1st International Conference on Cell Plasticity in Colorectal Cancer

The 1st International Conference on Cell Plasticity in Colorectal Cancer marks the launch of a new conference series co-organized with the Collaborative Research Center SFB/TRR 417, Cellular Communication in the Stroma of Colorectal Cancer, which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The conference series builds on the highly successful symposium Cell Plasticity in Colorectal Carcinogenesis, organized by the DFG-funded Research Unit FOR 2438 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, in 2019.

Bringing together leading experts in basic, translational and clinical research, the conference will explore the mechanisms of cellular plasticity that drive colorectal cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial profiling have revealed dynamic cell-state transitions from differentiated epithelium to stem-like, fetal-like and non-intestinal lineages during tumor evolution. Reflecting the central research themes of SFB/TRR 417, the conference will place particular emphasis on the tumor microenvironment, including stromal, immune and endothelial signals that shape cell fate decisions and promote drug-tolerant niches, as well as on the role of the intestinal microbiome in regulating epithelial identity and plasticity. Additional sessions will address stem cell plasticity, epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, circulating tumor cells, and current clinical advances, including early-phase I and II trials.

Overall, the conference aims to develop a mechanistic framework linking stem cell plasticity, fetal-like states, micro-environmental signals and microbial ecosystems, paving the way for innovative strategies to durably constrain plasticity in colorectal cancer and foster new international collaborations.

Visit the conference website for further information: https://aegeanconferences.org/conferences/210