Stem Cells & Cancer Conference Strategies for Controlling Development, Tissue Homeostasis and Cancer

Stem cells are the building blocks during development and are essential for tissue maintenance throughout life. However, cells with stem cell properties can also serve as cells of origin for tumor initiation, growth and metastasis. In addition, tumors arising from both stem cell and non-stem cell origins can hijack molecular pathways of stem cell self-renewal, genomic maintenance and metabolic control to enable their deregulated growth. Thus, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate proper stem cell function and tissue homeostasis under normal conditions directly informs understanding of how cancer starts and spreads throughout the body.

Key Sessions

•    Metabolism

•    Developmental signaling pathways in cancer

•    Heterogeneity and tumor evolution

•    Mechanical cues in growth and metastasis

•    Models for development and cancer (organoids, organs on a chip, bio-engineering and emerging technologies)

•    Regulation of self-renewal (intrinsic and extrinsic cues)

•    Plasticity and mutant cell competition

•    Novel therapies in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy

•    Mutant clonal landscape

•    Cell fate reprogramming