The second Fusion conference on Animal Models of Cancer took place on Feb 26-March 1 in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. Following the theme of the conference, the majority of the presentations focused on the use of genetically engineered mice to generate relevant models of human cancer, but models in pigs, naked mole rats, and rats were also discussed. The use of organoids and allograft/xenograft models often complements genetically engineered mice, providing ex vivo and simpler models. The cancer types discussed included lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, liver cancer, and prostate cancer.

Some notable aspects of the conference included: (1) the generation of new models and new combinations of genetic alterations to provide models that are representative of the diversity of subtypes of human tumors, for example in the lung or the liver. These new models include now classic Cre/Lox models, but also Dre/Rox and new ways to control the activity of cancer genes spatially and temporally; (2) new genetic means to investigate intra-tumoral heterogeneity, including by tracing or ablating subpopulations of cancer cells; (3) studies that highlight the relevance of animal models to investigate cancer metabolism, as well as the interactions between cancer cells and a variety of immune cells – in particular, recent data confirm that mouse models can provide a powerful approach to test immunotherapies; (4) beyond immunotherapies, chemotherapy and targeted therapies can be rapidly tested in animal models, including new drugs such as RAS inhibitors. In this context, animal models can help identify mechanisms of resistance to drugs that are highly relevant to human tumors.

Overall, the scientific interactions during the oral presentations and at the poster sessions were very productive, and there was great enthusiasm to pursue this conference in future years.

-    Kevin Haigis (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) & Julien Sage (Stanford University)
 

Due to high hotel occupancy levels, we have closed the registration deadline as hotel availability is changing daily. Please contact Chloe to check if any spaces remain available. If you have already registered for the conference, you can no longer extend your stay via your Fusion account. Again, please contact Chloe to check if we can accommodate your extra nights and/or accompanying guests.

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 Topics

• 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 Plenary Speakers

Scott Lowe (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
UNDERSTANDING AND TARGETING CELLULAR SENESCENCE IN TISSUE PATHOLOGIES
Celeste Simon (University of Pennsylvania)
LEVERAGING LIVER CANCER MODELS TO IDENTIFY NEW DRUG TREATMENTS

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Cory Abate-Shen (Columbia University)
MODELING PROSTATE CANCER METASTASIS IN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED 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)
ENGINEERED AND PATIENT-DERIVED MODELS OF BREAST CANCER
Nikhil Joshi (Yale University)
IMPACT OF IMMUNE CELLS ON EARLY TUMORS AND HOW THIS SHAPES CANCER EMERGENCE 
Chris Marine (KU Leuven)
CELL PLASTICITY AS A DRIVER OF MELANOMA PROGRESSION AND THERAPY RESISTANCE
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
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.

To keep up to date with deadlines, grants and programme announcements, please sign up for updates. If you're keen to join us in the Dominican for our biennial genetically engineered mouse models conference, register today to secure your place!