Neuroendocrine Cell Fate in Development and Cancer

Forum Chairs

Cory
Abate-Shen
,
PhD
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Julien
Sage
,
PhD
Stanford University

Forum Description

Neuroendocrine cancer is an umbrella term for a group of tumors in which cancer cells have the particularity of displaying traits similar to those of both nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. Neuroendocrine tumors can occur in many tissues and organs in the human body, including the lung, the pancreas, the prostate, or the skin. Some neuroendocrine tumors are very rare, others are more frequent; some are indolent, while others are extremely aggressive and fatal. Historically, neuroendocrine tumors have been studied and treated in the context of the specific site in which they were found. More recently, however, accumulating evidence has indicated that neuroendocrine tumors from various sites shared a number of important features, especially in terms of oncogenic drivers. A major goal of the meeting will thus be to discuss the biology and clinical aspects of neuroendocrine tumors to understand the differences and similarities between these tumors in different organs and tissues. We hope to arrive at a consensus about how to distinguish and define this group of tumors, and hopefully identify a framework to develop future therapeutic strategies that may help all patients with neuroendocrine cancer.

Forum Summary

The Forbeck Forum on Neuroendocrine Cell Fate in Development and Cancer included scientists and physicians working broadly in the field of neuroendocrine biology and neuroendocrine cancer. Neuroendocrine cells share similarities with both neurons (“neuro”) and cells producing hormones (“endocrine”).

While neuroendocrine tumors have been historically viewed as different entities, accumulating evidence indicates that these tumors share a number of cellular and molecular features with each other and with normal neuroendocrine cells in various parts of the body.

During the Forum, we discussed the biology of neuroendocrine cells during embryonic development and in adult tissues (how are they generated? how do they respond to environmental signals?). We also discussed clinical and histopathological features of neuroendocrine tumors in the lung, the prostate, the bladder, and the skin, including as these tumors emerge within non-neuroendocrine tumors. Finally, we discussed some mechanisms by which these neuroendocrine tumors could be targeted, using specific signaling networks contributing to their growth.

Overall, the picture that emerges is that, indeed, there are more similarities than differences between different types of neuroendocrine tumors, which may allow for the development of therapeutic approaches targeting these tumors independent of where they originate. On the other hand, the more we investigate these tumors, the more we understand different levels of differences and heterogeneity (which can be found even within one type of neuroendocrine cancer in a specific organ). These differences, which include how cancer cells in these tumors may interact differently with immune cells, may help us predict how neuroendocrine tumors may become resistant to therapy by gaining new features.

Venue & Travel Information

Asilomar Conference Grounds

800 Asilomar Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

www.visitasilomar.com
831.372.8016

Travel Forms

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

To help reduce transportation costs, the Foundation tries to group travelers on shuttle vans rather than providing transportation for single travelers. The times below are not exclusive but represent times that we hope to have shuttles leave the airport.


The Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is the preferred airport as it is only 20 minutes from the meeting location.

  • Arrivals to MRY - Thursday around 1 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM
  • Departures from the meeting venue - Sunday around 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 PM


San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 2 hours from the meeting location without traffic. The Foundation tries to prioritize International Flights and situations where flying into SFO is significantly cheaper than connecting to MRY. The times below are for guidance only, and depending on the volume of travelers, we may add an additional shuttle to and from the airport.

  • Arrivals to SFO - Thursday around 3 PM
  • Departures from the meeting venue - Sunday around 10 AM
TRAVEL FORMS DUE:
February 10, 2022
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 meeting. 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 meeting. 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 meeting.
  • 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 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 meeting. Please no children.

What the Foundation Pays

Accommodations and meals are provided by the foundation during the meeting. Airfare will be covered only if booked through our travel agent. The Foundation will also cover airport transportation on the meeting 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.

  • If you would like your airfare covered by the Foundation, you must book with our travel agent. Note we do not cover upgrades, changes, late bookings, etc.
  • Flights must be booked at least 30 days prior to the meeting 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 meeting. 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:
February 10, 2022
submit abstract

Meeting Structure

The meeting structure 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 meeting is relatively short, so please be familiar with papers received prior to the meeting.
  • It is very important that you commit to all sessions of the 2 days of meetings.

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 meeting starts.

Arrival Day
1:00 PM Arrivals
6:00 PM Cocktails (opt'l)
7:00 PM Dinner
Meeting 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
Meeting 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 meeting. 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 meeting.
  • 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 Friday and Saturday.
  • 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

Rod
Bremner
,
Mount Sinai Hospital
Andrea
Califano
,
PhD
Columbia University
James
DeCaprio
,
MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Andrew
Goldstein
,
PhD
University of California Los Angeles
Jane
Johnson
,
PhD
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Mark
Krasnow
,
MD, PhD
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Christin
Kuo
,
Stanford University
David
McConkey
,
PhD
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Peter
Nelson
,
MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Trudy
Oliver
,
PhD
University of Utah & Huntsman Cancer Institute
Mark
Rubin
,
PhD
University of Bern
Michael
Shen
,
PhD
Columbia University
Xin
Sun
,
PhD
University of California San Diego

Forum Scholars

Eric Gardner, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Catherine Meador, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Nitin Roper, MD
National Cancer Institute