more about this large patient organization. We invited her to a future HOPE Zoom to talk about COLONTOWN and medical advancements in the CRC space.

PMP Pals is grateful to participate in SSO/ACT as a sponsoring exhibitor. Your donations allowed Adele and I to represent PMP Pals among the medical professionals who serve our community — your financial support is crucial to our ability to attend this essential event.

FOCUS ON PHYSICIANS: PAUL H. SUGARBAKER, MD

FOCUS ON PHYSICIANS: PAUL H. SUGARBAKER, MD

Volume 4 | Issue 1, 2021 PMP Pals is pleased to bring you this special edition of our newsletter, devoted to an interview with Paul H. Sugarbaker, MD.  As part of our Focus on Physicians series, this article highlights his four decades of leadership in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies, including appendiceal cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). Our board member Charmaine interviewed Dr. Sugarbaker, who performed her life-saving surgery in 2009.  We hope you enjoy this newsletter.

Paul H. Sugarbaker, MD