Mitochondrial Stress in Cancer

Forum Chairs

Marina
Konopleva
,
MD, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Aaron
Schimmer
,
MD, PhD
University of Toronto

Forum Description

Malignant cells are under increased mitochondrial stress through mechanisms such as hypoxia, oxidative damage, altered metabolism, and mitochondrial protein damage and misfolding. Using evolutionary conserved pathways including anti-oxidants, anti-apoptotic pathways, proteases, and protein chaperones, mitochondria have developed mechanisms to survive and proliferate amidst these stressors.  Studies in model organisms such as worms have provided important biologic insights into these mitochondrial stress pathways, including how they regulate longevity.  Fundamental and preclinical studies in malignancy have shown that disrupting mitochondrial stress pathways selectively kill subsets of malignant cells over normal cells. Finally, strategies that target mitochondrial stress have advanced to clinical trials for patients with cancer and show promising clinical efficacy.

Yet, important questions remain unanswered. For example:

  • How do mitochondrial stress pathways influence longevity in model organisms?
  • What are the functions of components of mitochondrial stress pathways in cancer cells?
  • Why and how does targeting mitochondrial stress pathways selectively eradicate malignant cells over normal cells?
  • Which cancer patients are most and least dependent on which mitochondrial stress pathways?

This meeting will bring together a multidisciplinary group of researchers to discuss mitochondrial stress in cancer and spark collaborations from investigators in diverse fields who would likely not otherwise interact.

Session 1:
“Mitochondrial stress pathways in model organisms - insights into pathways and targets” will discuss mitochondrial stress in model organisms. It will highlight new pathways by which worms and yeast cope with mitochondrial stress and how these pathways impact longevity.

Session 2:
“Novel pathways and cancer targets in mitochonrial stress” will discuss the biology of the mitochondrial stress pathways in malignancy. We will highlight new regulator of mitochondrial stress such as mitochondrial proteases and mitophagy and the biological rationale for a therapeutic window in targeting these pathways

Session 3:
“Preclinical studies and translational opportunities targeting mitochondrial stress in cancer” will highlight the translational opportunities to target mitochondrial stress pathways in malignancy. This session will include discussion on novel drug combinations that target mitochondrial stress pathway

Session 4:
“Mitochondrial Stress in Cancer Clinical trials” will highlight clinical trials with mitochondrial stress inducing drugs. This session will include clinical studies with Venetoclax that is now approved for the treatment of malignancy. In addition, it will explore novel agents such as the mitochondrial heat shock inhibitor, gamitrinib and the ClpP inhibitor ONC201 that have advanced into clinical trial with promising results. This session will discuss which patients are most and least likely to respond and markers that can predict response to these drugs.

RELEVANCY

Targeting mitochondrial stress pathways is an emerging therapeutic strategy that has advance to clinical trial. Some of these drugs have shown promising efficacy while others have failed to produce clinical benefit due to increased toxicity. The successful development of drugs targeting mitochondrial stress pathways will require a greater understanding of the biology of these pathways, including insights from model organisms. This meeting will bring together a diverse and multidisciplinary group to discuss mitochondrial stress in cancer. This will be a unique opportunity to bring together investigators studying model organisms with cancer biologists and clinical trialists. It will spark collaborations and the sharing of information between scientists who would not otherwise interact. This meeting is particularly timely given the clinical approvals of Venetoclax in AML and the early clinical trials of gamitrinib and Onc201 in patients with advanced solid tumors. These agents already demonstrate the importance and clinical benefit of targeting mitochondrial stress in cancer.  To date, there has not been a similar Forbeck conference.

GOALS

The meeting will have the following objectives;

  1. To bring together a diverse group of scientists and clinicians who are engaged in studies of mitochondrial stress at the level of model organisms, cells and patients
  2. To spark collaborations among investigators who might not otherwise interact
  3. To gain insights into pathways that defend against mitochondrial stress in model organisms and how these pathways might impact cancer cells
  4. To identify targets in mitochondrial stress pathways whose inhibition would preferentially eradicate malignant cells
  5. To identify the subset of malignancies and patients that would be most and least likely to respond to induction of mitochondrial stress

Forum Summary

Venue & Travel Information

Evins Mill

1535 Evins Mill Road
Smithville, TN 37166

www.evinsmill.com
615.269.3740

Travel Forms

Travel forms are due 30 days prior to the start of the forum to allow enough time to plan transportation.

