2020 ANNUAL REPORT
THE YEAR'S OVERVIEW
Hans Wildiers President 2018-2020
Ravindran Kanesvaran President-elect 2018-2020
Najia Musolino Chief Executive Officer
The year 2020 was a very eventful year for SIOG for many reasons. We celebrated the 20th year anniversary of SIOG, amidst the worst global health crisis of our lifetime. However, this challenging period also provided an opportunity for SIOG to prepare for the future and reinvent itself as it strives through the challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and more
As in previous years, our 2020 Conference was a great success in spite of having to change it to a virtual meeting - this thanks to the dedication and commitment of the SIOG network. The achievements of the SIOG-COVID 19 Working Group have also demonstrated the relevance and usefulness of our work for the betterment of older adults with cancer during this pandemic The importance of our works and the related impacts were acknowledged by colleagues at the World Health Organisation (WHO), ministries of health and public health institutions globally.
The future of geriatric oncology and its internationalisation through SIOG is therefore of great importance especially in the current context, where our older cancer patients are even more vulnerable and at risk of negative outcomes Now more than ever, the field of geriatric oncology needs inter-institutional, multi-stakeholder collaborations and partnerships to ensure that the impact of the pandemic will not incapacitate institutions from continuing their work in caring for their older cancer patients. SIOG will continue to serve its membership and deliver high quality scientific and educational geriatric oncology programmes in the years to come
SIOG was established in Geneva by its founding members: Paul Calabresi, Matti Aapro, Gilbert Zulian, Lazzaro Repetto, Martine Extermann, John Bennett, Riccardo Audisio, Lodovico Balducci and Silvio Monfardini.
Today, SIOG continues the mission of these change makers – for more progress in geriatric oncology and for better patient outcome.
SIOG IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
This year we witnessed that COVID-19 affected the whole world, but more than others, older persons remained the most vulnerable Both age and cancer increase the risk of suffering from COVID-19 and dying from it, and the two risk factors add on
Moreover, older persons with cancer are at highest risk of being excluded from intensive care support for COVID-19 infection and/or adequate cancer treatment if resources are limited
SIOG ensured that concrete statements and practical recommendations are made available in a timely manner - for all health care workers dealing with older persons with cancer It should however be clearly acknowledged that these are empirical considerations, not based on solid science, which at the onset of the pandemic, didn't exist yet unfortunately.
Position papers, research letters, hospital guidelines concerning older patients with cancer have been produced rapidly since the COVID-19 crisis appeared in the month of March. It is SIOG’s mission to diffuse all this important work through its website and network in order to increase visibility as much as possible
In the meantime, we have received messages that research projects (retrospective and prospective) are starting to learn about what has happened or is happening with COVID-19 and older persons with cancer SIOG also aims to collect information on starting or ongoing projects in order to facilitate collaborations SIOG has already established a COVID-19 Working Group to deal with this issue.
Prof Hans Wildiers
SIOG President (2018-2020)
On behalf of the SIOG Board of Directors and the SIOG COVID-19 Working Group
SIOG COVID-19 WORKING GROUP
Co-Chairs
Anna Mislang (Australia)
Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti (UK)
COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS
OCTOBER 2020: Dr Anna Mislang spoke to ecancer about the SIOG COVID-19 working group’s report and discussion of ethical issues revolving around the treatment of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JULY 2020: Dr Anna Mislang spoke for ESMO covering the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of cancer in older adults.
JULY 2020: "Management of senior patients with cancer during the COVID pandemic” an ESMO OncologyPRO Working Group. Discussion delivered by Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti
A GLOBAL RECOMMENDATION
Members
Riccardo Audisio (Sweden)
Mahmood Alam (Australia)
Etienne Brain (France)
Clarito Cairo Jr (Philippines)
Kwok Leung Cheung (UK)
Giuseppe Colloca (Italy)
Lisa Cooper (USA)
Luiz Antonio Gil Jr (Brazil)
Regina Gironés Sarrió (Spain)
Michael Jaklitsch (USA)
Kumud Kantilal (UK)
Stuart Lichtman (USA)
Anita O'Donovan (Ireland)
Shane O'Hanlon (Ireland)
Chiara Russo (France)
Schroder Sattar (Canada)
Enrique Soto (Mexico)
Reinhard Stauder (Austria)
Hans Wildiers (Belgium)
Grant Williams (USA)
Adapting care for older cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) COVID-19 Working Group Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Anna Rachelle Mislang, Lisa Cooper, Anita O'Donovan, Riccardo A Audisio, Kwok-Leung Cheung, Regina Gironés Sarrió, Reinhard Stauder, Enrique Soto-Perez-de-Celis, Michael Jaklitsch, Grant R Williams, Shane O'Hanlon, Mahmood Alam, Clarito Cairo, Giuseppe Colloca, Luiz Antonio Gil Jr, Schroder Sattar, Kumud Kantilal, Chiara Russo, Stuart M Lichtman , Etienne Brain, Ravindran Kanesvaran, Hans Wildiers. J Geriatr Oncol 2020 Nov;11(8):1190-1198 doi: 10 1016/j jgo 2020 07 008 Epub 2020 Jul 16
In Ocotober 2020, SIOG welcomed a total of 328 participants in the policy discussions of the SIOGCOVID 19 Working Group.
