Synopsis

Defects in DNA damage repair and checkpoint control are underlying mechanisms driving tumorigenesis, since they allow for the accumulation of genetic alternations. Indeed, defects associated with these pathways are the underlying cause of several human cancer-prone syndromes. On the other hand, defects in DNA repair and checkpoint control create vulnerabilities in cancer cells that can be targeted by DNA damaging agents and inhibitors that disrupt checkpoint pathways. More recently, defective DNA repair and checkpoint regulation have been shown to influence R-loop formation, replication fork stability, and innate immunity. These new findings not only reveal additional mechanisms contributing to tumorigenesis, but also provide new targets for cancer therapy. This conference will focus on exploring these vulnerabilities, taking advantage of the synthetic lethality concept, and targeting specific DNA repair and checkpoint pathways for cancer therapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This conference will bring together basic, translational and clinical investigators to discuss current and future directions, opportunities and obstacles to the development of these anti-cancer modalities and how to best translate these concepts to clinical practice.

Key Sessions

• Recent advances in the field of DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, genome maintenance, and innate immunity
• Radiation therapy and immune response
• Novel targets in DNA repair and checkpoint pathways
• Explore synthetic lethality and combination therapy for cancer treatment
• Evaluate the therapeutic potential of new anti-cancer modalities and combinations
• Mechanisms underlying therapeutic resistance 

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Britt Adamson (Princeton University)
MAPPING THE CELLULAR DETERMINANTS OF GENOME EDITING SYSTEMS
Jiri Bartek (Danish Cancer Society Research Center)
UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING CANCER CELL RESISTANCE TO THERAPY: MECHANISTIC LINKS WITH CELL CYCLE (DE)REGULATION AND GENOME INTEGRITY MAINTENANCE
Eric Brown (University of Pennsylvania)
EFFECTS OF DNA REPEAT SILENCING ON ATRi-DRIVEN GENOMIC BREAKS
Sharon Cantor (University of Massachusetts)
TARGETING CANCER BASED ON A GAP VULNERABILITY
Karlene Cimprich (Stanford University)
THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF REPLICATION STRESS
Elizabeth Christie (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)
HETEROGENEITY OF ACQUIRED RESISTANCE IN HOMOLOGOUS RECOMBINATION REPAIR DEFICIENT OVARIAN CANCER
Alan D'Andrea (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
POLTheta INHIBITORS AND USP1 INHIBITORS FOR BRCA-DEFICIENT CANCERS
Jean Gautier (Columbia University)
REPAIR AND MIS-REPAIR IN 3D
Thanos Halazonetis (University of Geneva)
THE ROLE OF DNA REPLICATION STRESS IN CANCER AND AGING
Maria Jasin (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
BRCA2 AND HR, FORK PROTECTION, AND GAP SUPPRESSION WHICH IS IMPORTANT?
Jan Karlseder (The Salk Institute)
INNATE IMMUNE PATHWAYS AS TARGETS FOR ALT SPECIFIC CANCER THERAPY
Chris Lord (Institute of Cancer Research)
UNDERSTANDING PARP INHIBITOR RESISTANCE
Zhenkun Lou (Mayo Clinic)
THE REGULATION OF APEOBEC AND THERAPY RESISTANCE
Nima Mosammaparast (Washington University in St. Louis)
RNA DAMAGE AS A THREAT TO GENOME INTEGRITY
Andre Nussenzweig (National Institutes of Health)
REPLICATION FORK COLLAPSE AND STABILITY
Mark O'Connor (AstraZeneca)
TARGETING THE DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE TO GENERATE NEW CANCER MEDICINES
Yves Pommier (National Cancer Institute)
REPAIR OF TOPOISOMERASE-DNA CROSSLINKS (TOP-DPCS)
Helen Robinson (Artios)
Katharina Schlacher (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
BRCA IN MITOCHONDRIAL AND NUCLEAR GENOME STABILITY FOR NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
Clare L. Scott (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
NAVIGATING PARP INHIBITOR RESISTANCE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: INTERVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS
John Tainer (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
TARGETING ALLOSTERY IN ATPASES AND HYDROLASES AT THE REPLICATION-REPAIR INTERFACE
Madalena Tarsounas (University of Oxford)
Steve West (Francis Crick Institute)
SENSITISATION OF BRCA-DEFECTIVE CANCER CELLS TO PARPi BY LOSS OF FANCM/MHF
Xiaohua Wu (Scripps Research Institute)
Tim Yap (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
PROGRESS, PITFALLS AND THE PROMISE IN TARGETING THE DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE IN THE CLINIC
Shan Zha (Columbia University)
INHIBITION IS NOT DELETION IN DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE
Lee Zou (Duke University)
NEW STRATEGIES TO TARGET REPLICATION STRESS IN CANCER

Student Offer

Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for students! Fully paying 'single' or 'shared' registrants can bring a student for only €990. Unfortunately, Postdocs are not eligible. Both registration packages include; accommodation for the 07, 08, 09 October 2024 (on a shared basis for students) and a food and beverage package for the conference period.  Once registered, please contact Chloe to obtain a special registration code for your student. 

Target Audience

This conference explores topics that should appeal to basic, translational, clinical investigators as well as clinicians ranging from academics to industry.

Educational Need

DNA damage repair and checkpoint control is an exciting field that has undergone tremendous growth in the past few years. While insightful new research on the molecular mechanisms that govern a variety of DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint pathways has led to an expansion of our understanding of DNA damage response pathways in humans, it also offers new approaches for cancer prevention and treatment. The purpose of this conference is to accelerate the translation of basic research findings into clinical practice. The audience will benefit from the interactions with experts in the fields of DNA damage response, drug development and clinical trials.

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