PLEASE JOIN US
May 14 & 15, 2027
We are very happy to announce the inaugural Canadian Molecular Advancement Symposium (CAN MAP) will take place Friday & Saturday, May 14 & 15, 2027 at the Humaniti Hotel Montreal, in Montreal, QC.
As precision oncology rapidly expands, biomarker testing is increasingly influencing treatment decisions across multiple tumour types and disease settings, including early-stage and adjuvant therapy. However, there remains a substantial and well-recognized gap in oncologist confidence and literacy around biomarker methodologies, test selection, report interpretation, and real-world clinical application.
To address this, we are developing a national education resource to help oncologists understand NGS. The goal is to deliver standardized, high-quality face to face education that improves consistency, confidence, and equity of access to precision oncology knowledge across Canada, and at the same time help to develop resources for understanding the rapidly changing reality of oncology care.
The proposed objectives will follow a structured curriculum covering core principles of molecular testing, including what next-generation sequencing (NGS) is and how it differs from platforms such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and PCR-based assays. Content will include hotspot testing versus comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), DNA- versus RNA-based sequencing, and key analytical concepts such as variant allele frequency, depth of read, and assay sensitivity. A practical focus will be placed on NGS report interpretation, including gene coverage, alteration types, and technical limitations. Additional topics will address the role of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), including its use in detecting acquired resistance mutations, scenarios where liquid biopsy may be preferred over tissue testing, and emerging applications in minimal residual disease assessment and longitudinal disease monitoring.
We hope to see you in Montreal!
Sincerely,
CAN MAP Chair:
Shaqil Kassam MD. Msc. FRCPC
on behalf of CAN MAP Planning Committee
Barb Melosky, MD, FRCP(C)
Brandon Sheffield, MD
REGISTER FOR CAN MAP 2027!
Target Audience
CAN MAP target audiences are Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Surgical Oncologists, Pathologists, GPO’s, Medical oncology fellows, residents, and trainees, Pharmacists and Nurse Practitioners
Learning Objectives
- Describe the principles and clinical applications of molecular biomarker testing, including NGS, comprehensive genomic profiling, DNA/RNA sequencing, IHC and liquid biopsy.
- Interpret molecular and NGS reports, including genomic alterations, actionable findings, assay characteristics, and technical limitations. Understand what testing you are getting
- Apply molecular and biomarker findings to clinical decision-making by integrating genomic results with pathology and clinical context.
- Evaluate the appropriate use of tissue-based testing and ctDNA, including applications in acquired resistance, treatment selection, and disease monitoring so called MRD.
- Identify the essential “must-have” biomarkers for Breast, GI, Lung, Genitourinary, and Rare Tumour Types, including what to test, when to test, and how to test.