The ouburst of the COVID-19 pandemic posed a barrier to equal and evidence-based management of cancer in older adults. SIOG formed a panel of experts to develop consensus recommendations on the implications of the pandemic on several aspects of cancer care in this age group including geriatric assessment (GA), surgery, radiotherapy, systemic treatment, palliative care and research.
Age and cancer diagnosis are significant predictors of adverse outcomes of the COVID-19 infection. Ongoing research is necessary to expand knowledge of the management of cancer in older adults. However, the pandemic presents a significant barrier. All efforts should be made to ensure equitable access to clinical trials and prospective data collection to elucidate the outcomes of COVID-19 in this population.
SIOG received interest from 62 different countries to consult the recommendations of the SIOG COVID-19 Working Group Policy Meeting and publication.
Older cancer patients are amongst the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted the treatment and care of our older patients. In times when live attendance was no longer possible due to the serious global health challenge, the online SIOG 2020 Annual Meeting ensured that the geriatric oncology community continued to connect and collaborate.
ENGAGEMENT: +54%
250 DELEGATES FROM 41 COUNTRIES
15 LECTURES FROM KEY OPINION LEADERS
POLICY
SESSION OF
THE SIOG 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
‘Impact of COVID-19 on older adults with cancer’ The SIOG COVID-19 Working Group hosted an online panel discussion with representatives from the WHO, governments, ministries of health and academic institutions. The webinar was attended by a total of 328 delegates from 62 different countries. This webinar was the first international gathering of experts convened by the SIOG COVID-19 Working Group to discuss the country/region specific challenges of health care for older cancer patients in the context of COVID-19. The output of the meeting was to explore areas of collaboration in the form of education and training support from SIOG, for better trained health workers managing older cancer patients in the current global setting of the pandemic.
B O A R D E L E C T I O N S
GOVERNANCE MEMBERS 2020-2022
We strive to maintain a Board that promotes a culture, which meets the new generation of nonprofit standards. We see meeting these new standards as the best way to practice our mission and serve our members and patients.
President : Ravindran Kanesvaran, Singapore
President-Elect: Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, UK
Treasurer: Grant Williams, USA
Ex-Officio: Najia Musolino, Switzerland
MEMBERS:
Laura Biganzoli, Italy
Lore Decoster, Belgium
Raúl Cordoba, Spain
Beatriz Korc-Grodzicki, USA
Johanna Portielje, The Netherlands
Martine Puts, Canada
OBSERVERS & CO- OPT
Melissa Loh, USA
Isaaco Montroni, USA
Hans Wildiers, Belgium
COLLABORATIONS FOR CANCER IN AGEING
SUPPORTING GLOBAL INITIATIVES OF OUR PARTNERS
When Cancer Grows Old
SIOG supports the educational and advocacy initiatives of SANOFI GENZYME. When Cancer Grows Old (WCGO) is a multi-year oncology signature initiative with the goal of addressing the challenges of cancer in older populations. As one of the global leading education authority on the issue, SIOG contributed in the campaign. Key opinion leaders from SIOG spoke at the Sanofi Town Hall "When Cancer Grows Old" in Boston, USA on February 13, 2020.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Hacking Medicine Grand Hack took place virtually on October 2-4 This hackathon directly supported a core aim of the When Cancer Grows Old™ initiative of Sanofi – to generate and uncover solutions that give everyone with cancer the best chance to grow old. SIOG representatives contributed as mentors to guide participants and answer questions virtually, providing clinical advice to the teams working in geriatric oncology
UICC Special Focus Dialogue
The Ageing and Cancer series: #1 Caring for older cancer patients during COVID-19 was organised by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) on June 29.
The Ageing and Cancer series: #2 "UICC Special Focus Dialogue Long View Dialogue - Reshaping cancer control for ageing societies", took place on October 20th.
OFCON 2020, India
Annual Conference of Oncology Forum 4-6 Dec 2020: Geriatric Oncology. SIOG Past-President, Dr Etienne Brain contributed as International Faculty of the conference from SIOG SIOG National Representaives in India Dr Ravi Mehrotra and Dr Joyita Prakash represented SIOG
Auditors:
FIDUCIAIRE CHAVAZ SA
Full audit report available upon request.
