The Commission on Cancer (CoC) announced the winners of its annual Cancer Research Paper Competition at Clinical Congress.

Jennifer Leiting, MD, a general surgery resident at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, was named the 2019 first place winner for her paper, “Temsirolimus is Effective Against Patient-Derived Metastatic Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo.” Dr. Leiting received a $1,000 honorarium plus travel expenses to present her research at the CoC Annual Meeting on Sunday. She also is eligible for publication in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Pamela Lu, MD, a general surgery resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, won second place in the competition for her paper, “Systemic Chemotherapy Does Not Prolong Survival in Patients with Metastatic Low Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma.” Stephen Abel, DO, MHSA, of Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, was awarded third place for his paper, “Utilization of Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Resected Colon Cancer and Its Effect on Outcome.”

The second- and third-place winners each received a $500 cash award and an invitation to display their poster presentations at the CoC Annual Meeting.

The annual Cancer Research Paper Competition is a collaborative activity of the CoC and the American Cancer Society, and is open to all residents and fellows-in-training. Abstract topics must be specific to oncology and related to the CoC’s mission to improve the survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. Judging is based on originality, scientific merit, and clinical relevance to oncology and the mission of the CoC.