Synopsis

The possibility of engineering mice genetically over four decades ago heralded a transformative era in scientific inquiry, including in the cancer research field. Since then, continuous refinements and innovations have propelled the creation of experimentally controllable, genetically precise animal models for an array of human cancers. Recent strides in genome editing technologies have further accelerated the pace of advancement in this domain, serving as a catalyst for reshaping the trajectory of precision medicine for patients with cancer. With the new ability to manipulate genes more rapidly and with a higher throughput, researchers in the field can now delve into intricate but fundamental details of cancer biology. The crux of these technological advancements lies in their capacity to facilitate the functional evaluation of an unprecedented number of alterations found in human tumors. This, in turn, has given rise to pre-clinical and co-clinical platforms that provide invaluable insights into the efficacy of novel therapeutic interventions. These platforms extend beyond mere assessments, allowing for a nuanced exploration of the intricate mechanisms underlying therapeutic resistance—a critical frontier in contemporary cancer research.

For this Cancer Animal Models conference, our focus converges on three pillars, each representing a crucial facet of the expansive landscape before us. The first pillar encapsulates the exploration of novel approaches for the precise manipulation of genetic elements in mice and other animal models. Key objectives are to "humanize" these models and to enable more nuanced in vivo studies of cancer gene functionality. The second pillar continues to focus on fundamental investigations into the mechanisms governing cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. This includes deciphering the elusive cell type(s)-of-origin of tumors to unraveling the intricacies of tumor evolution, metabolism, and the dynamic interplay with the immune system. Deepening our understanding of the multifaceted nature of cancer also means exploring differences linked to sex or aging. The final pillar explores the pivotal role of genetically engineered animal models in evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches, as well as the mechanisms underpinning therapeutic resistance.

This conference will discuss how genetically engineered animal models of cancer continue to be the linchpin in unraveling the complexities of human cancer and charting new frontiers in precision medicine.

Key Sessions

• New technologies for cancer modelling
• Modeling the early steps of cancer development
• The tumor microenvironment: metabolism, immune responses, aging
• Mechanisms of metastasis
• Preclinical trials and resistance

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Cory Abate-Shen (Columbia University)
LEARNING ABOUT HUMAN PROSTATE CANCER BY STUDYING MOUSE MODELS
Iannis Aifantis (NYU School of Medicine)
MAPPING THE LEUKEMIA MICROENVIRONMENT IN TIME AND SPACE
Leila Akkari (Netherlands Cancer Institute)
UNRAVELING MYELOID CELL DIVERSITY IN CANCER
Laura Attardi (Stanford University)
DECIPHERING HOW P53 GOVERNS CELL STATE TRANSITIONS IN CANCER
Karen Cichowski (Harvard Medical School)
PRE-EMPTIVELY COMBATTING THERAPEUTIC RESISTANCE IN RAS PATHWAY DRIVEN CANCERS BY DEVELOPING NOVEL COMBINATORIAL THERAPIES
Gina DeNicola (Moffitt Cancer Center)
AMINO ACID ACQUISITION IN CANCER: MAKE IT OR TAKE IT
Frederic De Sauvage (Genentech)
DISSECTING TUMOR CELL PLASTICITY DURING COLORECTAL CANCER PROGRESSION
Lukas Dow (Cornell University)
ANIMAL MODELS TO REVEAL THE IMPACT OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE VARIANTS IN CANCER
Dannielle Engle (Salk Institute)
ABERRANT GLYCOSYLATION MEDIATED REMODELING OF THE PANCREATIC TUMOR MICRO ENVIRONMENT
Marcia Haigis (Harvard Medical School)
CANCER AND AGING
Hongbin Ji (ShanghaiTech University)
DECIPHERING LUNG CANCER MALIGNANT PROGRESSION THROUGH DUAL-RECOMBINASE TRACING 
Jos Jonkers (Netherlands Cancer Institute)
MODELING ER-POSITIVE BREAST CANCER IN MICE AND RATS
Nikhil Joshi (Yale University)
IMPACT OF IMMUNE CELLS ON EARLY TUMORS AND HOW THIS SHAPES CANCER EMERGENCE 
Scott Lowe (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
UNDERSTANDING AND TARGETING CELLULAR SENESCENCE IN TISSUE PATHOLOGIES
Chris Marine (KU Leuven)
MODELING CUTANEOUS MELANOMA INITIATION, PRIMARY TUMOR GROWTH AND METASTATIC DISSEMINATION IN MICE
Pawel Mazur (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
MOUSE MODELS TO INVESTIGATE THE TARGETABLE PROTEIN METHYLOME IN CANCER PATHOGENESIS
Katerina Politi (Yale University)
STUDYING PROGRESSION, RESISTANCE AND NOVEL VULNERABILITIES IN MODELS OF LUNG CANCER
Owen Sansom (Beatson Institute)
USING MOUSE MODELS OF COLORECTAL CANCER TO UNDERSTAND RESPONSE AND RESISTANCE TO THERAPIES
Celeste Simon (University of Pennsylvania)
LEVERAGING LIVER CANCER MODELS TO IDENTIFY NEW DRUG TREATMENTS
Mallika Singh (Revolution Medicines)
TARGETING THE ONCOGENIC STATE OF RAS: LESSONS FROM TRI-COMPLEX INHIBITORS
Rocio Sotillo (German Cancer Research Center)
DIFFERENTIAL GENETIC INTERACTIONS DRIVE EML4-ALK VARIANT-SPECIFIC LUNG TUMORIGENESIS
Kate Sutherland (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute)
TURNING UP THE HEAT - ENHANCING IMMUNOTHERAPY RESPONSES IN KRAS-MUTANT LUNG CANCER
Tuomas Tammela (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
FUNCTIONAL INTERROGATION OF CELL STATE HETEROGENEITY IN MOUSE SOLID TUMOR MODELS

Target Audience

• Basic scientists studying all aspects of cancer biology
• Scientists and clinicians performing translational work, especially those using mouse models for preclinical studies
• Investigators from the biotech and pharma industries who are interested in state-of-the-art animal modeling approaches

Educational Need

Multi-omic analyses provide an unprecedented view of key features of human tumors. Still, the mechanisms by which human tumors develop and respond to therapy remain challenging to investigate in patients with cancer. Animal models of cancer, including genetically engineered mice, provide an experimental system to investigate the biology of tumors and to evaluate the efficacy and resistance mechanisms associated with specific therapies. This conference will provide a forum for discussion on the past, present, and future of animal models for cancer, in particular the role that these models will play in the era of precision medicine.

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