The following Special Award Lectures will be presented by the following recipients at this year's Annual Meeting:

Suzanne L. Topalian, MD, Professor of Surgery and Oncology and Director of the Melanoma Program in the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will present the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Lecture and receive the accompanying award (Sat., May 30, 9:30am). Topalian's work on the study of human antitumor immunity has provided a foundation for the translational development of cancer vaccines, adoptive T-cell transfer, and immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies. Her current research focuses on manipulating immune checkpoints, including programmed cell death-1 in cancer therapy, and the discovery of biomarkers to aid in the development of these therapies.

James P. Allison, PhD, Professor and Chair of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Immunology in the Division of Basic Science Research, will present the Science of Oncology Lecture and receive the accompanying award (Sun., May 31, 1pm). A Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, he is also Deputy Director of MD Anderson's Koch Center for Applied Research in Genitourinary Cancers and Director the Immunotherapy Platform there. His research focuses on T cell response mechanisms and applying that basic understanding to overcome cancer's evasion of attack by the immune system. His discoveries led to the clinical development of ipilimumab to block CTLA-4, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with melanoma.

SUZANNE L. TOPALIAN, MD. SUZANNE L. TOPALIAN, MD

Figure. No caption available.

Ernest Hawk, MD, MPH, Vice President and Head of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Co-leader of the institution's Cancer Control Platform, Executive Director of the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment, and the Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair for Early Prevention of Cancer, will present the ASCO-American Cancer Society Lecture and receive the accompanying award (Mon., Jun. 1, 11:30am).

JAMES P. ALLISON, PHD. JAMES P. ALLISON, PHD

Hawk's research focuses on preclinical and clinical chemoprevention, integrating risk assessment and preventive interventions in clinical trials, and increasing the participation of minority and underserved populations in translational and clinical research. His work has resulted in more than 175 publications on cancer prevention and control.

ERNEST HAWK, MD. ERNEST HAWK, MD

Silvio Mondfardiini, MD, Director of the Geriatric Oncology Program at Istituto Palazzolo, Fondazione Don Gnocchi in Milan, will present the B.J. Kennedy Lecture and receive the accompanying Award for Scientific Excellence in Geriatric Oncology (Sun., May 31, 9:45am). Monfardini has served as past President of the European Society for Medical Oncology (1984-1987), the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (1986-1988), and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (2003-2004). He has also previously served as Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology of the Istituto Oncologico Veneto of Padua, Scientific Director of the Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori di Napoli, and Scientific Director of the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico of Aviano.

Stephen E. Sallan, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, will present the Pediatric Oncology Lecture and receive the accompanying award (Sat., May 30, 1:15pm). Sallan's research and patient care has focused on acute lymphoblastic leukemia-in particular, championing the improvement of care for young adults with ALL who historically experienced lower cure rates than children.

SILVIO MONDFARDIINI, MD. SILVIO MONDFARDIINI, MD

And the following Special Awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting to recognize quality researchers, patient advocates, and leaders of the global oncology community who, through their work in the fields of clinical oncology, cancer research, or public and government advocacy, have made significant contributions to enhancing cancer care:

STEPHEN E. SALLAN, MD. STEPHEN E. SALLAN, MD

George Bosl, MD, the Patrick M. Byrne Chair in Clinical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award. Bosl's work has included patient care, research, and education; and is known for his work in the management of testicular cancer, genitourinary cancers, and head and neck cancers. He was also an early investigator in the application of larynx-preservation techniques. At MSKCC he also serves as Chair of the Department of Medicine, overseeing 33 services in five divisions and more than 350 physicians. He has served on the ASCO Board of Directors and was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Archie Bleyer, MD, Clinical Research Professor at the Knight Cancer Institute of Oregon Health & Science University, will receive the Special Recognition Award. He has served as Chair of the Children's Cancer Group; the American Cancer Society Professor at the University of Washington; and Head of the Division of Pediatrics at MD Anderson. His oncology career has included more than 40 years of clinical research. His current national clinical research project is working to improve the outcomes of young adults and adolescents with cancer. He was a founding member of Critical Mass, an advocacy organization on a mission to transform the treatment of young adults with cancer.

GEORGE BOSL, MD. GEORGE BOSL, MD

Dean F. Bajorin, MD, FACP, attending physician and member at Memorial Hospital of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, will receive the Excellence in Teaching Award. Bajorin is also a member of the MSKCC Genitourinary Oncology faculty and Director of MSKCC's Medical Oncology/Hematology Fellowship Program and the Advanced Oncology Fellowship Program. His research focus is on the development of novel treatments for patients with genitourinary cancers.

ARCHIE BLEYER, MD. ARCHIE BLEYER, MD

Jose Angel Sanchez, MD, hematologic oncologist at Hospital Escuela at the University of Honduras, will receive the Humanitarian Award. He is being recognized for personifying ASCO's mission and values by going above and beyond the call of duty in providing outstanding patient care through exceptional service and leadership. He has volunteered for the International Cancer Corps/Health Volunteer Overseas, which partners with oncologists and oncology nurses to discuss the needs of patients and health care providers in Honduras and ultimately improve patient care.

DEAN F. BAJORIN, MD, FACP. DEAN F. BAJORIN, MD, FACP

Mary Lou Smith, MPH, MBA, JD, longtime cancer patient advocate, will receive the Partners in Progress Award. In 2003, Smith co-founded the Research Advocacy Network (RAN) to bring patients and researchers together to ensure that patients' voices are part of clinical research. Smith is also Co-chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group's Cancer Research Advocates Committee and a member of the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors.

JOSE ANGEL SANCHEZ, MD. JOSE ANGEL SANCHEZ, MD

And the following ASCO members will be recognized with the Fellow of the American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction for extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO:

MARY LOU SMITH, MPH, MBA, JD. MARY LOU SMITH, MPH, MBA, JD

* Kathy S. Albain, MD, Professor of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Director of the Breast Clinical Research and the Thoracic Oncology Program at Loyola's Cardinal Bernadin Cancer Center;

* Craig Earle, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Director of the Health Services Research Program for Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research; Senior Scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto; and Scientist at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre;

* Roscoe F. Morton, MD, FACP, partner at Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates of Iowa, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa College of Medicine-Des Moines;

* Lori J. Pierce, MD, Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School;

* Lillian L. Siu, MD, FRCPC, Senior Medical Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto;

* Eric J. Small, MD, Professor of Medicine and Urology, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, and Director of Clinical Sciences at Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco; and

* Sandra M. Swain, MD, FACP, Medical Director of the Washington Cancer Institute at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine.