We have the pleasure of inviting you to the 4th PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Meeting, an international conference organized by the PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Group whose aim is to foster collaboration to improve the understanding, management and prevention of breast and prostate cancer. The PacRim Meetings are more a "think tank" engaging all participants, rather than a conventional conference.

This year's meeting is to be held at the Telus Whistler Conference Centre in Whistler, British Columbia , Canada , the home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Whistler, as a resort destination, has been growing since 1914. From peak to valley you will find a myriad of things to see and do. The village offers fine dining to outdoor patios, restaurants and bars to shopping, and music, all with a festival atmosphere.

In the summer the scale of adventure ranges from people watching, windsurfing, rafting sailing, zip-trekking, mountain biking, hiking, birding, and bear viewing. Of course winter offers some of the finest snow sports in North America.

Whistler will be host to the Nordic, alpine and skiing events for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Accommodation for the PacRim 2008 Conference will be provided by the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel.

The PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Meeting series brings together world experts, both scientific and clinical, to address the most recent developments in the field of breast and prostate cancer. The objective is to identify and discuss critical issues necessary to progress the field. The program endeavors to integrate, where possible, aspects of epidemiology, biology and translational and clinical research in breast and prostate cancer. A feature of these meetings has been the interactive discussion, which has been achieved by limiting participants to short talks, with discussants having the option of introducing a point with a single slide

At this year's meeting in Whistler between 100 and 150 participants spanning the Pacific Rim countries will address contemporary topics including:

• Biomarkers and patient care - will they tell us who, when and how to treat?
• Breast density, HRT and breast cancer risk
• Experimental models – how closely do they portray the in vivo situation?
• Genomics – drowning in data or finding our way?
• Genomics: 8 years after sequencing of the human genome - Start of the Golden Age of Biology or Unfulfilled Hype?
• How best to translate research findings into improved outcomes in breast and prostate cancer?
• How do cancers become resistant to hormone ablation therapies?
• Major New Initiatives – How do we tap into them?
• Natural Products – Cancer Elixir or Snake Oil?
• What currently are the best therapeutic targets of hormone pathways?
• What’s new in non-hormonal therapeutic strategies?
• Will understanding of the mechanism of action of ER and AR lead to new and better therapeutic targets?
• Poster Sessions 1, 2, and 3

These and other topics will be covered in poster presentations. All students and post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to submit a poster. An abstract must be submitted to be eligible for a poster presentation (see Posters).

The 4th PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Meeting will commence on the evening of Tuesday August 12 with a tribute to Ron Ross, followed by a welcome reception . A "Canadian Foods" dinner will be held on the Wednesday evening with reception style refreshments being a feature of the Poster session. On Thursday afternoon there will be an opportunity to venture in and around the Whistler area and participate in low key or high impact sports. An informal session incorporating "The Great Debate" (Genomics: 8 years after sequencing of the human genome - Start of the Golden Age of Biology or Unfulfilled Hype? ) will be held on Thursday evening after the poster session and prior to dinner ( own arrangements for dinner throughout Whistler Village) with drinks provided. The meeting will close with a dinner high atop Whistler Mountain with a vista beyond compare on Friday, August 15.

Finally, thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of this year's meeting.

On behalf of the conference organizers, I invite you to what promises to be an exciting and memorable conference, both scientifically and socially!

Paul S. Rennie, PhD, FCAHS
On behalf of the 4th PacRim International Organizing Committee

International Organizing Committee

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles: Gerhard Coetzee,
BC Cancer Agency: Karen Gelmon
UBC/The Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver: Martin Gleave, Colleen Nelson, Paul Rennie, Larry Goldenberg
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney: Rob Sutherland
University of Sydney: Juergen Reichardt
Hanson Institute/University of Adelaide, Adelaide: Wayne Tilley & Theresa Hickey

ADMINISTRATION

Lana McClelland and Marie Pickering