8:15 am
Morning Coffee
8:45 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Gold Standard PDX Models
9:00 am Exploring the Interactions Between a Tumour & its Microenvironment in PDOXs & Organoids of Brain Tumours
Synopsis
- Capturing the TME is still a critical aspect of preclinical studies to ensure clinical success
- Understanding the different interactions in the TME and the role it plays in tumour progression
- Identifying the impact of an oncology candidate on the TME
9:30 am Assessing the Pharmacological Effects of a GPR65 Antagonist in a PDX Model of Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma
Synopsis
- Introduction to the pH sensing GPCR GPR65 as a genetically validated IO target
- PDX model selection based on biological rationale, gene expression profiling and characterisation of the TME
- Assessment of the effects of an orally administered GPR65 antagonist in a PDX model of clear cell renal carcinoma
10:00 am Supporting Cancer Researchers with Access to PDXs & Cutting-Edge Services: the EurOPDX Distributed Research Infrastructure
Synopsis
- Getting access to more than 1.000 PDX models from 6 different European nodes, with open quality control protocols, SOPs, and data
- Performing drug efficacy studies on selected PDX models with the support of our oncology experts
- Widening the number of researchers participating in service providing and in the EurOPDX community, with the aim of impacting patients’ lives with robust preclinical models
10:30 am
Morning Networking Break
How Efficacious is Your Molecule? Boosting Your Preclinical Readout Confidence through Advanced Modelling
11:15 am Developing Tumour-on-Chip Models for Evaluating Adoptive Cell Therapy Efficacy
Synopsis
- Exploring the efficacy of CAR-Ts in complex in vitro translational models
- Leveraging new insights from in vitro studies to further clinical confidence
- Effectively translating the efficacy of CAR therapies for patients
11:45 am RG OncoRat – An Immunodeficient Rat Model to Compliment Your Oncology Programme
Synopsis
- Novel immunodeficient rat model that demonstrates superior human tumour development efficiency and growth kinetics compared to similar mouse models
- Larger blood volume and tumour size allow for serial blood and core biopsy sampling for PK/PD analyses
- Potential for humanising the immune system for immuno-oncology studies
12:00 pm Roundtable Discussion: Can Models Predict Efficacy?
Synopsis
Join in the conversation with this discussion dedicated to the accurate modelling of efficacy at preclinical and translational stages. Share with and learn from your peers as we look into the current models for efficacy modelling and the potential of new 3D models:
- Advantages and disadvantages of available models
- How do we model tumour antigen specificity?
- Ex vivo human tumoroid models; can they fill the gap?
12:30 pm
Networking Lunch
3D Models – The Future of Tumour Models?
1:30 pm In Vitro Assays Which Recapitulate & Quantify Complex Human Biology
Synopsis
- Quantifying human biology in a robust and high-throughput format
- Visualising and measuring the anti-tumour immune responses of immuno-oncology candidates
- Generating more predictive data to move confidently to clinic
1:45 pm Panel Discussion: 3D Models – The Next Gold Standard?
Synopsis
- Moving toward the goal of reducing animal studies
- Advancing oncology therapeutics with new insights into the TME from sophisticated models
- Exploring the current limitations of these models for preclinical oncology studies
2:20 pm Off-the-Shelf vs Personalised Organoid Models
Synopsis
- Understanding the limitations and advanced of off-the-shelf versus personalised organoid models
- Exploring the benefits of each to advance IO preclinical studies
- Answering clinical questions confidently with new insights on a patient by patient basis
2:50 pm Organ-on-a-Chip Models for Bone Metastasis
Synopsis
- Development of bone metastasis models of prostate and breast cancer
- Conveying the importance of mechanical stimulation in organ-on-chip models
- Utilising the Queen Mary-Emulate Organs-on-Chips Center
3:20 pm Patient-Derived Organoids for Semi-Automated Drug Screening & Their Utilization for Building Higher Complexity Models
Synopsis
- Utilisation of ovarian cancer organoids for medium throughput semi-automated drug screening showcasing correlation with clinical response
- Utilisation of colon organoids to build the complexity of the gut in health and disease
3:50 pm
Afternoon Networking Break
Investigating the TME & Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
4:20 pm Influence of the Tumour Microenvironment on Stemness Features in 3D Cultures
Synopsis
- Interaction of stromal and innate immune cells with tumour cells
- Stemness induction by the microenvironment
- Target evaluation in 3D culture systems
4:50 pm Exploring the Interactions in the Tumour Microenvironment
Synopsis
- Capturing the TME is still a critical aspect of preclinical studies to ensure clinical success
- Understanding the different interactions in the TME and the role it plays in tumour progression
- Identifying the impact of an oncology candidate on the TME
5:20 pm Deciphering the Tumour Microenvironment of Follicular Lymphoma Using Multispectral Immunofluorescence & Deep Learning Analysis: Towards the Identification of Novel Immune Cell Phenotypes That Can Facilitate Prognostic Stratification
Synopsis
- Assess the role of multiplex immunofluoresence in characterising the immune landscape of FL patients
- Develop a deep learning analysis approach that facilitates identification of: a) novel prognostic relevant immune cell phenotypes; b) patterns of spatially co-localised immune cells that correlate with histological variants and predict overall clinical outcomes and c) immune cell types potential targets for immunotherapy-based treatment
- Analysis of FL transformed to diffuse large B cell lymphoma to validate the possible clinical and predictive utility of newly identified immune cell subsets and their spacial patterns