KEY PUBLICATIONS
Adapting care for older cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) COVID-19 Working Group Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Anna Rachelle Mislang, Lisa Cooper, Anita O'Donovan, Riccardo A Audisio, KwokLeung Cheung, Regina Gironés Sarrió, Reinhard Stauder, Enrique Soto-Perez-de-Celis, Michael Jaklitsch, Grant R Williams, Shane O'Hanlon, Mahmood Alam, Clarito Cairo, Giuseppe Colloca, Luiz Antonio Gil Jr, Schroder Sattar, Kumud Kantilal, Chiara Russo, Stuart M Lichtman , Etienne Brain, Ravindran Kanesvaran, Hans Wildiers. J Geriatr Oncol. 2020 Nov;11(8):1190-1198. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.07.008. Epub 2020 Jul 16.
Older survivors of cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic: Reflections and recommendations for future care. Kristen R Haase, Danielle Kain, Shaila Merchant, Christopher Booth, Rachel Koven, Michael Brundage, Jacqueline Galica. J Geriatr Oncol. 2021 Apr;12(3):461-466. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.11.009. Epub 2020 Dec 3.
Perspectives on functional status in older adults with cancer: An interprofessional report from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) nursing and allied health interest group and young SIOG. Ginah Nightingale, Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Kah Poh Loh, Martine Puts, Cindy Kenis, Annette Goldberg, Kristen R Haase, Jessica Krok-Schoen, Gábor Liposits, Schroder Sattar, Petra Stolz-Baskett, Mackenzi Pergolotti. J Geriatr Oncol. 2021 May;12(4):658-665. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.10.018. Epub 2020 Nov 7.
Anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a Young SIOG review paper Nina Rosa Neuendorff, Kah Poh Loh, Alice S Mims, Konstantinos Christofyllakis, Wee-Kheng Soo, Bediha Bölükbasi, Carlos Oñoro-Algar, William G Hundley, Heidi D Klepi Blood Adv 2020 Feb 25;4(4):762-775 doi: 10 1182/bloodadvances 2019000955 Epub 2020 Feb 25
Management of bladder cancer in older patients: Position paper of a SIOG Task Force Nicolas Mottet, Maria J Ribal, Helen Boyle, Maria De Santis, Philippe Caillet, Ananya Choudhury, Tullika Garg, Matthew Nielsen, Patrick Wüthrich, Kilian M Gust , Shahrokh F Shariat, Georgios Gakis J Geriatr Oncol 2020 Sep;11(7):1043-1053 doi: 10 1016/j jgo 2020 02 001 Epub 2020 Feb 10
Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia in older patients: recommendations of an International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) task force. Heidi D Klepin, Nina Rosa Neuendorff, Richard A Larson, Marije E Hamaker, Massimo Breccia, Pau Montesinos, Raul Cordoba. J Geriatr Oncol. 2020 Nov;11(8):1199-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.03.019. Epub 2020 Apr 6.
Caring for older patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) global perspective. Isacco Desideri, Sophie Pilleron, Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Fabio Gomes, Nienke de Glas, Nina Rosa Neuendorff, Gabor Liposits, Irene Paredero-Pérez, Wendy Chan Wing Lok, Kah Poh Loh, Clark DuMontier, Hira Mian, Enrique SotoPerez-de-Celis. J Geriatr Oncol. 2020 Sep;11(7):1175-1181. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.05.001. Epub 2020 May 10.
A tribute to Arti Hurria by the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) Etienne Brain J Geriatr Oncol 2020 Mar;11(2):160-161 doi: 10 1016/j jgo 2019 07 016 Epub 2019 Jul 19
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MEMBERS, SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
During the uncertain period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we convey our special thanks to our industry sponsors, members and supporters for working with us to sustain our activities. The extraordinary commitment made by our members and staff alike during this very challenging year, means that we can continue to succeed and grow as a learning community. Special thanks to FIPOI and CICG as well as to the International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI) for support, upto date information, and guidance related to the covid-19 pandemic as well as reguluar invitations to discussions and activities of 'International Geneva' in the context of the pandemic.
OBITUARY
BRUNO CASTAGNETO
SIOG mourns the tragic loss of Dr Bruno Castagneto, medical oncologist, who passed in Genova in December 2020 aged 70 from COVID-19. Dr Castagneto worked for many years at Santo Spirito Hospital in Casale Monferrato, Italy where he was one the first oncologists to raise awareness on pleural mesothelioma in Italy and facilitate the creation of the relevant national registry in his country In 2007 he became chief of the Oncology Department of Novi Ligure, Italy where he also established a geriatric oncology service. He was also scientific advisor to the Italian League for the Treatment and Prevention of Cancer (Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori) and he served as chair of the Italian Group of Geriatric Oncology (GIOGER)
ROSEMARY YANCIK
Rosemary Yancik, PhD, a medical sociologist, was best known for her talent of bringing a group of experts together who shared her interests in improving the prevention and management of cancer in elderly patients. She passed away on April 13, 2020.
Dr. Yancik was instrumental in the formation of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) in 2000. In recognition for her contribution in geriatric oncology, she received the Paul Calabresi Award from SIOG in 2004.