Nashville's International Airport (BNA) is the preferred airport as it is only 60 minutes from the venue.

  • Arrival day of the forum at approximately 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
  • Departures from the venue at approximately 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM
TRAVEL FORMS DUE:
March 3, 2025
submit travel form

Travel Policy

Please familiarize yourself with our policies and procedures for travel. We truly appreciate you taking the time to participate in this forum. As you make your plans, please remember that we are a nonprofit organization dependent on donations and volunteers. We do NOT pay for upgrades, change fees, incurred costs resulting from a flight change, transportation to or from your local (home side) airport, meals or other incidentals.

  • Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the forum to send this out.
  • Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
  • Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the forum. It will be provided upon arrival in the forum packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day Friday and Saturday.
  • REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.
  • Spouses are welcome to come with you at their own cost but are not allowed to attend the forum. Please no children.

What the Foundation Pays

Accommodations and meals are provided by the foundation during the forum. Airfare will be covered only if booked in accordance with our policy and only up to the amount in which you were approved for. The Foundation will also cover airport transportation on the forum side at the designated shuttle times. You can select not to utilize Foundation arranged transportation at your own expense when completing the travel form. Once your travel form is received your accommodations and airport transfer will be confirmed. Please let us know of any food allergies or other information we should be aware of on the travel forms.

  • Note we do not cover upgrades, changes, late bookings, etc.
  • Flights must be booked at least 30 days prior to the forum to confirm your accommodations and airport transfer.
  • As a nonprofit we utilize volunteers and other methods to maximize our efforts (or our donor support) when making accommodations and arranging ground transportation. Ground transportation will be provided upon your arrival either by a foundation volunteer or arranged shuttle. You will be provided airport transportation information the week of the forum. We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling.

Abstracts

Abstracts are due 30 days prior to the start of the meeting to allow enough time to prepare the meeting book.

The abstracts should be only one or two paragraphs outlining the theme of your presentation and should reflect the objective and spirit of the meeting (see above). Abstracts will be circulated about one week before the meeting. The meeting organizer will start requesting them a month before the meeting.

abstracts DUE:
March 3, 2025
submit abstract

Forum Structure

The structure of the forum has been developed over years of experience.

  • Participants have approximately 45 minutes, depending on the number of participants, for their presentation and discussion. The presentation is meant as a conversation start and should last about twenty minutes briefly covering background information and areas that are new or need further input. This should be structured in such a way as to lead to a lively discussion. Participants are encouraged to interrupt to ask questions or start discussions.
  • A MAXIMUM of 5 slide equivalents per presentation is allowed (Power point slides should not contain more than one graph or gel per slide and no more than 5 bullet points to stress the points being made by the presenter.) We appreciate cooperation with the spirit of this guideline. Handouts are welcome but should be distributed before sessions.
  • Everyone is expected to actively participate in every session and discussions.
  • The time spent at the forum is relatively short, so please be familiar with papers received prior to arrival.
  • It is very important that you commit to all sessions of the 2 days of the forum.

Forbeck Scholars Participation

Scholars are selected for each Forbeck Forum. These are outstanding junior clinical or post-doctoral fellows selected based on the quality and relevance of science.

  • Scholars present for 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of participants
  • The same presentation rules apply for scholars
  • After the Forum you are selected to attend, you will attend three years of Scholar Retreats held in Lake Geneva, WI. If you attend a Fall Forum, you will attend the Spring Retreat. If you attend a Spring Forum you will attend a Fall Retreat.
  • Scholars are selected by the Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and peer reviewers selected from past Forbeck Scholars.

General Program

The outline below illustrates a typical program schedule. You will receive a complete schedule, including speaking times, the Thursday the forum starts.

Arrival Day
1:00 PM Arrivals
6:00 PM Cocktails (opt'l)
7:00 PM Dinner
Forum Day 1
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Scientific Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Scientific Sessions
6:00 PM Cocktails & Dinner
Forum Day 2
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Scientific Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Scientific Sessions
6:00 PM Cocktails & Dinner
Departure Day
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. If you have something new to ask, please feel free to contact us.

  • Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the meeting to send this out.
  • Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
  • Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the meeting. It will be provided upon arrival in the meeting packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day.
  • Frequently airport transfer is provided by volunteers. Please be patient on receiving this information. Airport transfer will be sent out prior to arrival.
  • REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.

Forum Participants

Participant List Coming Soon

Forum Scholars

No Scholars attended this meeting